Occupational Therapist at Road Accident Fund

Key Performance Areas

Review. Align and Update Existing OT related Tariffs including In-Built Rules Applicable to OT Profession

• Review and identify gaps in the existing OT tariffs.
• Align the updated tariff to the developed evidence-based treatment protocols.
• Develop in-built rules and align them with the updated tariff.

Define and Develop Evidence Based Treatment Protocols in Respect of the Categories Injuries

• Define Treatment protocol framework comprising of clinical policies, processes and guidelines.
• Ensure that associated treatment protocols are identified for each case.
• Develop associated treatment plan templates which accommodates the following codes: ICD10 codes, CPT codes and NAPPI codes (cross walks).
• Organise for review of the protocols, guidelines and tariffs by relevant specialist in the field
• Ensure that treatment protocols are designed to assist patients to get back to their maximum potential in both work and sport, including adaptation to permanent disabilities.
• Develop processes for implementation for assessing clinical functions to:
• Conduct assessments to measure physical and functional abilities.
• Plan and directs specific therapeutic/rehabilitative programs.
• Select and designs a variety of activities that assist an affected movement or function.
• Assist patients to gain or regain skills in social, leisure and work environments through graded individual and group therapy and activity programs.
• Monitor the progress of patients and adjust treatment programme where required.

Draft Clinical Guidelines and Processes

• Draft concrete and specific guidelines to assist the medical/ rehabilitation staff on what type of care that should be provided.
• Visit work employees work places and homes to plan rehabilitation and re-intergration.
• Work as a member of a holistic rehabilitation team.
• Devise procedures and standards for treatment and exercise programs.
• Provide guidelines for need for appropriate orthopaedic assistive devices.
• Research, benchmark best practice for vocational rehabilitation.
• Draft guidelines for vocational rehabilitation and return to work.

Policy Review and Implementation

• Contribute to the development and implementation of departmental policy, procedures and processes.
• Keep up to date with effective policy and practice execution strategies.

Stakeholder Management

• Consult with relevant stakeholders (Professional Bodies) on a regular basis to keep up with industry updates, eg. OTASA
• Ensure stakeholder awareness and buy-in on the new protocols being developed.
• Develop reports/ procedures and guide the process through the alignment of the documents to the overall RAF’s Strategy.
• Develop functional reporting systems, for management, projects or performance reporting.
• Prepare proposals, briefings, presentations, reports, and other documentation and provide management information both verbally and in report format.

Reporting

• Collect patient statistics to inform future decisions
• Compile monthly reports
• Develop & implement health education programs for claimants and relevant stakeholders
• Ensure processes are in place to have accurate and timeous patient data and information.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree/ Advanced Diploma in Occupational Therapy related qualification.
• Valid registration with the HPCSA as an Occupational Therapist.
• A qualification in evidence-based medicine and/or treatment protocol development will be advantageous.
• Relevant 5 - 7 years’ experience in the field of Occupational Therapy.
• Experience in Vocational Rehabilitation and Return to work guidelines.
• Experience in defining and developing evidence-based treatment protocols of Occupational Therapy-related treatment protocols
• With experience working with ICD 10 codes, CPT codes, NAPPI codes Experience in Functional Capacity Evaluation and associated reports and tariffs applicable.
• Experience in Vocational Rehabilitation, Community or Home-based Occupational Therapy, with a good understanding of issues of access, affordable and reasonable Home Modifications necessary for people living with disabilities.