How To Hire An Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant

Research Summary. Here are some key points about hiring acute care occupational therapy assistants in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an acute care occupational therapy assistant is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new acute care occupational therapy assistant to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

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How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant

Before you start to hire acute care occupational therapy assistants, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire acute care occupational therapy assistants pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $52,403 per year for an acute care occupational therapy assistant, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for acute care occupational therapy assistants in the US typically range between $18 and $33 an hour.

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How to hire an Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant, step by step

To hire an acute care occupational therapy assistant, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire an acute care occupational therapy assistant:

  • Step 1: Identify your needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Writing an acute care occupational therapy assistant job description
  • Step 5: Post the job
  • Step 6: Interview process
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new acute care occupational therapy assistant
  • Step 8: Go through the checklist for the hiring process

1
Identify Your Needs

The first step to find acute care occupational therapy assistants for hire is determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

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An acute care occupational therapy assistant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, acute care occupational therapy assistants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

This list provides information on the salaries of different acute care occupational therapy assistant roles.

Type Of Acute Care Occupational Therapy AssistantDescriptionHourly Rate
Acute Care Occupational Therapy AssistantOccupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. Occupational therapy assistants are directly involved in providing therapy to patients; occupational therapy aides typically perform support activities... Show More$18-33
Progressive Care NurseProgressive care nurses are nursing professionals who are responsible for monitoring the condition of patients that are admitted to the hospital's progressive care unit (PCU). These nurses are required to observe the acutely ill patients for critical vital signs and detect any changes while initiating life-saving interventions when needed... Show More$21-54
Occupational Therapy AideOccupational therapy aides are professional assistants who assist patients by preparing the treatment area, equipment, and materials while helping them complete their occupational therapy tasks. These aides are required to demonstrate the proper use of the equipment and assist in patients' occupational therapy routines, such as moving from a bed into a wheelchair or the best way to stretch and limber muscles... Show More$7-28

2
Create An Ideal Candidate Profile

Before you start to recruit acute care occupational therapy assistants, imagine the ideal employee for this position and begin creating a profile and job description. What skills do they have, and what responsibilities do they have to be proficient in?

Acute care occupational therapy assistants typically have the following skills:

Common Skills:
  • Vital Signs
  • Rehabilitation
  • Discharge Planning
  • EKG
  • Direct Supervision
  • Care Program
  • Acute Care
  • Care Conferences
  • Adaptive Equipment
  • ADL
  • CVA

Here is a list of common responsibilities that acute care occupational therapy assistants may be expected to fulfill:

Responsibilities:
  • Maintain daily documentation of therapy sessions including: ADL activities, therapeutic exercises, and modalities.
  • Assist in rehabilitation interventions and evaluations.
  • Document sessions using handwritten format to complete medicare requirements and used computer technology to enter minutes of therapy.
  • Perform weekly in-service education for splint applications/patient positioning to nursing staff and restorative technicians.
  • Suggest energy conservation/work simplification techniques.

Cultural fit is also an essential factor that you shouldn't overlook. Consider how your perfect acute care occupational therapy assistant will contribute to the team dynamic and help grow the team's culture in a positive way. If you can include a clear vision of this in your acute care occupational therapy assistant job description, it'll help attract candidates who are better suited for the position.

Most Common States For Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistants In The US

Rank #State# Of Jobs% of PopulationAvg. Salary
1Illinois1,96315%$49,603
2Arizona1,10816%$48,397
3Missouri1,00917%$47,970
4Minnesota87616%$42,482
5Wisconsin86415%$46,937
Show More

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3
Make A Budget

Including a salary range in your job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An acute care occupational therapy assistant can vary based on things like:

  • Location. For example, acute care occupational therapy assistants' average salary in south dakota is 37% less than in hawaii.
  • Seniority. Entry-level acute care occupational therapy assistants 46% less than senior-level acute care occupational therapy assistants.
  • Certifications. An acute care occupational therapy assistant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
  • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an acute care occupational therapy assistant's salary.

