Recreational Therapist

Position Summary
Provides Recreation Therapy services to adult and pediatric patients, including assessment, treatment program planning and implementation, related documentation and communication utilizing recreation therapy theory, sound judgment, and psychological and cultural sensitivity.  Contributes to department education by acting as a consultant on clinical matters for all therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, and students and interns.

Essential Duties

1. Evaluates patients, considering the cognitive, physical, emotional, and chronological maturation process of the patient in a safe manner. Interprets evaluation of findings to patients, family/significant other and care team.  Reassesses patient progress on an ongoing basis, assists with scheduling, and charges patients appropriately for services rendered. 
2. Develops goals and treatment plans to achieve identified goals. Coordinates treatment plan with the patient, the patient’s family, and care team. Treatment plan to include communication of a home or community program to maintain and enhance the performance of the patient in their own environment. Evaluates and may recommend termination of services when maximum benefit has been achieved.
3. Implements care and treatment safely on land and/or in shallow/deep ends of the therapy pool directly or provides technical direction to a physical therapist assistant that recognizes age specific needs and issues of the customer.  Monitors patient’s response to intervention and modifies treatment as indicated to attain goals.
4. Documents results of patient’s evaluation, treatment, follow-up and termination of service.  Reviews the quality and appropriateness of individual rehabilitation therapy programs for effectiveness and efficiency, using predetermined criteria and considering age specific issues.  Maintains service-related records; follows billing and documentation procedures.
5. Plans and realizes continuing education, career development needs, and cross-training, as directed.  Provides technical direction to assistants, aides, and volunteers, as well as student affiliations/internships.  
6. Maintains professional development and education related records. Develops and provides in-service education to members of the Rehabilitation Services department and the hospital as assigned.

Other Duties

1. Performs as back-up to staff absences and vacancies as needed.
2. Performs 6MWT as assigned.
3. Teaches classes as assigned.
4. Assists with administrative duties as assigned.

Competencies

1. Accountability: Accepts full responsibility for self and contribution as a team member; displays honesty and truthfulness; confronts problems quickly; displays a strong commitment to organizational success and inspires others to commit to goals; demonstrates a commitment to National Jewish Health. 
2. Adaptability: Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusting effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.
3. Care Management: Having the knowledge and skills to secure relevant patient care data and identify key issues and relationships in the management of patient care; understanding the relationships among assessments, interventions, and patient responses; skilled in documentation of assessments and adjusting physical and cognitive prescriptions as needed.
4. Initiative: Taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive.
5. Managing Work and Time/Project Management: Effectively managing one’s time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently. Effectively manages project(s) by appropriately focusing attention on the critical few priorities; effectively creates and executes against project timelines based on priorities, resource availability, and other project requirements (i.e., budget); effectively evaluates planned approaches, determines feasibility, and makes adjustments when needed.
6. Patient Relations: Meeting patient and patient family needs; taking responsibility for a patient’s safety, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes; using appropriate interpersonal techniques to resolve difficult patient situations and regain patient confidence.
7. Peer Relationships: Interacts with others in a constructive, positive, and respectful manner, regardless of individual differences. Assists team members or co-workers in achieving personal goals and completing assignments.
8. Professional Development or Continuous Learning and Development: Actively identifying new areas for learning; regularly creating and taking advantage of learning opportunities; using newly gained knowledge and skill to enhance their contribution to the organization.

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility
None

Travel
None

Core Values

1. Be available to work as scheduled and report to work on time.
2. Be willing to accept supervision and work well with others.
3. Be well groomed, appropriately for your role and wear ID Badge visibly.
4. Be in compliance with all departmental and institutional policies, the Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct and completes NetLearning by due date annually.
5. Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the institution.
6. Adheres to safe working practices and at all times follows all institutional and departmental safety policies and procedures. 
7. Wears appropriate PPE as outlined by the infection control policies and procedures.
8. Demonstrates compliance with all state, federal and all other regulatory agency requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Education: Bachelor degree in Recreation Therapy, Exercise Physiology, Exercise Science or related field required.
2. Work Experience: 6 months of recent or related experience required.
3. Special Training, Certification or Licensure: CPR/BLS required

Salary Range: $23.01 - $30.00

Benefits
At National Jewish Health, we recognize that our outstanding faculty and staff are the essence of our organization. For every aspect of health care, our employees are our greatest asset.
With that in mind, we have designed a valuable, comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and their families.

• Medical Plans, Dental Plans and Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• FSA and HSA
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance and AD&D
• Voluntary Benefits, like Accident Insurance, Critical Care and Hospital Indemnity
• Paid Time Off Accruals
• Wellness Program
• Legal Plan