Acute Care Occupational Therapist
Mission Viejo, California
Mission Hospital Mission Viejo

Occupational Therapist - Acute Care Hospital

Location: Mission Viejo, California
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Details

• Work schedule primarily Monday through Friday, with 3 weekend shifts required every 6 weeks
• Shift: Day shift, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (5x8 hours)
• 40 hours per week
• Acute care hospital setting with 488 staffed beds
• May be required to float to nearby facilities within a 50-mile radius
• Opportunity to cross-train at outpatient center (optional)
• Use of Epic electronic health record system
• Free parking available

Required Experience & Skills

• Minimum 2 years of Occupational Therapy experience in acute care (hard stop)
• ICU experience highly preferred
• First-time travelers may be considered only if they have 3+ years of experience
• Experience with patient populations including CVA, multiple trauma, cardiac, orthopedic, open heart, general medicine, oncology, neurology, spine, and total joint rehabilitation
• Must be a well-rounded caregiver capable of handling diverse acute care cases

Required Licenses & Certifications

• Valid California Occupational Therapy license (no pending licenses accepted)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required
• Advanced certifications (e.g., ACLS, PALS, NRP) may be required based on clinical track but not explicitly stated for this role

Compliance & Documentation Requirements

• Background check within 90 days of start, covering all locations lived/worked in past 7 years; must be updated annually
• Drug screening: 9-panel drug screen within 12 months of start (instant acceptable)
• Physical exam within 1 year of start, signed by MD, NP, PA, or DO, confirming ability to work with or without accommodation
• Immunizations and health screenings required:

  • TDAP vaccine within 10 years (declination accepted)
  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 12 months, updated annually
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination or positive titer with acceptable alternatives
  • Hepatitis B vaccination or signed declination
  • Varicella vaccination or positive titer with acceptable alternatives
  • Seasonal flu vaccine during flu season (declination accepted)
  • COVID vaccination record preferred; declinations accepted with adherence to masking policies
• Respiratory safety clearance required annually for respirator use (travel only)
• Fit mask testing required onsite or valid record within 1 year, updated annually

Requirements/Qualifications

• Valid Occupational Therapist license in California
• Minimum of 2 years of Occupational Therapy experience
• Occupational Therapy experience within the last year
• Experience in an Acute Care setting
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

Additional Requirements

• Minimum of 2 professional references covering at least 1 year of employment in a comparable specialty/setting within the last 3 years
• Employment application covering at least the last 5 years of employment with month/year format for dates
• Skills checklist updated annually as applicable
• Completion of annual regulatory and specialty-specific training modules via assigned learning management system
• Passport-style badge photo with neutral background required prior to start
• Float policy acknowledgment required due to possible floating between facilities

Notes

• Guaranteed hours may be subject to facility call-offs once per two-week pay period
• Local radius for assignment is 50 miles; flexibility to float to nearby facilities may be required
• Pending license applications are not accepted
• Return-to-Office (RTO) restrictions must be included at time of submission

This position is ideal for Occupational Therapists with acute care experience seeking a travel contract in a hospital setting with a diverse patient population and opportunities for professional growth.