What is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (Cota)?
CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT JOB DESCRIPTION DEPARTMENT: Clinical REPORTS TO: Occupational Therapist Director of Rehab POSITION PURPOSE: To assist in providing appropriate aspects of quality patient care under the supervision of licensed therapists. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
What does an occupational therapist do in a rehab facility?
Dec 22, 2018 · Occupational therapy in the acute inpatient rehab setting requires a lot of patience, empathy, thinking on your feet, time management, the ability to grade tasks and activities to fit many different needs, communication skills, as well as a deep understanding of how a disease or diagnosis may impact one’s occupational performance.
What is inpatient rehab like?
Mar 06, 2018 · SEE ALSO: 9 Occupational Therapy Specialties for the Best Career Path. 1. Hospitals or Outpatient Rehabilitation Programs. Working as a COTA hospital employee means supporting patients either within the hospital setting or at their outpatient rehabilitation programs. The types of illnesses and injuries the patients are dealing with are highly ...
What is acute inpatient rehabilitation occupational therapy?
A COTA will commonly work with individuals who suffer from an illness, injury or a disability to improve and help them overcome the obstacles of daily activities. An OTA generally works with children and adults and rehabilitation and elderly patients. Source: Is this useful? Working as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
What is the role of a COTA?
A certified occupational therapist assistant, or COTA, supports patient well-being, rehabilitation, and recovery by providing direct support to an occupational therapist. COTAs can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes.
What do occupational therapists do in rehabilitation?
The occupational therapist helps the patient perform the activities detailed in the customized intervention plan. The plan consists of carefully chosen activities that are related to or can prepare the patients for actual activities they will be doing after rehabilitation.
What is OTs role in an acute care rehabilitation unit?
Acute care OTs focus on helping to medically stabilize patients, facilitate early mobilization, perform therapeutic interventions, and create discharge plans. By contrast, patients in rehab settings have chronic issues that OTs treat over time.
What setting does a COTA make the most money?
Pick a high-paying setting As is the case with OTs, the SNF (skilled nursing facility) and HHOT (home health occupational therapy) settings typically pay higher wages than schools and hospitals. Academia pays the best of all, with median pay for OTAs sitting at $62,250.Dec 15, 2021
What does an occupational therapist do on a daily basis?
Occupational therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.
What skills do occupational therapists need?
Occupational therapists should also possess the following specific qualities:Communication skills. Occupational therapists must be able to listen attentively to what patients tell them and be able to explain what they want their patients to do.Compassion. ... Flexibility. ... Interpersonal skills. ... Patience. ... Writing skills.
How do you write an OT goal?
Let's dig into why OT goal writing can be challenging:SMART: Significant, Measurable, Achievable, Relates to person, Time based.RHUMBA: Relevant, How long, Understandable, Measurable, Behavioral, Achievable.COAST (my all time fav): Client, Occupation, Assist level, Specific, Time bound.
What the most an occupational therapist can make?
Overall Highest Paid Occupational Therapy Positions“Child Day Care Services” – $108,650.Management of Companies and Enterprises – $101,540.Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities – $93,870.Nursing and Skilled Nursing Facilities – $90,660.Home Health Services – $90,480.Jan 27, 2022
What chronic disease does OT Miri have?
But before I even had a chance to mourn or grieve, I was faced with another challenge: my husband got diagnosed with mod/severe RA bilaterally feet/hand and was told that he would not be able to continue his 17 year career in the Air Force due to his health.
What is the difference between OTA and Cota?
The difference between a COTA and an OTA is that a COTA is certified in their field. An OTA must register with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and complete the required exam to become certified. This exam can be separate from state licensing but is not always required to practice.Mar 28, 2022
Who is the highest paid physical therapist?
10 States Where Physical Therapists Earn the Most MoneyRankState2018 Mean Annual Wage1Nevada$107,9202Alaska$99,1803New Jersey$97,7704New Mexico$97,2106 more rows•Apr 4, 2019
How much does an occupational therapist assistant make in Louisiana?
Occupational therapist assistant salary by stateState NameAverage SalaryKansas$57,860Kentucky$54,360Louisiana$61,180Massachusetts$61,24047 more rows
What is the job outlook for certified occupational therapy assistants?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 31% increase in the need for certified occupational therapy assistants between 2018 to 2028, which is an...
Where do certified occupational therapy assistants work?
Certified occupational therapy assistants often work in hospitals, but there is an increasing number being employed in other healthcare facilities....
What hours do certified occupational therapy assistants work?
Most certified occupational therapy assistants work regular hours at clinics or meeting with patients for pre-booked appointments, but there are ce...
