Heather Almeter, COTA/L

**** ********* **, ***********, ** 45068 910-***-**** adbscg@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

Experienced Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and Therapy Program Manager • Looking to utilize my skills and expertise to ensure that healthcare companies are able to provide the best possible quality care to the clients they serve

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATION / LICENSURE

Associate of Science Degree: Occupational Therapy; May 1997

- Mount Aloysius College; Cresson, PA

Certified: Occupational Therapy Assistant; March 1998

- National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, # 1022932

Licensed: Occupational Therapy Assistant; Ohio: March 2016

- Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers Board, # OTA 06444

Bachelor of Science Degree: Healthcare Management; August 2007

- Anthem College Online; Phoenix, AZ

Certified Fieldwork Educator; June 2013

- AOTA – American Occupational Therapy Association

Certified Dementia Care Specialist; April 2019

- CPI – Crisis Prevention Institute

Licensed: Ohio Insurance Resident Major Lines / Accident & Health, Life; August 2018

- State of Ohio Department of Insurance, # 1202278

EXPERIENCE

CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT, PRN ENCORE REHABILITATION 1/2020 – CURRENT

·Provide Occupational Therapy services to patients with physical, neurological, and cognitive impairments under the supervision of OTR/L while adhering to professional standards, policies and procedures, federal and state requirements

·Implement individualized treatment plans developed in collaboration with OTR/L that are designed to help patients reach goals set during Occupational Therapy evaluation by OTR/L

·Train patients, caregivers and staff in adapted methods, compensatory strategies, use of adaptive equipment, splints and durable medical equipment to assist patient in achieving increased safety and function in activities of daily living

·Utilize Physical Agent Modalities; e-stim and ultrasound to maximize patient outcomes

·Provide electronic documentation and billing supporting skilled treatment interventions and patient’s progress toward goals set by OTR/L – utilizing Rehab Optima on laptop

THERAPY PROGRAM MANAGER, COTA/L - ENCORE REHABILITATION 10/2018 - 1/2020

·Therapy Program Manager in a Nursing facility that provides short term rehab, long term, hospice and respite care

·Coordinated therapy services to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Rehabilitation Department, excellent outcomes through appropriate staffing, performance, productivity, monitoring delivery of care, efficiently managing the clinical services provided, ensuring adherence of current policies and procedures, compliance in billing and insurance requirements, quality assurance, utilization and discharge planning

·Overall management of a Rehab Team of PTs, PTAs, OTs, COTAs and SLPs - Full Time, Part Time and PRN

·Represented Rehabilitation Department in Daily Department Head Meetings, Weekly Utilization Review Meetings, Weekly Risk Management Meetings, Patient Care Plan Meetings, and Quarterly Quality Assurance Meetings

·Coordinated staffing with Staffing Coordinator and Therapy Program Managers in the area to ensure that all facilities were appropriately staffed

·Performed administrative duties including working closely with MDS nurse to track and coordinate therapy assessments according to the requirements for proper reimbursement, including Medicare Part A PDPM: planning and accuracy of HIPPS coding and MDS assessments, Medicaid Case Mix, Commercial insurance, PPS, Medicare Part B, and Medicare/Medicaid Dual, obtaining insurance pre-authorization for therapy services, therapy record audits, ordering and ensuring proper maintenance of therapy equipment

·Assisted in recruitment and retention of therapy staff

·Planned and presented programs for marketing events and educational in-services

·Provided Occupational Therapy treatment under the supervision of an OTR/L with a 50% weekly efficiency average

·Utilized Rehab Optima, Point Click Care and Cure software for documentation, billing, scheduling, payroll, audits, business reports, reviewing medical records, completing and ensuring accuracy of therapy sections of MDS, updating patient information for UR/IDT Meetings

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

·Certified Dementia Care Specialist

·Experienced in implementing Group Therapy Activities to enhance task skills, communication and socialization skills, and physical abilities

·Certified in Advanced Physical Agent Modalities - e-stim, ultrasound and diathermy

·Proficient in ACP OmniVR

·Saebo Certified to fit SaeboFlex and SaeboReach - Experienced in use of SaeboMAS and Saebo ReJoyce

·AOTA Certified Fieldwork Educator and Facility Fieldwork Coordinator – Supervised Level I OT, PT, PTA and OTA students, and Level II OTA students

·Proficient in Rehab Optima, Casamba, Point Click Care, Cure and OnBase

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

ENCORE REHABILITATION – COTA/L – PRN – CINCINNATI REGION, OH 1/2020-CURRENT

ENCORE REHABILITATION – THERAPY PROGRAM MANAGER, COTA/L – CINCINNATI, OH 10/2018-1/2020

SYMBRIA REHAB – THERAPY PROGRAM MANAGER – LEBANON, OH 10/2016-6/2018

HCR MANORCARE - PART-TIME COTA/L – HILLSBORO, OH 8/2016-10/2016

HCR MANORCARE – COTA/L / BACKUP DOR - CHERRY HILL/WEST DEPTFORD, NJ 8/2008-7/2016

UNITED REHAB – COTA/L – NC STATE VETERAN’S NURSING HOME - FAYETTEVILLE, NC 1/2006 -6/2007

REHABCARE GROUP – COTA/L – NC STATE VETERAN’S NURSING HOME - FAYETTEVILLE, NC 4/2002-1/2006

LEGACY HEALTHCARE – COTA/L - FAYETTEVILLE, NC 7/2001-8/2002

SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL REHAB CENTER – COTA/L – FAYETTEVILLE, NC 5/1998-8/2001

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