Updated March 16, 2023

Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Estimate

$52,403

$25.19 hourly
Entry level Salary
$38,000 yearly

4
Writing an Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant Job Description

A job description for an acute care occupational therapy assistant role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an acute care occupational therapy assistant job description:

Example of Full Job Description

Our mission is clear. We bring to life a healing ministry through our compassionate care and exceptional service.

At Mercy, we believe in careers that match the unique gifts of unique individuals - careers that not only make the most of your skills and talents, but also your heart. Join us and discover why Modern Healthcare Magazine named us in its “Top 100 Places to Work.”


Overview:

Under the general supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist and according to standards of treatment, assists with objective assessments as well as comprehensive individualized treatment programs for patients of all age ranges, according to departmental policies and procedures.


Qualifications:

  • Licensure : Current license for Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
  • Certifications : BLS certified. Required certifications must be current before assigned to care for patients independently.

We Offer Great Benefits:


Day-one comprehensive health, vision and dental coverage, PTO, tuition reimbursement and employer-matched retirement funds are just a few of the great benefits offered to eligible co-workers, including those working 48 hours or more per pay period!

We're bringing to life a healing ministry through compassionate care.


At Mercy, our supportive community will be behind you every step of your day, especially the tough ones. You will have opportunities to pioneer new models of care and transform the health care experience through advanced technology and innovative procedures. We're expanding to help our communities grow. Join us and be a part of it all.


What Makes You a Good Match for Mercy?


Compassion and professionalism go hand-in-hand with us. Having a positive outlook and a strong sense of advocacy is in perfect step with our mission and vision. We're also collaborative and unafraid to do a little extra to deliver excellent care - that's just part of our commitment. If that sounds like a good fit for you, we encourage you to apply.


Mercy has determined this is a safety-sensitive position. The ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner is an essential function of this job.

5
Post A Job

To find acute care occupational therapy assistants for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

  • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
  • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any acute care occupational therapy assistants they would recommend.
  • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level acute care occupational therapy assistants with the right educational background.
  • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

Post your job online:

  • Post your acute care occupational therapy assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit acute care occupational therapy assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
  • Use field-specific websites.
  • Post a job on free websites.

6
Interview Process

During your first interview to recruit acute care occupational therapy assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and their experience in the field. During the next interview, you can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities.

Don't forget to include a few questions that give a candidate chance to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their special skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, candidates who are good enough can move on to the technical interview.

The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7
Send A Job Offer And Onboard Your New Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant

Once you've selected the best acute care occupational therapy assistant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks that you're offering the candidate. It's essential to ensure that your offer is competitive, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it's important to be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new acute care occupational therapy assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8
Go Through The Checklist For The Hiring Process

  • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
  • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
  • Define job responsibilities and requirements
  • Establish budget and timeline
  • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
  • Write job description
  • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
  • Promote the job internally
  • Process applications through applicant tracking system
  • Review resumes and cover letters
  • Shortlist candidates for screening
  • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
  • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
  • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
  • Conduct background checks on top candidates
  • Check references of top candidates
  • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
  • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
  • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
  • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
  • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
  • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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Hiring Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistants FAQs

How Much Does A Good Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant Cost?

A good acute care occupational therapy assistant costs $25.19 an hour in the US. However, it can vary based on factors such as the acute care occupational therapy assistant experience, abilities, industry, and the specific requirements of your business.

What Are The Duties Of An Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant?

The duties of an acute care occupational therapy assistant are:
  • Maintain daily documentation of therapy sessions including: ADL activities, therapeutic exercises, and modalities.
  • Assist in rehabilitation interventions and evaluations.
  • Document sessions using handwritten format to complete medicare requirements and used computer technology to enter minutes of therapy.

Should I Hire An Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant With No Experience?

Yes, you should hire an acute care occupational therapy assistant with no experience. Hiring an entry-level acute care occupational therapy assistant with no experience offers versatility for your team. They may lack some qualifications, but are adaptable and have not yet formed problematic habits. However, more training may be required compared to experienced.

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Updated March 16, 2023