Question 1

Walk me through how you'd evaluate a patient admitted after a hip fracture with posterior precautions.

Accepted Answer

It's the bread and butter of acute care, SNF and home health. They want to see you think in order, stay safe and connect findings to function. Start with the chart: surgical approach, weight-bearing status, precautions, prior level of function and home setup Name what you'd test: cognition screen, pain, range and strength within precautions, sitting and standing balance, toilet and tub transfers Watch a real task, like lower-body dressing with a reacher and sock aid, instead of only asking about it Tie findings to goals the patient cares about and to a discharge plan, home with family or a short SNF stay

Question 2

Give me a goal you'd write for a patient with a left CVA who wants to get back to cooking.

Accepted Answer

Goal writing shows whether you understand occupation-based practice and whether your notes will hold up with payers. Write it measurable: who, what task, level of assist, any equipment, and a timeframe Build in the real barriers, like left neglect or reduced standing tolerance at the counter Mention a short-term goal that steps toward it, such as a simple cold meal prep with setup Explain how you'd grade it up as the patient improves

Question 3

How do you decide between a remediation approach and a compensatory approach?

Accepted Answer

This is the core OT judgment call. They want to hear you weigh prognosis, time and what the patient values. Say it depends on the diagnosis, recovery window and length of stay you realistically have Give an example: early after a stroke you'd push remediation, while progressive conditions like Parkinson's lean compensatory Point out you often do both in one session Bring in patient choice, since some people refuse adaptive equipment they'll never use at home

Question 4

Your patient refuses therapy for the second day in a row. What do you do?

Accepted Answer

Refusals are daily life in inpatient and SNF settings, and they affect minutes, outcomes and billing. Find out why: pain, fatigue, depression, fear of falling, or bad timing after dialysis Adjust the offer, like a shorter bedside session or a task the patient actually wants to do Loop in nursing and the care team, and document the refusal and your attempts clearly Respect the right to refuse while making sure it isn't a sign of a medical change

Question 5

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician, PT or case manager about a discharge recommendation.

Accepted Answer

OTs often see safety risks others miss, especially with cognition and ADLs. They want someone who speaks up without starting a turf war. Pick a real case, like a patient walking fine with PT but unsafe with medication management or the stove Explain what objective data you brought, such as a cognitive screen or a functional task you observed Describe how you raised it at the team meeting or directly with the case manager Share the outcome and what you'd do the same or differently

Question 6

How do you handle productivity expectations without cutting corners on care?

Accepted Answer

Every rehab manager has a productivity target. They want an honest answer, not someone who'll burn out or bill time they didn't earn. Show you know how the site tracks it and that you've met a target before Talk about habits: point-of-service documentation, grouping co-treats when clinically justified, planning your day at the start Say plainly that you won't bill for time you didn't provide, and you'd raise it if the target made that impossible Mention how you'd use a COTA well if the site has them

Question 7

What's your experience supervising COTAs, and how do you divide the caseload?

Accepted Answer

Many settings run on an OT and COTA team. Supervision rules differ by state, and the manager needs to trust you with them. Note that you follow your state's supervision rules and the facility's policy Explain that you do the eval, set the plan of care and handle reassessments and discharges Describe how you match patients to the COTA's strengths and check in during the week Give an example of catching a change in a patient's status through that check-in

Question 8

A family member insists their dad is going home alone, and you think he isn't safe. How do you handle it?

Accepted Answer

Family conversations are where OTs earn trust or lose it. They want to hear tact and clear documentation. Listen first. There's usually fear or a money worry behind the pushback Show them, don't just tell them: invite the family to watch a transfer or a kitchen task Offer options like a home safety eval, equipment, home health, or someone staying for the first week Document your recommendation and the discussion, and involve the case manager and social worker

Question 9

Which standardized assessments do you use, and how do they show up in your notes?

Accepted Answer

Objective measures back up medical necessity and show progress. It also tells them how current your practice is. Name the ones you actually use for your setting, like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the COPM, grip strength with a dynamometer, or the Section GG items in post-acute care Explain when you'd reach for each and what you do with the score Show how the result drives the goal and the next re-eval Be honest about any you've only read about

Question 10

Tell me about a patient who didn't progress. What did you change?

Accepted Answer

They want to see that you reflect, adapt and know when to discharge rather than keep treating out of habit. Describe the patient and the goal that stalled Walk through what you looked at: pain, cognition, motivation, the wrong goal, or a medical change Explain what you adjusted, and whether you brought in the team Say what happened, including a discharge with a home program if that was the right call

Question 11

Why this setting, and why us?

Accepted Answer

Turnover is expensive. A manager wants to know you picked their setting on purpose, not because it was the first offer. Say what draws you to the setting, like the pace of acute care or the long relationships in outpatient hands Mention something specific about the site, such as their neuro program or their home health territory Connect it to where you want to grow, maybe a CHT or a stroke certification Keep it short and real

Question 12

How do you keep your documentation defensible for Medicare and other payers?

Accepted Answer

Audits and denials cost money. They need notes that show skilled care, not just a list of exercises. Explain that each note shows why the patient needs a therapist, not just a caregiver Describe linking every intervention to a goal and reporting the patient's response Mention the documentation system you've used, like Epic, WebPT or NetHealth Say you get notes done the same day whenever you can

Occupational Therapist interview questions and how to answer them

Part 1

1.Walk me through how you'd evaluate a patient admitted after a hip fracture with posterior precautions.

Why they ask

How to answer

2.Give me a goal you'd write for a patient with a left CVA who wants to get back to cooking.

Why they ask

How to answer

3.How do you decide between a remediation approach and a compensatory approach?

Why they ask

How to answer

Why they ask

How to answer

Why they ask

How to answer

Part 2

Why they ask

How to answer

Why they ask

How to answer

Why they ask

How to answer

Why they ask

How to answer

Why they ask

How to answer

Part 3

Why they ask

How to answer

Why they ask

How to answer

Questions to ask them