Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA / OTA)

Summary of the Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA/ OTA):

A licensed/certified therapy assistant overall responsibility is to assist and support the plan of treatment for each resident/resident assigned. The assistant is an active participant in the center and an integral part of the interdisciplinary team.

Operationally reports to the Director of Rehabilitation or designee center where providing therapy services. The Assistant is clinically overseen by the therapist coordinating care for the resident/resident as assigned. Supervises assistant students in their discipline according to state and federal guidelines.

Supervises clinically all aides working with residents to which the assistant is directing or overseeing the delivery of services according to an established plan of care. Supervision follows all accepted state and federal guidelines for the respective discipline.

Responsibilities of the Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA/ OTA):

• Provides resident/resident rehabilitation care within all generally accepted practice methods, meeting all center, state, federal, and accrediting standards as directed by the therapists' plan of care
• Works closely with the supervising therapist to communicate resident/resident condition and responses to ensure quality effective outcomes
• Performs the necessary documentation as indicated and directed
• Provides feedback to the therapist and Director of Rehabilitation on all clinical and rehabilitation issues
• Participates in all center directed processes and services and in-service training programs as requested
• Shows effective management of treatment and non-treatment related activities
• Performs necessary documentation to meet center, state, federal, and accrediting agency requirements

Qualifications of the Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA/ OTA):

• A graduate of an accredited college or university with minimally an associate's degree in physical therapy or occupational therapy. Assistant is licensed or equivalent certification accepted by the designated professional accrediting body
• Actively licensed/certified assistant in assigned state(s) of employment as a Physical Therapy Assistant or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. Prefer-experience/knowledge in older adult rehabilitation
• Prefer knowledge in governmental and regulatory guidelines in designated healthcare settings
• Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA / OTA) Licensure: Current state licensure in respective discipline

The Health Center at Galloway