Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) - Acute Care Therapy

Summary

About Us

CoxHealth is a leading healthcare system serving 25 counties across southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas. The organization includes six hospitals, 5 ERs, and over 80 clinics. CoxHealth has earned the following honors for workplace excellence:

• Named one of Modern Healthcare s Best Places to work five times.
• Named one of America s Greatest Workplaces in Health Care by Newsweek .
• Named one of America s Greatest Workplaces by Newsweek in 2024.
• Recognized as the Greatest Workplace for Women in both 2023 and 2024.
• Listed as one of the Greatest Workplaces for Diversity in 2024.
• Acknowledged by Forbes as one of the Best Employers for New Grads in 2023.
• Ranked among the Best Employers by State for Missouri.
• Healthcare Innovation's Top Companies to Work for in Healthcare in 2025.

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, Dental, Retirement Plan with employer match, and many more!
• For a comprehensive list of benefits, please click here: Benefits CoxHealth

Additional Information About the Position for Qualified Candidates

• Up to $6,000 Sign-On Bonus
• Up to 40 hours of front-loaded Paid Time Off
• Up to $3,000 Relocation bonus
• Clinical Ladder up to $4,000

Job Summary

A Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) works under the direction of an Occupational Therapist (OT) in the acute care setting. The Occupational Therapy assistant treats patients in pediatric through geriatric age ranges implementing prescribed treatments for patients post trauma, surgery, acute medical event or exacerbation. The Occupational Therapy assistant completes activities of daily living, therapeutic exercises and activities, and other training and treatment activities to return the patient to a normal pattern of functioning as possible. The COTA collaborates with the supervising OT as well as other medical professionals. The COTA also provides education to patients and assists with training in use of adaptive equipment. Occupational Therapy Assistants in acute care therapy participate in a rotation approximately every 3 months in the following medical units: step down, cardiology, medical/surgical, oncology, respiratory, neurology, and orthopedic.

Job Requirements

Education

• Required: Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Experience

• No prior experience required

Skills

• Good clinical expertise, communication skills, human relations skills and organizational skills required.
• Self-motivated individual who can work independently with little direct supervision required
• Has demonstrated interest in professional growth by attendance at continuing education workshops, and applications of new principles and/or techniques.

Licensure/Certification/Registration

• Required: License for Occupational Therapy Assistant active in the state of Missouri
• Required: BLS must be obtained within 90 days of hire