Common Types of COTA Career Opportunities
Before you can choose the best career path for a COTA, you need to understand the different paths available. Below is a list of the many fields in which a COTA can excel:
Other Types of COTA Health Careers
Below are a series of COTA health careers that provide a unique way to make the most of your certification.
Choosing the Best Career Path for COTA
AOTA’s former president, Penelope A. Moyers Cleveland, describes the goal of a certified occupational therapy assistant as “helping people overcome whatever barrier they have.”
What is COTA in OT?
A COTA will commonly work with individuals who suffer from an illness, injury or a disability to improve and help them overcome the obstacles of daily activities.
Where do occupational therapy assistants work?
Most certified occupational therapy assistants work regular hours at clinics or meeting with patients for pre-booked appointments, but there are certified occupational therapy assistants who work in departments that offer 24 hour care, so some roles require shift work which might be in the evenings or on weekends.
What are the duties of an occupational therapy assistant?
Working as a certified occupational therapy assistant can encompass the following duties: 1 Working under the guidance of an OT to implement treatment plans 2 Working with individuals of every stage of the lifespan and from different backgrounds 3 Working with patients to improve mobility, physical motor skills and performance of everyday tasks 4 Monitoring treatment progress and recording patient data 5 Providing patient evaluations and reporting for the OT
Why do occupational therapists work in acute care?
In acute care settings, occupational therapists focus on helping to stabilize patients, facilitate early mobilization, and create discharge plans. By contrast, patients in rehab settings have chronic issues ...
What does an occupational therapist do after a stroke?
If the patient has suffered a stroke, the OT will address deficits in functional cognition and make recommendations to ensure home safety. Occupational therapists also work with patients, different types of nurses, and physicians to determine the best course of action.
What is the role of occupational therapist?
The role of an occupational therapist is to help patients who have physical or cognitive challenges develop or recover their ability to perform meaningful activities of daily living. OTs in acute care settings begin working with patients early in their recovery process to determine the best treatments.
Why is occupational therapy less common in readmissions?
One study suggested that higher occupational therapy spending is associated with lower readmission rates because occupational therapy uniquely places an immediate focus on patients’ functional and social needs, which, if left unaddressed, are common reasons for readmission.
What is acute care?
Acute care is a category of healthcare that encompasses the treatment of sudden—typically unexpected—urgent injuries and illness. It includes a range of clinical healthcare settings, such as emergency medicine, trauma care, urgent care, and critical care. Acute care provides patients who have severe or even life-threatening conditions ...
What are the skills of rehab?
That being said, you will have opportunities and experiences you would not have in a traditional rehab setting. You will refine your skills and learn new ones, such as: Diagnosing, treating, and managing patients under pressure. Assessing risk and making decisions quickly.
Is acute care OT for everyone?
Working in acute care is not for everyone. As an acute care OT, you must be resilient and flexible, with strong attention to detail and the ability to thrive under pressure. You need to be able to deliver optimal, efficient care under stressful conditions.
What is the next level of rehab?
The next level of rehab is subacute rehab, which is a less intense form of in-house rehab where the patient stays in a skilled nursing facility (or a hospital’s subacute rehab unit) to receive 24 hour nursing care and an hour to an hour and a half (on average) of occupational therapy, physical therapy and sometimes speech therapy daily.
What is home health occupational therapy?
In the home health setting, occupational therapists work with patients in their own homes. Home health OTs help ensure that their patients are able to put into practice the strategies and treatments they learned in the hospital or rehab setting, since many patients receive home health after their rehab stays.
What is hand therapy?
Hand therapy is a specialization of outpatient therapy in which the occupational therapist with advanced training on the upper extremity treats individuals that have upper extremity impairments affecting their function. Most often, these are certified hand therapists (or CHT).
What is acute inpatient rehab?
Acute inpatient rehab, whether it is in a hospital unit or at a stand-alone rehab hospital, is an in-hospital based rehab setting that is the most “intense” form of rehab patients can get, meaning patients will get the most therapy possible here.
What is an adult occupational therapist?
Occupational therapists working with adults deal with the various challenges of adult life. Adults who use the services of an occupational therapist are those who are generally going through a major life change ...
What are the types of patients that are inpatient rehab?
The types of patients seen in inpatient rehab are typically people affected by strokes, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, multi-trauma from accidents, burns, or patients with complicated medical issues that have significantly affected their function.
Why is home health important for therapists?
Home health allows therapists to view the patients in the most functional setting (their homes) and can get an accurate feel for the actual challenges they’ll face on a daily basis when the assistance of a professional may not be immediately available.
