Occupational Therapist - Inpatient Acute Care (PRN/ Intermittent)

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Our Values

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Department

Job Summary

Practicing independently within the scope of licensure, the Occupational Therapist I delivers safe, competent, and evidence-based occupational therapy services, including evaluation, treatment, and discharge planning. This role plans, organizes, and implements individual intervention plans focused on helping patients develop, regain, or maintain the skills needed for activities of daily living, work, and leisure activities.

The Occupational Therapist I manages a caseload while developing foundational clinical skills and decision-making abilities and actively seeks mentorship and feedback to support professional growth. Responsibilities include adhering to established clinical protocols and standards of practice, providing high-quality patient care, and collaborating with interdisciplinary care teams, family members, and caregivers to coordinate effective, patient-centered treatment plans.

Essential Functions:

• Patient Care
  
  Provides safe, evidence-based occupational therapy by performing and documenting comprehensive evaluations, identifying functional problems, and establishing accurate diagnoses prior to intervention. Develops and maintains individualized plans of care in collaboration with physicians, patients, and families-setting age-appropriate, measurable short- and long-term goals and establishing clear discharge criteria. Delivers therapeutic treatments according to the principles and practices of occupational therapy, aimed at restoring skills in activities of daily living, work, and leisure activities impacted by injury or disease. Communicates proposed interventions, risks, benefits, and alternatives to patients and caregivers, and regularly reassesses and adjusts treatment plans to maximize outcomes. (70%)
• Documentation
  
  Completes timely patient care documentation recording the prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart. Updates medical records according to departmental and accrediting body standards. Completes appropriate data bases, problem lists, treatment goals and individualized plan of care. Accurately submits patient charges per department guidelines. (10%)
• Care Coordination
  
  Coordinates patient care across the continuum by communicating effectively with physicians, nurses, case managers, rehabilitation staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to support safe, efficient, and cohesive treatment delivery. Ensures all required regulatory, documentation, and payer-related processes-such as treatment authorizations, plan-of-care updates, medical necessity justification, and timely completion of progress reports-are accurately completed in accordance with departmental, state, and federal standards. Facilitates smooth transitions of care by sharing relevant clinical information, updating patient status, planning follow-up needs, and providing clear recommendations to internal and external care partners. Collaborates to resolve barriers to care, support patient readiness for discharge. (10%)
• Education
  
  Educates patients, family members and caregivers in occupational therapy principles, methods and techniques to achieve intended outcomes. Reviews research and seeks mentorship to expand clinical reasoning. (10%)

Education:

• Master's Degree or above from accredited Occupational Therapy Program required

Work Experience:

• Less than 1 year required. New grads welcome to apply.

Licenses:

• BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association or American Red Cross required

- And -

• OT-Occupational Therapist - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of theory, principles and evidence-based practice of occupational therapy.
• Knowledge of safety principles in patient care environment.
• Knowledge of standards, policies and procedures of Denver Health as they pertain to occupational therapy.
• Ability to integrate requirements of the facility and/or regulatory agencies into clinical decisions and documentation.
• Ability to successfully modify communication style and approach according to the situation in order to promote positive results.
• Manages caseload including timely and appropriate documentation and meeting departmental productivity expectations.
• Delegates patient care responsibilities to support staff and supervises appropriately.
• Participates in departmental process improvement/program development initiatives.
• Communicates clearly with patients, families, and team members; demonstrates professionalism and teamwork.

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future - with exceptional retirement contributions, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development - while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you're joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Social security replacement retirement plan with employer contribution of 3%
• On-site employee fitness center and wellness classes
• Community resource navigation support
• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more
• Education & development opportunities including career pathways and coaching

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic healthcare system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver's 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado's primary, and essential, safety-net healthcare system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.