Job Description
Facility: Black Hills Ortho Spine Ctr
Location: Rapid City, SD
Address: 7220 Mt Rushmore Rd, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA
Shift: 8 Hours - Day Shifts
Job Schedule: Full time
Weekly Hours: 40.00
Salary Range: $30.00 - $46.50
Department Details
Sanford Health is seeking a skilled and motivated Occupational Therapist (OT) to join our growing Hand and Upper Extremity Rehab Program. This position focuses on evaluating and treating patients with conditions affecting the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder, including post-surgical, traumatic, orthopedic, neurologic, sports-related, and work-related injuries.
A unique aspect of this role is close collaboration with hand and upper extremity surgeons, creating an integrated care model focused on exceptional patient outcomes. The therapist will participate in treatment planning, post-operative rehabilitation, patient education, and program development within a multidisciplinary orthopedic team.
Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) certification is strongly preferred; candidates actively pursuing CHT certification are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
Evaluate patients and develop individualized treatment plans to restore function and optimize outcomes.
Provide specialized upper extremity care, including therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, scar/edema management, tendon and nerve rehabilitation, post-operative care, and custom orthosis fabrication.
Collaborate with surgeons, orthopedic providers, APPs, and rehabilitation professionals to provide coordinated, evidence-based care.
Monitor progress, adjust treatment plans, and educate patients and families on recovery, home programs, and injury prevention.
Maintain accurate documentation and apply evidence-based practices to clinical care.
Support program development, quality improvement, outreach, continuing education, and serve as a clinical resource.
Supervise therapy assistants, aides, and students and collaborate with other care partners as appropriate.
Typical Patient Population
Tendon repairs and transfers
Hand, wrist, and elbow fractures
Peripheral nerve injuries
Carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes
Trigger finger and tendon disorders
De Quervain's tenosynovitis
Arthritis and joint replacement/reconstruction
Shoulder conditions
Sports-related injuries
Work-related injuries
Complex trauma and post-surgical rehabilitation
Preferred Qualifications
Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential.
Two or more years of experience in hand therapy, upper extremity rehabilitation, or outpatient orthopedics.
Experience with custom orthosis fabrication and post-operative rehabilitation protocols.
Strong understanding of upper extremity biomechanics and evidence-based rehabilitation practices.
Why Join Our Team?
Collaborative Specialty Care Model: Work alongside hand and upper extremity surgeons, APPs, and rehabilitation professionals in an integrated, team-based environment focused on exceptional patient outcomes.
Strong Provider and Therapist Engagement: Collaborate with physicians, APPs, and therapists through shared treatment planning, clinical discussions, and coordinated care.
Dedicated to Clinical Excellence: Deliver high-quality care through evidence-based practice, incorporating current research into clinical decision-making and treatment planning.
Commitment to Professional Growth: Access internal education, specialty training, mentorship, and a continuing medical education (CME) budget to advance your expertise.
Specialty Program Development: Help grow and advance a thriving hand and upper extremity rehabilitation program while shaping best practices and clinical pathways.
Diverse and Complex Caseload: Treat post-surgical cases, tendon and nerve injuries, fractures, sports and work-related injuries, and complex orthopedic conditions.
Patient-Centered Culture: Build meaningful patient relationships while providing individualized care focused on recovery, function, education, and long-term success.
Learning-Focused Environment: Join a team that values knowledge sharing, clinical mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Job Summary
As an Occupational Therapist, you will assess residents/patients and use treatments to help them develop, maintain and recover their ability to perform tasks in their occupations of life. Occupational Therapists who thrive at Good Sam and Sanford are typically good communicators, compassionate, and enjoy working with people. In this Occupational Therapist role you may be asked to supervise assistants, aides, and students as they provide care, treatment, or other services inside the department as well as interact with individuals outside the department like providers, case managers, family members, and more.
Responsibilities
Conducts evaluations and provides interventions for residents and patients
Evaluates abilities of residents/patients and develops realistic therapy goals
Documents resident's/patient’s information for evaluation and establishes therapeutic plans
Provides education designed to enhance understanding and improve functional outcomes
Demonstrates and incorporates knowledge of current research into daily treatment
Provides ongoing education and training to peers in the area(s) of expertise