What is inpatient rehab?
Briefly, inpatient rehab is an inpatient setting (usually in a hospital) that provides three hours a day of therapy for people who have experienced a major injury or illness impacting their function. Occupational therapists work alongside physical therapists (and sometimes speech therapists) to help that person increase their independence ...
How long is a back to back treatment?
The morning is back to back scheduled treatments until 12:00 pm. It can (and does) feel like a complete whirlwind. I see patients for usually one hour at a time with some half hour sessions sprinkled in. They’re always scheduled back to back without any time for breaks until lunch.
Assessing Safety in Preparation for Discharge
Patients will either go to their home, short term rehab, or back to a long-term care facility where they reside.
Resumption of Daily Activities
While OTs in this setting do not usually have enough time in the plan of care to focus on IADLs or leisure, they do help patients get started on returning to their previous level of functioning as it pertains to self-care and ADLs; this is crucial because patients will need this jump start on rehabilitation whether they are transferred to a short-term rehab facility before going home or they return directly to their home and begin home care or outpatient services..
Ordering Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
Some patients may not need much rehabilitation following short hospital stays, but a lot of people who are in the hospital for a brief period of time are those who recently had surgery or another medical procedure.
What About Acute Rehab?
In acute rehab, patients must be recommended for these services while in acute care, since acute rehab is far more intense than other OT services. Sometimes this takes place in a separate part of a hospital with one part being acute care and another portion other dedicated to acute rehabilitation.
Common Diagnoses OTs in Inpatient Settings Will See
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have a list of qualifying diagnoses that at least 60% of acute rehabilitation patients must have in order for the facility to receive reimbursement. There are thirteen diagnoses that include:
Common Interventions for Inpatient OTs
As you can see, there is quite a big difference between the intensity of these two practice settings. But the good news is that there is not much delineation between the types of treatment they provide. Therapists in both inpatient care settings and acute rehabilitation settings both engage patients in treatments that address:
Where do occupational therapists work?
OTs may work in clinical practice settings, or pursue opportunities in areas like education, writing, research, and consulting.
What is an OT in home health?
OTs also treat patients in their natural environments. Community and home health services can take place in patients’ houses, community-based residential facilities, community centers, and other settings. Part of an OT’s day includes traveling to meet the patient, and documentation is often done in the car on a device provided by the OT’s employer. Sometimes OTs work alongside other professionals, but oftentimes the OT is alone during treatment sessions. This type of practice requires an individual who can independently structure their time use, and act in a culturally sensitive manner no matter whose home they are in. Flexibility is also key—as with outpatient settings, a therapist must be ready for last-minute cancellations.
What is an outpatient rehabilitation clinic?
Outpatient clinics tend to specialize in specific areas of rehabilitation. They can be independently owned, or part of a healthcare system. There are several nationwide physical rehabilitation outpatient clinic chains that frequently advertise OT positions. As with hospital-based outpatient OTs, clinic-based outpatient OTs will see their patients with less frequency, so their weekly caseloads will involve many different patients. Cancellations tend to be higher in outpatient settings than in inpatient settings, since patients do not live on-site. Health professionals such as physical therapists, physiatrists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and speech language pathologists commonly work in clinics with OTs.
What is an OT in a hospital?
In acute care, the OT’s role is often to focus on evaluations, and the pacing is fast. Interventions are regularly carried out by the occupational therapy assistant (OTA), though the actual amount of intervention done by the OT varies based on the specific facility and the demands of the day. Ordinarily, patients only stay for a few days before being discharged to settings appropriate for their levels of function, which can include home with home health services, skilled nursing facilities, or inpatient units. Interventions revolve around basic activities of daily living (ADLs).
How long can a patient stay in a nursing home?
Long-term care (LTC) and skilled nursing facilities (SNF) are inpatient settings where patients may stay for weeks, months, or sometimes even longer than a year. These patients are not able to live independently in their homes without on-site rehabilitation first. Some patients eventually achieve a level of function that allows them to be discharged to their homes (with or without services).
What is an OT in school?
Sometimes the OT will have an office, and sometimes the OT will need to make use of other areas in the school. The OT may work with children who have physical or behavioral dysfunctions or delays. IEPs (individualized education programs) and care coordination with the family are important parts of school-based OT.
Where do OTs work?
OTs may work in clinical practice settings, or pursue opportunities in areas like education, writing, research, and consulting. However, this article will mainly describe the trends in the more prevalent, traditional clinical practice settings where most OT students will do fieldwork placements, and where most new OTs will find their first jobs.