Occupational Therapy

Overview

The Rehabilitation Services department provides a comprehensive array of services, including occupational, physical, and speech therapies. In particular, the Occupational Therapy (OT) segment focuses on evaluating and treating individuals with injuries, disabilities, or emotional challenges to enhance, maintain, or restore their functional capabilities. The OT provides evaluations and treatments for Activities of Daily Living (ADL), along with assessing associated strengths, range of motion (ROM), and functions as prescribed by physicians for both inpatients and outpatients.

The professional collaborates with nursing staff to deliver coordinated comprehensive screenings and rehabilitative care programs, maintains accurate treatment records, and contributes to staff education and development. Under general supervision, the individual performs diagnostic assessments, develops and implements treatment plans, and offers professional OT services across a diverse range of patient cases.

• Observes, assesses, evaluates and re-evaluates level of function; collects objective measurements and uses outcome measures in all applicable areas of ADL, ROM, strength and function as indicated, for individual diagnosis and medical conditions.
• Provides direct patient treatment upon development and implementation of written occupational therapy plan of care, under a physician referral; uses appropriate treatment to prevent deterioration, develop skills, and restore function; independently plans, organizes, initiates and conducts occupational therapy treatment as needed.
• Acts as activities consultant for the LTC and hospital; provides input to activities coordinator, Recreation Aide, regarding planning, organizing, initiating and conducting activity programs for individuals and groups of patients/residents.
• Responsible for providing safe, efficient and economical care; interprets the organizational structure and communication channels with the department and hospital unit personnel.
• Instructs patient/resident and staff on specific occupational therapy recommendations; provides advisory and consultative services to patients, residents, activities programs, other therapists, diagnostic team members, etc.
• Plans and organizes workload and is aware and flexible to acute needs of patients and departments.
• Documents all services rendered, including health teaching.
• Communicates with physician and other staff members of the inter‑disciplinary team and community agencies involved in the program.
• Coordinates discharge follow‑up with community agencies as needed.
• Interacts with patient to reduce anxiety; informs the patient what to expect and assures continuity of care; uses knowledge of different cultures to assess each patient’s cultural specific needs and provide cultural specific treatment and care.
• Uses principles of pain management to assist each patient to be as comfortable and pain free as possible by assessing, treating and educating patient and family.
• Uses principles of growth and development to assess each patient’s age‑specific needs and provide age specific treatment and care.
• Participates in the delivery of patient care; directs patient care as needed, evaluates outcomes, consults with other specialists as required, and adjusts processes as indicated to ensure optimal patient care.
• Provides input and standards in formulating patient care policy and procedures for the department and the organization; works with the medical staff to coordinate medical and departmental management of patient care.
• Ensures all activities related to patient care meet standards for quality; organizes and ensures continuity of care based on current knowledge; responsible for transcription and execution of physicians orders and interpretation of orders and care anticipated.
• May assume role of patient advocate respecting guidelines found in the Patient Bill of Rights.
• Demonstrates clinical expertise in area of specialty.

• Assists the Physical Therapist IV in planning, organizing, and coordinating an occupational therapy program for HHSC Kaua i Region; provides…