Jennifer Bickel, COTA/L
South Dakota
Summary
Dedicated and highly skilled Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA/L) with extensive experience across diverse healthcare settings, providing patient-centered care to geriatric, pediatric, and post-operative populations. Proven leadership as a Director of Rehabilitation (DOR), effectively managing multidisciplinary teams and implementing evidence-based practices to optimize patient outcomes.
Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of occupational therapy services in/as:
• Director of Rehabilitation: Experienced leader in skilled nursing rehabilitation, overseeing physical, occupational, and speech therapy programs. Skilled in staff development, compliance, and quality improvement to enhance patient outcomes and operational efficiency. Passionate about optimizing care and patient independence.
• In-Patient Long-Term Acute Care Facilities and Rehabilitation Hospitals: Addressing complex medical and rehabilitative needs of geriatric patients through tailored interventions to improve functional mobility and quality of life.
• Out-Patient Clinics: Specializing in post-operative care, employing progressive treatment plans to restore functional abilities and facilitate safe return to daily activities.
• Pediatric Clinics: Supporting developmental milestones and sensory integration for infants and children, fostering growth through play-based interventions.
• Skilled Nursing Facilities: Providing comprehensive care to geriatric patients, including restorative therapy, fall prevention, and ADL training.
Highly adaptable, compassionate, and collaborative, with a strong commitment to empowering patients to achieve their highest level of independence. Skilled in patient education, care planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and documentation to ensure quality care and compliance with regulatory standards. Recognized for a holistic approach, fostering trust, and promoting well-being for patients across the lifespan.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Rehabilitation
Reliant Rehabilitation
Sioux Falls , SD
11.2024 - Current
- Represented the organization at professional conferences and meetings concerning rehabilitation topics.
- Facilitated communication between physicians, therapists, nurses, case managers, families, and other stakeholders involved in the care of patients.
- Organized and coordinated the daily operations of the rehabilitation department including daily scheduling, productivity standards, daily utilization reports, utilization review, RUGs management and projections, and PDPM management and projections.
- Month chart review and audits for all Medicare A & B and managed care patient's including review of therapist's documentation for accuracy and confirmation of payer verifications.
- Increased therapy margins from 7% to 25%
- Maintained compliance with state and federal regulations regarding patient care and safety standards.
- Developed, implemented, and monitored overall rehabilitation program goals and objectives for all therapy staff.
- Reviewed medical records, evaluated patient progress, and modified treatment plans as needed.
- Recruited, hired and trained new medical and facility staff.
- Ensures compliance with company and facility policies, procedures, practices, and reports variances. Communicates policies and procedures as needed to appropriate staff.
- Managed a full caseload of occupational therapy patient's with daily treatment sessions and weekly progress notes while under OTR supervision.
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Select Rehab/Reliant Rehab
Sioux Falls, SD
05.2023 - Current
- Conduct regular screening of residents to determine the best intervention or treatment for each individual patient, based on scope of practice.
- Perform treatment plan to residents; follow short and long-term goals and methods to achieve goals based off of the established plan of care by supervising therapist.
- Interpret and communicate evaluation findings, treatment plans, and recommendations to residents, families/caregivers, and interdisciplinary team members.
- Establish individual resident therapy schedules in cooperation with other team members.
- Conduct therapy according to the established treatment plan, and ensure proper documentation and billing of occupational therapy services.
- Perform all other duties as assigned and as required to effectively treat patients.
- Comply with all CMS documentation standards of practice daily, with point of care documentations as indicated.
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Amedisys Home Health & Hospice
Memphis, TN
08.2019 - 02.2023
- Responsible for promoting, facilitating, and maintaining health, well-being, and participation in life through engagement in occupation under the supervision of and in partnership with an Occupational Therapist
- Facilitated skilled interventions in accordance with the physician approved plan of care and under the direction and supervision of an Occupational Therapist
- Concise documentation of each visit according to AOTA Documentation Guidelines and accepted regulatory standards for inclusion in the patient’s clinical record
- Observed, recorded and reported the patient’s response to treatment and any change in the patient’s condition to the supervising OTR, physician, and other appropriate clinical staff
- Provided patient and caregiver resources for further ADL and IADL needs, and promoted wellness and prevention by promoting occupational engagement.
