Occupational Therapist 2 Chronic Pain Hope to Health Clinic

Job Description

Summary

Reports to the Clinical Operations Manager and to the Professional Practice Leader, Occupational Therapy, this position supports the interdisciplinary Primary Care Team (which also includes physiotherapists, social workers, peers, nurses and physicians) in achieving program and patient goals. This includes providing evidence based clinical assessment, treatment and patient education grounded in occupational therapy theory and relevant post-graduate studies to out-patients with complex psychosocial and/or chronic pain issues within a group setting and/or on an individual basis. Contributes to the evaluation of clinical activities, monitors patient outcomes and adjusts care plans as required by working collaboratively with patients, families and outside agencies such as lawyers, insurance companies and employers.

Qualifications / Skills and Education

Education, Training, and Experience
Baccalaureate Degree in Occupational Therapy. Three (3) years recent related experience working in a chronic disease management setting including one year working with the specific needs of patients with chronic pain or an equivalent combination of experience, education and training. Current registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of B.C. Eligible for membership with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.

Skills and Abilities
•Comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy clinical practice related to treatment and care of patients with complex chronic pain conditions.
•Knowledge and ability to use relevant frames of reference in practice such as: Pain Neuromatrix (approach to rehab), biomechanical, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), rehabilitative, MI (motivational interviewing), and ACT (acceptance commitment therapy).
•Comprehensive knowledge of the pathophysiology of pain.
•Ability to apply critical thinking and evidence based approaches to develop assessment, treatment and discharge plans within a biopsychosocial clinical reasoning framework.
•Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team and to develop strong working relationships with patients, families, other health care providers as well as outside parties such as lawyers, insurance companies, employers and community therapists.
•Ability to participate in the development, review, evaluate and writing of clinical protocols and guidelines and patient education materials.
•Knowledge of outcome measures related to pain management also research methodology and processes.
•Demonstrated ability to teach patients/families and to conduct presentations, demonstrations and in-services related to occupational therapy and chronic pain management.
•Demonstrated ability to facilitate therapeutic and educational patient groups.
•Demonstrated ability to deal with and/or guide others in conflict resolution issues.
•Physical, emotional and cognitive ability to carry out the duties of the position.
•Demonstrated ability to work independently and prioritize issues and workload.
•Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate progress notes, discharge summaries and compose medical legal reports.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Develops, plans and implements occupational therapy assessments for patients with complex psychosocial and/or chronic pain conditions in a coordinated approach and in accordance with established standards of practice and program standards by methods such as identifying patient issues/needs, planning, implementing, evaluating, and documenting clinical services. Collaborates with other members of the interdisciplinary team, the patient and family and relevant outside parties in the creation of an appropriate ongoing care plan.

2. Develops education programs and learning resources for patients and their families based on best practices regarding the management of the functional effects of living with chronic pain by methods such as researching and reviewing professional literature, consulting with other professionals and reviewing and modifying education programs.

3. Assists the health care team by demonstrating and instructing on procedures and processes. Provides in-services on topics related to chronic pain, occupational therapy or other relevant to the patient population.

4. Collaborates with other members of the inter-professional team to develop and plan evidence based programs, services and resources required by patients with chronic pain. Provides input in meetings including professional practice meetings: provides knowledge, input and recommendations to the team with the goal of enhancing patient care, service delivery, and clinical outcomes in chronic pain management.

5. Participates in continuous quality improvement activities by methods such as evaluating clinical activities and services, selecting and utilizing outcome measures to identify and troubleshoot inconsistencies, evaluate effectiveness of changes in patient care practice, attending and contributing to interdisciplinary meetings and providing advice as required.

6. Establishes and builds positive and effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders such as members of the Primary Care Team, other health care professionals, the patient, family members, lawyers, insurance companies, employers and private community therapists.

7. Provides clinical supervision to and evaluation of occupational therapy students as required. Provides explanation/information on the role of occupational therapy to medical, pharmacy, nursing, psychology and physiotherapy students.

8. Maintains and updates own clinical and professional knowledge of current developments in occupational therapy by methods such as reviewing professional literature, consulting with other professionals, actively participating in ongoing relevant education programs and chronic pain special interest groups. Establishes own measurable goals and objectives, and reviews progress to ensure that goals are achieved within established timeframes with the Professional Practice Leader, Occupational Therapy.

9. Participates and collaborates on research projects, identifies implications of research findings and imbeds new developments into the program, procedures and processes used for the patient population with chronic pain. Provides updates and/or in-services to members of the interdisciplinary team on most current information relating to occupational therapy and pain management, trends and evidence best practices, and updates educational material and/or policies to reflect changes.

10. Maintains administrative reporting such as completion of workload measurement information, records and statistics as required.

11. Maintains patient records by methods such as documenting patient assessments, charting patient progress notes, composing letters and reports (including medical-legal reports) in accordance with established standards, and policies and procedures to meet regulatory requirements and documenting for future reference.

12. Performs other related duties as required.

Vaccination Flag

As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.