OTA-PRN (AS NEEDED)

Occupational Therapist Assistant

JOB TITLE:                        Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) PRN- As Needed

DEPARTMENT:                Therapy

REPORTS TO:                   Physical Therapist/Occupational Therapist

POSITION SUMMARY:

Performs occupational therapy procedures to help acute or rehabilitative patients with mental or physical disabilities attain or regain physical or mental functioning, and assesses and reports on the patients' progress.

POSITION  RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Assists the Occupational Therapist with patient evaluation by performing standardized gross evaluation procedures such as range of motion measurement, grasp and pinch measurement, homemaking checkout and a variety of functional tests to assess patients' self-care level, engage patients in specific tasks or activities exploring the patients' interests, therapy needs, performance capacities, and physical and/or mental limitations.
2. Facilitates patient participation in therapy activities by discussing with patients their goals and treatment objectives, selecting specific tasks or activities most appropriate to patients' needs and interests and encouraging and motivating patients to participate in the treatment program.
3. Advances patients through progressively more difficult or strenuous activities, decreasing to less difficult level of activity or altering activities based upon observations of the patients' developmental stage and interests. Treatment procedures include muscle activity to develop or improve movement; training patients in self-help skills; arts and crafts activities, social activities and games designed to help patients regain or maintain both physical and mental functioning.
4. Utilizes standard equipment and supplies required for treating patients. Instructs patients and families in the use and care of equipment and devices such as exercisers, mobile arm supports, splints, adaptive utensils, self-care aids and tools used in craft activities.
5. Observes reactions and responses to therapy and reports observations to the Occupational Therapist; records progress in patients' records which are reviewed by the Registered Occupational Therapist.
6. Reports and reviews observations, patients' progress and treatment goals with members of other health disciplines, sharing such information as patients' mental status, self-care level, and functional level.
7. Performs other duties as assigned

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM EDUCATION

Satisfactory completion of a college-level Occupational Therapy Assistant curriculum, approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association, currently certified as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant issued by the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

                Hospital experience preferred.

Qualifications