- Participated in patient care conferences, in-services, quality improvement activities while maintaining confidentiality of information relating to the Occupational Therapist-client relationship
- Demonstrated knowledge of available community resources/services, made recommendations for follow-up care in coordination with the care center that admitted patient/client
Certified Ocupational Therapy Assistant
Broad River Rehabilitation/Functional Pathways
Memphis, TN
05.2016 - 08.2019
- Build rapport with patients to address issues, research medical records and history, and make patient’s goals clear in order to provide them the highest level of independence
- Educate and demonstrate mobility enhancing exercises and therapeutic activities to allow for increased independence during ADLs/IADLs
- Follow treatment plans developed in collaboration with occupational therapist
- Update daily documentation and weekly progress notes addressing patient’s progress and current limitations
- Serve and protect the occupational therapy practice by adhering to professional standards, policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements
- Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations and attending continuing education courses and online course work
- Assist in determining need for continued services or discontinuation of services based on patient progress
- Coordinate in-services for facility staff as need is determined to ensure safe and effective carryover of Maintenance/Restorative Programs and overall care of the residents
- Attend Continuing Education courses specific to current position
- Promote profession within facility, including coordinating special events during National Occupational Therapy Month
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Halcyon Rehabilitation
Bartlett, TN
05.2016 - 10.2017
- Assisted the Occupational Therapist in determining the patient’s assets and limitations in establishing treatment goals and in planning appropriate occupational therapy treatment
- Reported observations of patient’s performance of treatments given and progress in the medical record through use of electronic documentation
- Participate in patient/resident care conferences, Interdisciplinary team meetings and other meetings as required or directed
- Communicated with supervisor and other health team members regarding patient/resident progress, problems and plan to allow for patient to achieve highest level of independence
- Participated in in-service training programs for all staff in the facility to allow for most current education on facility policies and procedures
- Instructed families and nursing staff in restorative/home programs as directed by the Occupational Therapist
- Coordinated with members of other departments and staff of the Rehab Department to address specific needs for patients after discharge to ensure safety and success in a home setting
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Ernest Health, Inc.
Laredo, TX
10.2014 - 03.2016
- Assisted the Occupational Therapist in determining the patient’s assets and limitations in establishing treatment goals and in planning appropriate occupational therapy treatment
- Reported observation of patient’s performance to OT with a 20 patient caseload and updated weekly care plan goals in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist
- Completed documentation of patient’s status/progress for assigned patients on caseload and determined correct billing for reimbursement to insurance companies
- Implemented the patient’s treatment plan and provided a therapeutic environment enabling the patient to engage in meaningful, goal-directed activity in order for the patient to achieve their highest level of independence
- Interacted with all patients, families, and fellow employees to address specific needs for patients after discharge to ensure safety and success in home setting
- Followed quality control, safety, infection and emergency procedures with consistence and compliance to hospital policy
- Implemented the use of PAMs when necessary or as needed for pain management and to meet individualized goals
- Supervisor/clinical instructor to Level I and Level II occupational therapy assistant fieldwork students for 1 week to 8 week rotations
- Spoke English and Spanish language to effectively communicate patient needs and to develop rapport with patients and families
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Center
Laredo, TX
06.2013 - 10.2014
- Collaborated with an Occupational Therapist and patient to develop individualized treatment goals
- Followed and administered rehabilitation protocols when attending to post-operative patients to ensure safe and progressive healing
- Administered PAMs when necessary or as needed for pain management/muscle strengthening
- Reported patient’s problem, potential and progress to occupational therapist through electronic documentation
- Assisted in designing home exercises programs for patients after goals have been met and patient discharged from therapy services
- Assisted Occupational Therapist in determining appropriate therapeutic interventions for patients to reach maximum level of independence and ability to perform activities of daily living functionally
- Supervised occupational therapy assistance students on clinical rotations
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Back In Action Pediatric Therapy
Laredo, TX
01.2013 - 06.2013
- Observed and recorded patient’s progress, maintenance and promotion of health and wellness
- Selected therapeutic activities to fit patient’s needs and capabilities and monitored performance during therapeutic activities
- Evaluated and collaborated with the Occupational Therapist, the daily living skills and capacities of physically, developmentally and emotional disabled clients
- Implemented and assisted the Occupational Therapist with implementing the individualized treatment plans designed to help clients function independently in numerous environments
- Worked under the direction of an Occupational Therapist to plan and administer functional activities of daily living
- Performed clerical duties, scheduling appointments, collecting data and documenting to health insurance for billing purposes
Education
A.S. Degree - Occupational Therapy Assistant
Casper College
Casper, WY05.2012
Kinesiology & Health Promotion
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY05.2010
Skills
- Functional Independence Measure Scoring (FIMS)
- Electronic Billing and Documentation (WebPT, Redoc, Casamba, Rehab Optima, PointCare, Nethealth)
- Acute Rehab experience
- ICU experience
- Sports Injury experience
- Post-operation rehab experience
- Pre-fabrication of splints
- Physical Agent Modalities Certification
Certification
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, South Dakota, 12/22, Current
- Completion of Medical Professional Coder Class (CPC), 02/25
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Tennessee, 05/16
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Texas, 01/13
- National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Certification since 02/13
- Member of AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association)
- BLS, CPR and First Aid Certification, Current
- Functional Independence Measurement Scoring (FIMS) Certified, Current
Timeline
Director of Rehabilitation
Reliant Rehabilitation
11.2024 - Current
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Select Rehab/Reliant Rehab
05.2023 - Current
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Amedisys Home Health & Hospice
08.2019 - 02.2023
Certified Ocupational Therapy Assistant
Broad River Rehabilitation/Functional Pathways
05.2016 - 08.2019
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Halcyon Rehabilitation
05.2016 - 10.2017
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Ernest Health, Inc.
10.2014 - 03.2016
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Center
06.2013 - 10.2014
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Back In Action Pediatric Therapy
01.2013 - 06.2013
A.S. Degree - Occupational Therapy Assistant
Casper College
Kinesiology & Health Promotion
University of Wyoming
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