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Inpatient Occupational Therapist IHR-Casual As Needed

Northwestern Medicine · Geneva, IL · Part time · Health Care Provider

Posted Oct 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you taught a family member to help with transfers or self-care before discharge.

What they are checking: Caregiver training skill, which often decides whether a patient can safely go home.

This role is a model for other therapists and clinical interns. Tell me about a time you supervised a student.

What they are checking: Whether they can teach and give honest feedback, not just treat their own patients.

Tell me about a time a service broke down for a patient and you fixed it.

What they are checking: Service recovery skills, which the posting names as part of the everyday job.

What would you do

You are casual and come in when needed. How do you get up to speed on patients you have never seen before?

What they are checking: Whether they can pick up a caseload quickly from chart review and handoffs without losing quality.

A patient refuses therapy and says they are too tired. What do you do?

What they are checking: Respecting patient choice while using motivation and creative timing to keep progress going.

A nurse and you disagree on whether a patient is safe to toilet independently. How do you work it out?

What they are checking: Collaboration across disciplines that puts patient safety ahead of who is right.

About the work

Walk me through your evaluation of a patient on our inpatient rehab unit two days after a stroke.

What they are checking: Whether their evaluation covers ADLs, cognition, vision and safety and leads to clear functional goals.

How do you decide what a patient's discharge recommendation should be, and how do you defend it to the team?

What they are checking: Clinical reasoning about safe discharge and the ability to back it up with objective findings.

How does your treatment change for a patient with a spinal cord injury compared with a hip replacement on the same unit?

What they are checking: Breadth of inpatient rehab knowledge across diagnoses typical of an IRF caseload.

How do you keep documentation timely and defensible when you are covering a full caseload as needed?

What they are checking: Whether their notes support medical necessity and the rules that inpatient rehab must meet.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. • A licensed occupational therapist who complies with the Code of Ethics/Standards of Practice as outlined by their professional organization and by the State of Illinois. • The position includes direct patient care, teaching, participation on appropriate committees and departmental process improvement. • Serves as a role model for all therapists and clinical interns in all aspects of professional, clinical, communication, education and leadership activities. Responsibilities: • Demonstrates the NM values of Patients First, Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence. • Presents a friendly, approachable, professional demeanor and appearance. • Provides accurate information and timely updates to patients and customers. • Uses effective service recovery skills to solve problems or service breakdowns when they occur. • Communicates effectively with others, respects diverse opinions and styles, and acknowledges the assistance and contributions of others. • Uses organizational and unit/department resources efficiently. • Facilitates collaborative care with other healthcare team members. • Manages work schedule efficiently, completing tasks and assignments on time. • Contributes to opportunities and processes for continuous improvement. • Participates in efforts to reduce costs, streamline work processes, improve and grow services we provide. • Demonstrates essential skill competencies in selecting the appropriate evaluation in the use of treatment modalities, equipment and protocols. Performs re-evaluations according to department guidelines, adjusting the treatment plan accordingly. Evidenced by chart review. • Demonstrates creative problem solving and diversity when adapting the treatment to special circumstances. • Assumes complete responsibility over the course of OT patient management from the time of initial contact to discharge for functional progress, safety and treatment outcome as evidenced by team feedback and documentation. Maintains primary responsibility over patient plans of care through timely and consistent collaboration with treating COTA(s). • Adheres to department policy regarding evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. All notes reflect medical necessity and are accurately entered per policy into the electronic medical record. • Completes daily notes that reflect patient's response to treatment, actual performance, and an assessment as to status, relevant to the treatment plan and eventual discharge needs as evidenced by chart review, meeting all regulatory documentation requirements (e.g., allows other therapists to continue treatment, allows for interpretation by payers, supports reimbursement). • Provides educational materials and methods appropriate to the patient's level of understanding and motivation as evidenced by chart review, observation and team feedback. • Participates in committees, department processes, and special projects in accordance with clinical expertise and individual performance plan. • Creates a culture of respectful communication by listening, asking for input, open and honest conversation, approachability and timely acknowledgement of individual and team contributions. • Works to develop and maintain professional relationships with members of healthcare teams (ex: physician, nurse, case manager). Participates in internal and external marketing per department expectations. • Accepts constructive feedback and is able to make timely changes as evidenced by written coaching forms/chart audits and team feedback. • Proactively completes non-patient care responsibilities within established time frames consistently (e.g. coverage notes, PTO/schedule change requests, bonus pay forms, discharge checklists, follow up phone calls). • Contributes to educational efforts of department/clinic (e.g. in-services, Journal Club, new hire orientation, process improvement). • Actively participates in student clinical or observation programs by serving as a clinical instructor, mentor, or observation host as per department expectations • Maintains productivity standards per department expectations • Completes all NM required education, competencies and training within required timeframes. • Demonstrates willingness to accommodate patient care needs and department specific meetings as needed. • Demonstrates willingness to flex schedule or assignment to meet patient care needs, staff meetings , and department specific meetings outside normal work hours Minimum Requirements: Education: • Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy Licensure: • Occupational Therapist License in the state of Illinois Certification: • BLS from American Heart Association upon hire Preferred: • Masters or Doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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