Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant – (COTA)

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant – (COTA)

The Department of Rehabilitation at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center provides sophisticated and personalized physical therapy to individuals living with injuries involving nerves, bones, or joints, or experiencing acute or chronic pain syndromes.

We offer a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services. Our staff are highly skilled therapists and physicians are trained to treat a wide variety of neuromuscular or musculoskeletal injuries, traumatic brain injuries/neurological injuries, pain syndromes, and other disabilities.

We are seeking a dedicated and skilled full-time Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) to join our dynamic Occupational therapy team. Under the direct supervision of a Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR), the COTA will play a vital role in assisting with patient care plans, delivering prescribed occupational therapy treatments, and contributing to the overall therapeutic process. This position requires a strong commitment to patient care, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of a Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR), provide prescribed Occupational Therapy treatment to assigned patients, across all treatment areas-acute inpatient rehab/medsurg/opd (managing a caseload of up to 8-14 patients per day).

Under the general supervision of the OTR, select, adapt, and implement therapeutic modalities to achieve treatment goals outlined by the OTR .

• Perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL) training, including instruction on the use of adaptive equipment and devices.
• Participate in self-care days with patients and their families.
• Interview patients to determine relevant psycho-social, leisure, vocational, self-care, and physical functioning information.
• Monitor patient’s status and, in collaboration with the supervising OTR, adapt intervention, environment, tools, materials, and activities according to the needs of the patient and their sociocultural context.
• Adhere to all documentation requirements, ensuring accurate and timely record-keeping.
• Supervise Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Level I and Level II students.
• Attend required meetings and participate in committees as directed.
• Meet with the direct OTR supervisor for professional/clinical supervision and utilize supervision to enhance job function and role development.
• Assist in the care and maintenance of divisional equipment and supplies to ensure efficiency, safety, and health for staff and patients.
• Adhere to all infection control, safety, and patient rights policies.
• Provide patients and/or families with patient education and home exercise programs.
• Participate in the Performance Improvement program.
• Communicate information and interact effectively with the interdisciplinary team and patients’ families, both individually and in team meetings.
• Develop effective working relationships with staff in assigned areas.
• Assume appropriate communication responsibilities with the supervisor and staff.
• Assist in the maintenance of treatment areas.
• Participate in continuing education experiences to maintain and enhance skills.
• Complete all other duties as assigned.
• Perform unrelated duties in times of emergency and other duties as assigned or when necessary.

Tagged as: cota, rehabilitation