Occupational Therapist

As a PACE Occupational Therapist, you will provide comprehensive therapy services to elderly participants to promote independence and quality of life. Reporting directly to the Rehab Manager, you will develop and maintain functional skills through personalized care plans, collaborating closely with an Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) to meet the unique needs of the High Desert PACE population.

Clinical Assessment & Care Planning

• Comprehensive Evaluations: Conduct initial, semi-annual, and annual assessments in person. This includes evaluating functional and physical status, ADLs, cognitive and visual-perceptual functioning, feeding/cooking skills, and home safety.
• IDT Collaboration: Participate as a core member of the Interdisciplinary Team; attend morning updates to report changes in participant baseline status to the Rehab Manager and appropriate staff daily.
• Plan Development: Develop and implement individualized plans of care for participants across various settings, including the PACE center, hospitals, nursing facilities, and assisted living homes.

Treatment & Specialized Services

• Skilled Interventions: Provide indicated treatments, including restorative exercises and body mechanics training, ensuring all care utilizes appropriate safety measures.
• Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Assess participant needs for DME, obtain team approval, and manage the ordering and follow-up process for all purchases.
• Home Visits: Perform assessments and skilled treatments at participant residences as necessary. This may require the use of a personal vehicle or a company car (pending a valid California driver’s license and a clean record).

Supervision & Leadership

• Staff Oversight: Train and supervise restorative aides on-site, ensuring their performance aligns with departmental policies, and report status updates to the Rehab Manager.
• Delegation: Delegate oversight of OT interventions to restorative aides when appropriate and documented in the IDT plan of care.
• Education: Instruct family members and other staff on therapy programs to be carried out outside of formal OT sessions.

Administrative & Quality Improvement

• Compliance: Maintain strict confidentiality of participant information and adhere to all center policies, including attendance and break times.
• Documentation: Complete all required reports and documentation accurately and timely.
• Program Development: Participate in QAPI (Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement) activities and consult with the activities department on adaptations.

Education & Training

• Soft Skills: Must be resourceful, organized, and able to cope with the mental stress related to geriatric care. You must function independently while maintaining a collegial relationship with the Rehab Manager and IDT.
• Minimum of one (1) year of documented experience working with a frail or elderly population; appropriate clinical placement experience may be substituted.
• Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program.
• Current license with state of California.
• Current CPR is required before engaging in direct participant care/contact.
• Is medically cleared for communicable diseases and has all immunizations up-to-date before engaging in direct participant contact.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to cope with mental and emotional stress related to the position.
• Ability to function independently and to work effectively and in a collegial manner with all members of the interdisciplinary team, co-workers, and department heads.
• Ability to relate to the public and governmental agencies in a pleasant, patient, and professional manner.
• Well organized, dependable, flexible, and resourceful.
• Must have excellent communication skills.

Working Conditions

• The working conditions and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Primarily work indoors.
• Usually have their own office or a shared office space
• Are exposed daily to participants who have diseases or infections.
• Wear protective clothing such as a gown, masks, and gloves, as needed.
• Work very close to others, especially when examining participants.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, and/or stand.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.