Occupational Therapy Assistants

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Occupational Therapy Assistants

Careers / Occupational Therapy Assistants

Summary Description


	Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with State laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant

2.	Behavior Specialist

3.	Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

4.	Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant/Licensed (COTA/L)

5.	Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

6.	Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant-Licensed (COTA-L)

7.	Health Service Worker

8.	Independent Living Specialist

9.	Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant

10.	Occupational Therapist

11.	Occupational Therapist Assistant

12.	Occupational Therapist Assistants

13.	Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)

14.	Occupational Therapy Technician

15.	Rehabilitation Assistant

16.	School Based Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

17.	Staff Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant/Licensed (Staff COTA/L)

Job Tasks

	Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities. Develop patient therapy programs.

	Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement. Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments. Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.

	Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment. Teach basic living or other adaptive skills to patients or caregivers. Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.

	Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs. Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.

	Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records. Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments. Record vital statistics or other health information. Maintain medical records.

	Aid patients in dressing and grooming themselves. Assist patients with daily activities.

	Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently. Implement therapeutic programs to improve patient functioning.

	Communicate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals involved with the care of a patient. Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.

	Evaluate the daily living skills or capacities of physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled clients. Administer screening tests to determine abilities or treatment needs.

	Attend continuing education classes. Attend educational events to update medical knowledge.

	Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior. Prepare medical reports or documents. Communicate patient status to other health practitioners.

	Alter treatment programs to obtain better results if treatment is not having the intended effect. Develop patient therapy programs.

	Work under the direction of occupational therapists to plan, implement, or administer educational, vocational, or recreational programs that restore or enhance performance in individuals with functional impairments. Implement therapeutic programs to improve patient functioning.

	Teach patients how to deal constructively with their emotions. Teach basic living or other adaptive skills to patients or caregivers.

	Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual or creative arts or games. Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel.

	Perform clerical duties, such as scheduling appointments, collecting data, or documenting health insurance billings. Schedule patient procedures or appointments. Perform clerical work in medical settings. Process medical billing information.

	Assemble, clean, or maintain equipment or materials for patient use. Clean medical equipment. Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use. Maintain medical equipment or instruments.

	Attend care plan meetings to review patient progress and update care plans. Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.

	Order any needed educational or treatment supplies. Inventory medical supplies or equipment.

	Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area. Move patients to or from treatment areas.

	Design, fabricate, or repair assistive devices or make adaptive changes to equipment or environments. Make patient-assistive devices or device models.

	Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress. Administer screening tests to determine abilities or treatment needs.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
	Occupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. Occupational therapy assistants are directly involved in providing therapy to patients; occupational therapy aides typically perform support activities. Both assistants and aides work under the direction of occupational therapists.

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Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
	Occupational therapy assistants and aides work primarily in occupational therapists' offices, in hospitals, and in nursing care facilities. Occupational therapy assistants and aides spend much of their time on their feet, setting up equipment and, in the case of assistants, working with patients.

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Fewer than 13% of employed Americans are labor union members. 30 years ago, it was twice that rate.

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