OTA.-100 Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant

Credits 2 / 2 Contact Hours
Pre-requisite: Placement into College Level Reading, completion of ELAP-120 with a 2.0 or higher, or successful completion of ACRD-090, ACRD-091 or ACRD-092; PSYC-281, BIOL-151 and ENGL-101.
An introduction to the history practice and trends of occupational therapy. The roles and responsibilities of the occupational therapy assistant as related to the ethical and legal issues in the practice of occupational therapy. Introduction to the occupational therapy process. Multicultural factors in relation to occupational therapy treatment are discussed.

Course Outcomes
1. Articulate a concise, accurate definition of OT appropriate to the consumer and reimbursement agencies. 2. Discuss the evolution of the Occupational Therapy profession including the history and philosophical base. 3. Describe the role of occupation in the promotion of health and prevention of disease and the importance of balancing areas of occupation in achieving health and wellness. 4. Define the role of the COTA in various healthcare contexts. 5. Be familiar with the ‘Standards of Practice’ document. 6. Beginning understanding of the OT Practice Framework. 7. Identify the components of the occupational therapy process. 8. Discuss the relationship/collaboration of the OT and OTA as well as other interprofessional relationships. 9. Be familiar with the O.T. “Code of Ethics” and how it applies to the student and practitioner. 10. Be familiar with resources available at the college for beginning research including ability to use databases and search engines to access information and understand the quality of evidence. 11. Understand the importance of evidence-based practice including the use of standardized tests and measures. 12. Be familiar with the national and state organizations and requirements for credentialing/licensure 13. Be familiar with the international, national, state and local occupational therapy associations and how involvement in professional associations enhances the role of an occupational therapy assistant. 14. Be able to articulate the importance of how scholarly activities and literature contribute to the development of the profession. 15. Understand HIPAA and how it applies to the student and practitioner. 16. Be familiar with various reimbursement systems and basic documentation/billing requirements related to delivery of occupational therapy services 17. Recognize trends in occupational therapy and emerging practice areas 18. Appreciate the daily challenges faced by an individual with a disability regarding basic self-care and community mobility.