Location: Merced, CA

Start Date: 12-07-2025

End Date: 03-08-2026

Contract Type: Travel Contract

Shift Type: Day shifts, 8-hour days (facility-determined start/end times; typical daytime coverage, e.g., 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM), Monday–Friday typical, 40 hours/week guaranteed; facility may consider 10-hour options for certain travelers and floating between inpatient/outpatient/home health as needed

Hours per Week: 40

Candidate Pay Rate: $59 per hour

About United Health Care Staffing

At United Health Care Staffing (UHC Staffing), we believe healthcare staffing should be more than just finding a job. We are here to connect amazing professionals with opportunities that make their careers exciting, rewarding, and meaningful. With us, you're not just signing up for a contract you are joining a team that's got your back, answers your calls, and maybe even cracks a joke or two to brighten your day. Think of us as the travel buddy who handles the logistics while you focus on what you do best helping people heal.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Provide skilled occupational therapy evaluations and treatment for outpatient hand therapy and inpatient adult/geriatric patients
• Fabricate and apply therapeutic splints to support functional recovery and hand rehabilitation
• Deliver evidence-based care across acute, telemetry and surgical units and at the off-site outpatient center
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including PT, ST, nursing, respiratory therapy and physicians to optimize patient outcomes
• Document thoroughly and accurately in Cerner EMR to support continuity of care
• Support early mobility and vent/critical care protocols when needed to advance patient recovery
• Participate in department orientation, skills checklist completion and mentoring of therapy aides/COTAs

Qualifications

• Current California Occupational Therapy license (required)
• Minimum 2 years of clinical OT experience (outpatient hand/splinting and acute care experience strongly preferred)
• BLS certification required prior to patient care
• Comfortable with Cerner EMR and electronic documentation
• Experience with hand therapy and splint fabrication
• Ability to float between inpatient, outpatient and home health settings
• Pediatrics and geriatrics experience, wound care, telemetry familiarity, and ventilator/early mobility experience are a plus
• Strong teamwork, communication skills and flexibility for varied caseloads

Education

• Degree in Occupational Therapy (OTR, OTD or equivalent) and current state licensure

Knowledge & Skills

• Skilled in hand therapy assessment and splinting techniques
• Knowledge of acute care diagnoses: orthopedic, neurologic, pulmonary and medical complications
• Familiarity with Cerner charting and documentation workflows
• Ability to work with telemetry patients and collaborate with critical care teams
• Home health evaluation processes and outpatient clinic workflows
• Experience with early mobility programs and ventilator management levels is beneficial

Benefits

• Generous travel reimbursement and housing support to make your contract comfortable
• Competitive pay with overtime and holiday differentials
• Medical, dental and vision options to keep you healthy
• Licensure assistance and reimbursement so you can focus on care, not paperwork
• BLS and clinical support — you won’t be flying solo
• Paid orientation and onboarding time so you start confident
• Referral bonus program — bring friends and get rewarded
• A collaborative therapy team that values your expertise and growth

Travel Perks: Explore Merced, CA

Merced is a great home base for outdoor lovers and weekend explorers. You’re about one hour from Yosemite National Park for hiking and scenic escapes, roughly two hours from Monterey Bay and San Francisco for coastal trips and city fun, and close to the Sierra Nevada range for skiing, trails and stunning vistas. Merced itself is a friendly community with a diverse patient population and easy access to regional parks and local eats — perfect for packing adventure into your off time.

Hashtags

#OccupationalTherapistJobs #MercedCAJobs #TravelTherapy #OTJobs #HandTherapy #AlliedHealthJobs #UHCCareers #CernerJobs #TherapyTravel #HealthcareCareers