MERLE FARRAR MCDOWELL
Nexus Specialty Hospital
Magnolia
1
Certification
33
years of professional experience
Healthcare professional with solid background in therapeutic support and patient care. Proven ability to implement effective treatment plans and improve patient mobility. Reliable team collaborator, adaptable to dynamic healthcare environments, with strong skills in communication and patient interaction.
Work History
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
2 Years 3 Months- Assisted with patient assessments and care plans to enhance rehabilitation outcomes.
- Facilitated therapeutic activities to improve patients' functional abilities and independence.
- Collaborated with occupational therapists to implement individualized treatment strategies.
- Monitored patient progress and adjusted interventions based on feedback and observations.
- Educated patients and families on therapeutic techniques for home practice and support.
- Maintained accurate documentation of patient progress in compliance with regulatory standards.
- Assisted patients with completing basic daily living activities such as grooming, dressing and self-feeding.
- Helped improve fine motor, visual perception and sensory processing skills.
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
9 Years 11 Months- Providing Occupational Therapy in an acute hospital facility, inclusive of Outpatient, Acute, and Inpatient rehabilitation
- Training in HBO wound care for Total Contact Casting for the diabetic foot
- Providing Saebo certified treatment
- Providing patient family education, training and HEP
- Providing information to OTR for reassessment and change in status
- Initiate Bowel and Bladder Program for IP Rehabilitation
- Initiated Out of Bed program for the weekends for IP Rehabilitation
- Initiated and provided format for Acute OT Screening process
- Mentored new staff on best practices for delivering effective occupational therapy services.
- Supported team initiatives to improve workflow efficiency and overall patient care quality.
6 Years 6 Months
- Providing Occupational Therapy in an assisted living traumatic brain injury facility; inclusive of home management skills, meal planning preparation, kitchen management, safety awareness, and concerns
- Providing patient family education, training, and HEP training
- Assist OTR with reassessment
6 Years 1 Month
- Providing Occupational Therapy in a long term acute care setting, inclusive of home management skills, meal preparation, kitchen management, and energy conservation training
- Providing patient family education, training, collateral
- Assist OTR with reassessment goals
- Assist with inventory for occupational therapy department
Rehabilitation Program Manager
2 Years 10 Months- On site Director of Occupational, Physical, Speech therapy services in a geriatric setting
- Providing staffing, recruitment, marketing, collateral development, facility integration liaison, OBRA compliance, medical community education, development recruitment of Rehabilitation Medical Director/Rehabilitation Medical Advisory Board, preadmission assessments, clinical documentation compliance, inservices, responsible for profit and loss of therapeutic services
Education
Associate of Science - Radio Broadcasting
Copywriting, television directing
- Photography
A.S. - Occupational Therapy
- Administered Life Skills, ACL and formal sensory evaluations
- Co-leader various groups, e.g. life skills, cooking, problem solving, activities and social interaction
- Leader of wellness walks and leisure activities
- Hartford County Elementary School Systems
Skills
ADL Skills
Fine motor skills development
Patient/Family Training
Adaptive Equipment Training
Endurance Training
Upper extremity strengthening
Neurological disorders
Patient-centered care
Visual Motor Integration
Splinting training
Supply Management
Group therapy facilitation
Accomplishments
- Aetna Life and Casualty Foundation Scholarship Award, 1991
- Greater Hartford Community College Dean's List, 1990
- Manchester Community College Dean's List, 1990-1991
Certification
- Managing Dysphasia in the Long-term Care Setting
- Smith, Nephew Rolyan Splinting
- Successful Wound Management
- Restorative Care Training
- Coaching and Teambuilding Skills for Managers and Supervisors
- Principles and Practices of Electrotherapy
- Medicare Reimbursement: Issues in Occupational Therapy
- Image and Communication Skills for Women
- Electric Modalities
- Managing Abnormal Muscle Tone
- Sensory Integration and Self Regulation in Young Children
- Clinician Rater Certification-Rehabilitation (FIM/IADL, Comorbid)
- Saebo Certified
- Modified Constraint Induced Therapy
Timeline
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Nexus Specialty Hospital
03.2024 - CurrentRead More
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
HCA Healthcare Houston
04.2014 - 03.2024Read More
TOUCHSTONE NEURORECOVERY CENTER
09.2007 - 03.2014Read More
TRIUMPH HEALTHCARE
08.2001 - 09.2007Read More
Rehabilitation Program Manager
THERATX INCORPORATED
07.1993 - 05.1996Read More
Manchester Community College
A.S. from Occupational Therapy
Read More
Connecticut School of Art Design
from Photography
Read More
Connecticut School of Broadcasting
Associate of Science from Radio Broadcasting
Read More