About this role
Hand Therapist (PT or OT)
Mercy Ships is an international charity that brings hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor through state-of-the-art hospital ships. Since 1978, our volunteer crew—made up of medical professionals and skilled workers from over 60 nations—has delivered free surgeries and medical care to over 2.8 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, transforming lives one patient and one port at a time. Join our global team of over 3,000 volunteers and help us change lives daily.
About this role
The Hand Therapist is responsible for providing a specialist rehabilitation service for post-operative plastic surgery patients (children & adults) following burns contracture release and correction of congenital deformities. You will work closely with both the Plastic Surgeon and Plastics Dressings Nurse to optimize the patient’s outcome of surgery. This will involve pre-operative and post-operative assessment of patients, to include both objective and functional hand assessment, treatment planning and functional rehabilitation.
What you will contribute
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Evaluate patient’s emotional and physical condition at screening and post-operatively by performing detailed hand or joint assessment and determine appropriate diagnosis
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To discuss, formulate and document post-operative treatment plans in discussion with the surgeon and patient/ family as indicated
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To appropriately perform selected therapy procedures to maximize hand or limb function to include: Therapeutic exercises, static splinting, scar management and functional rehabilitation appropriate to the age of the patient
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Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of each treatment intervention
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Be able to fabricate static splints from thermoplastic to both children and adults to support function or prevent contracture. These may be to the hand, elbow, axilla, or lower limb
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To have knowledge of the appropriate use of pressure garments in scar management and if possible be able to fit and/or fabricate them
For This Role, You Will Need
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Registered and Licensed Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist with a minimum of two years’ experience
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At least one recent year with complex hand trauma and static splinting; burns and pediatric experience a great advantage
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Excellent communication skills in English (written and verbal)
The experience of a lifetime is calling.
More than 1,200 volunteers from over 60 nations serve with Mercy Ships each year.
At Mercy Ships, we are proud to be recognized around the world for the life-changing surgeries and training we deliver. We could not achieve this without our dedicated community of talented volunteers.
Imagine finishing your shift and stepping onto deck as the sun sets—knowing that today you’ve helped transform the lives of those who need it most.