what should the cota do when reporting progress to the supervising ot/r.

When yous are trying to decide between occupational therapy career options, it's important to look at what you will exist doing in certain roles and compare: OT vs OTA. You volition desire to learn about your day-to-twenty-four hours tasks, the people you will piece of work with and the education you will demand before yous can brainstorm your career. If you are looking at the OTA outlook and considering an occupational therapy assistant career, you will desire to learn more virtually who yous will work with, including the different patients y'all'll piece of work with and coworkers.

Working every bit an occupational therapy assistant requires the ability to work with a team. Not merely do you work with your patient, but you will piece of work closely with an occupational therapist to develop and carry out treatment plans (also known every bit OT intervention plans). Our invitee blogger shares some data on the relationship betwixt an occupational therapist and an occupational therapy assistant.

Many occupational therapists, upon graduating from occupational therapy school, have to supervise a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) working at their facility. This experience can exist daunting to some, nevertheless, if built on advice and realistic expectations it tin be a less stressful state of affairs. Showtime, let's start with the legal and professional person differences in the expectations at an OT vs. OTA.

OT vs OTA: The Main Difference

Occupational therapists spend four years completing a masters-level teaching, whereas you can become a COTA past completing a ii-year associate's degree. Occupational therapists are involved in all of the evaluation and setting goals for patients, and certified occupational therapy administration use the information gleaned from the evaluation and goals of the handling plan. At some facilities, the certified OTA may have a greater caseload than the OT due to the extra paperwork required of the occupational therapist. A COTA has to have their daily notes signed by an OT, whereas OTs do not have to accept a cosigner.

COTAs and OTs Working Together

Despite differences in the professional and legal roles betwixt COTAs and OTs, the almost important aspect of the COTA/OT relationship is communication. Both the COTA and OT needs to exist strong communicators to permit each professional to treat their patients to the all-time of their power.

For example, after an occupational therapist completes an evaluation on a patient to be seen past the COTA, the OT needs to make sure the COTA is aware of the identified deficits and the goals for the patients. The COTA then can make treatment plans equally appropriate to address the identified deficits. Along the way during treatment, if the COTA or OT feels like the handling plan or goals demand to be updated, they work together to brand those adjustments. The COTA is allowed to spearhead this, however, the OT is responsible for the changes and has to document the changes made.

Communication

Communication is besides of import if the COTA and OT are in disagreement with parts of the handling and discharge planning procedure. Every bit therapists, nosotros all come up from different backgrounds and have participated in dissimilar standing educational activity courses, all of which beget usa dissimilar levels of expertise in a diverseness of areas. It is important to capitalize on your areas of expertise. At times the COTA and OT may be in disagreement with what needs to happen during the progression of treatment.

For example, the COTA may have greater knowledge in a certain expanse. The supervising OT needs to respect that and get an agreement of why the COTA feels the treatment should go in a certain direction.

My Feel with a Certified OTA

When I first graduated from occupational therapy school, I began supervising a COTA. It was hard to think to practise everything I needed to do at first, such every bit co-signing notes, writing progress reports and communicating with the COTA about the evaluation and treatment plan. As time went on, you develop a routine and a potent relationship with the COTA, which makes it easier to be more productive. It is was especially nerve-wracking when yous are supervising a COTA who has more experience than you, as it makes you have to accept more of an open mind since they have worked in the field longer than you have.

The professional and legal deviation for a COTA and an OT vary from state to country, so information technology is of import you take the time to look up what your requirements are in your land to brand certain you are doing everything y'all are supposed to. Overall, having good advice between the OTA and OT and other members of the team is imperative to being able to do what'south best for the patients.

Want to learn more about St. Catherine University's online OTA program?  Speak with an counselor today.

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Source: https://otaonline.stkate.edu/blog/ot-vs-ota/

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