An occupational therapist assistant is an individual who works closely with the occupational therapist to provide rehabilitative help to patients recovering from illness or accident. He ensures that the patient performs the activities and exercises defined in the treatment plan devised by the occupational therapist.
Scope of Work
The scope of work includes teaching all activities needed to enable the patient to achieve self-independence in carrying out the daily tasks. Activities encompass tasks like getting up the right way from the bed onto the wheelchair, techniques of joint protection, teaching methods of conserving body’s energy etc. He acquaints the patient on the right manner of using the various equipments needed for performing the activities or exercises.
He is also involved in monitoring the patient’s progress. Close watch is kept on the patient’s performance by him and this enables the occupational therapist to ascertain the success of his treatment plan and make necessary changes if required.
The occupational therapist assistant also looks into the billing of the patient’s health insurance provider.
Educational Environment
Many technical schools, private career colleges and community colleges offer training for this program. The students are prepared to work effectively under an occupational therapist. Normally, theoretical knowledge is combined with clinical fieldwork and this helps the students to gear up to real life situations.
Knowledge is imparted on the functioning and development of the human body, exposure is given to varied rehabilitation plans and several techniques and procedures used in the course of work. Simulated work settings or mock therapy sessions are held and these give the students the necessary edge in their jobs.
Work Environment
On completing the training course and obtaining certification as an Occupational Therapist Assistant, the individual can find employment in various job settings. Some of them can be listed as follows:
• Physiotherapy Clinics
• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Home Based Health Care
• Sport Medicine Clinics
• Community Health Care Centers
• Other Nursing Care Facilities
The number of hours and days of working may vary depending upon whether they work on a full time basis or on a part time basis. Both choices are available to the therapy assistant depending upon the job location. The therapy assistant can opt for working during the evening hours or on weekends to cater to the personal schedules of the patient. The job can involve working in shifts too.
Personal Attributes
The individual has to have an interest or liking for this course as only then can he make a success out of it. He has to be patient and compassionate as well as motivating to the patient who has to be prodded every step to attain his full potential. Providing encouragement and reassurance to the patient should come easily to him. An individual who is endowed with these natural traits can equip himself with the necessary training and achieve success in this career path.
The individual has to have an interest or liking for this course as only then can he make a success out of it. He has to be patient and compassionate as well as motivating to the patient who has to be prodded every step to attain his full potential. Providing encouragement and reassurance to the patient should come easily to him. An individual who is endowed with these natural traits can equip himself with the necessary training and achieve success in this career path.
