Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

The COTA provides occupational therapy services to hospital inpatients, swing bed, outpatients, and home health patients under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist (OTR). These services include following structured evaluations, patient treatment, and documentation.

1. Perform ongoing assessment after initial evaluation which include: using medical record, assessing cognitive/perceptual status, sensory status, neuromuscular status, range of motion, posture, functional activities, physiologic response, balance/coordination, positioning and restrain use, age-specific assessment perform manual muscle test (MMT), and instructing activities of daily living.

2. Read and understand plan of care set up by the therapist including assess patients' response to treatment and chose activities accordingly, assist with discharge planning, teach patient/family home program

3. Utilize special equipment such as cryotherapy and hot packs

4. Perform special skills: sensory integration techniques, myofascial techniques, treatment of geriatric patients, splinting techniques, issues and instructs adaptive equipment design and implement exercise program, and documentation; participates in team/family conferences

5. Complies with hospital safety policies and procedures (restraint policy, body mechanics, infection control and OSHA standards, do not resuscitate orders)

6. Demonstrates advocacy toward patient and family: understand patient bill of rights, maintains confidentiality when interacting with patient, family, other personnel and the public; cares for the patient with ethical dilemmas; demonstrates awareness of patient satisfaction; communicates with physicians and other health care professionals to provide opportunities for positive rehab outcomes

7. Promotes community health

8. Demonstrates professional behavior: manages time, utilize support personnel, documentation, professional development, effective communication skills, billing responsibilities

9. Other duties as assigned

Graduate of an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) approved education program. Current licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant in the State of Wisconsin. Current AOTA certification. Experience preferred but new grads are welcome! DPI license or willing to obtain is preferred.