Occupational Therapist

Position Summary

As an Occupational Therapist (OT) at university hospital Sharjah you will work in a dynamic hospital environment providing direct patient care. You will assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with physical, mental, or cognitive impairments to improve their ability to perform daily activities. Your role will involve working with an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists, and other healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive and individualized care to our patients.

You will be responsible for developing treatment plans that maximize patient recovery, improving functional independence, and enhancing the quality of life. In addition, you will provide education to patients and their families, promoting independence through skill-building activities and home modifications.

Summary of Main Duties

1. Patient Assessment & Evaluation:
• Conduct thorough assessments of patients’ physical, cognitive, sensory, and emotional functioning, using a combination of clinical observation and standardized testing.
• Perform functional evaluations to determine a patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), including dressing, bathing, eating, and working.

2. Developing Treatment Plans:
• Create personalized treatment plans based on patient evaluations, including short- and long-term goals for functional recovery and independence.
• Incorporate evidence-based practices and therapeutic techniques tailored to each patient’s specific needs, whether related to trauma, surgery, neurological conditions, or chronic diseases.
3. Implementing Therapeutic Interventions:
• Use therapeutic activities, exercises, assistive devices, and modalities to address specific patient needs and goals.
• Assist patients in improving motor skills, strength, coordination, cognitive function, and sensory processing to enhance their daily life activities.

Responsibilities

1. Patient Education and Family Support:
   • Educate patients and their families on strategies to improve functional independence, including adaptive techniques for self-care, cooking, and mobility.
   • Offer guidance on preventing further injury, managing symptoms, and maintaining recovery progress after discharge.
   • Work with families to ensure they understand the care plan and are involved in the rehabilitation process.
2. Multidisciplinary Collaboration:
   • Work closely with other healthcare professionals, including physicians, physical therapists, speech therapists, and social workers, to coordinate patient care and ensure holistic treatment.
   • Participate in case conferences and contribute to discharge planning to ensure continuity of care post-hospitalization.
3. Documentation & Reporting:
   
   • Monitor and assess patient progress regularly, updating treatment goals and modifying interventions as necessary.
   • Prepare reports for physicians and other team members

Position Requirements/Qualifications

• Education:
• Bachler’s or Master’s in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program.
• Licensure/Certification:
• Valid DHA or MOH license as an Occupational Therapist (OT). 
• Experience:
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist, preferably in an acute hospital setting.
• Experience working with a variety of patient populations, including paediatric, adult, and geriatric patients, is preferred.

Position criteria Other Skills/Abilities