Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), Jordan Valley Senior Care (JVSC) PACE in Springfield, Missouri at Advocates For A Healthy Community Inc.

About Jordan Valley Health:

Jordan Valley Health (JVH) is a mission-driven organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and families in underserved communities. We provide comprehensive healthcare services including primary medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health. Our mission is simple: Improve our community’s health through access and relationships. By working collaboratively with partners and continually innovating, JVH strives to be a leader in providing essential healthcare for the underserved, ensuring everyone in our community has access to quality healthcare.

Job Summary:

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) provides occupational therapy interventions to PACE participants at Jordan Valley Senior Care (JVSC) under the direction and supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist (OT), consistent with the participant's individualized plan of care developed and approved by the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT). The COTA helps participants build, restore, and maintain the skills needed for daily living so they can remain safely and independently in the community, supporting JVSC's core mission. Services are delivered at the PACE center, in participants' homes, and in contracted facility settings as directed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Implements occupational therapy treatment interventions established in the plan of care under the direction of the supervising OT, including but not limited to activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) retraining, therapeutic activity, fine motor and upper extremity function, and cognitive-functional tasks.
• Trains participants in the safe and effective use of adaptive equipment, durable medical equipment, and home modifications recommended by the OT to support independence and reduce fall or injury risk.
• Monitors and records participant response to treatment, including functional performance, tolerance, and any new or worsening symptoms, and reports significant changes to the supervising OT promptly.
• Educates participants, family members, and caregivers in techniques, home programs, energy conservation, joint protection, and safety strategies to support function between visits.
• Assists with home safety assessments and recommends environmental modifications to the supervising OT based on observations during home visits.
• Recommends adjustments to treatment activities to the supervising OT based on observed participant response; does not independently alter the plan of care or perform formal evaluations. Works only within their scope of practice.
• Supports participants with cognitive, perceptual, or behavioral changes using approved therapeutic and compensatory strategies developed by the OT and IDT.
• Participates in discharge planning and transition of care activities, including communication with home care, transportation, and contracted facility staff.
• Completes timely, accurate documentation of each treatment session, including objective measures of progress toward IDT-established goals, for clinical and billing purposes.
• May assist the OT in management of DME, adaptive equipment, personal response systems, and other items as recommended by the supervising OT.
• Other job duties as assigned.

Benefits Overview:

• Medical and Prescription Drug Coverage: Three comprehensive plan options (Buy-up, Base, and High Deductible) through UnitedHealthcare's Choice Plus network, covering various deductibles and out-of-pocket limits. Includes access to telemedicine services via Teladoc.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): Available for employees in the High Deductible Plan with employer contributions and tax advantages.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Options for both healthcare and dependent care FSAs, allowing pre-tax contributions for qualified expenses.
• Dental and Vision Coverage: Dental insurance through Cigna’s DPPO network and vision coverage through EyeMed’s Insight network.
• Retirement Plan: Pre-tax and Roth 403(b) retirement plans with a 5% employer match starting after 30 days of employment.
• Life and Disability Insurance: Basic Life and AD&D insurance provided at no cost, with the option to purchase additional coverage. Long-term and short-term disability insurance are also available.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free confidential support for personal and professional challenges, including counseling and crisis intervention.
• Additional Voluntary Benefits: Options for critical illness, accident, hospital care, and pet insurance through MetLife.

Holidays:

• Nine paid holidays per year.

Health Requirements:

All employees are required to provide proof of vaccination for Flu, Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis (TB) as part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.

Application Process:

Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter through the JVH career portal at Careers & Education - Jordan Valley. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Jordan Valley Health is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of an Associate's degree from an occupational therapy assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), or equivalent as recognized by the Missouri Board of Occupational Therapy.
• Current, active license or certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in the State of Missouri (COTA), in good standing, maintained throughout employment.
• National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification required.
• Current BLS certification required within 90 days of hire.
• Have one year of experience working with a frail or elderly population or, if the individual has less than one year of experience but meets all other requirements must receive appropriate training from JVSC on working with a frail or elderly population upon hiring.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience working with older adults, individuals with chronic illness or disability, or in a home- and community-based, geriatric, or long-term care setting is preferred.
• PACE or interdisciplinary team-based care experience is a plus but not required.