Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Description

Purpose of Your Job Position

• The Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant provides direct rehab care in occupation therapy
• to patients upon physician referral and under the supervision of a Licensed Occupational
• Therapist (OT) in accordance with all applicate laws and regulations.

Job Functions

• Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no
• way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The
• omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is
• similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

•  Follow the treatment plan for patients under the direction of the supervising OT
•  Work closely with patients, family members and other care team members to adequately
• plan for patient needs, to include short term and long term goals
•  Verify patient information and confirm purpose of treatment
•  Monitor each movement to ensure the patient is performing them properly to avoid
• new/further injuries
•  Effectively communicate with supervisor and other health team members regarding
• patient progress, barriers, and treatment plans
•  Chart appropriately and timely
•  Assist the Occupational Therapist in patient development, recovery, and improving skills
• needed for daily functionalities
•  Must demonstrate dependability and regular attendance
•  Must utilize good body mechanics at all times
•  Make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such actions

Personnel Functions

•  Maintain an excellent working relationship within the Therapy team and cross
• functionally
•  Report occupational exposures of blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous
• chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing accidents
• and incidents
•  Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as
• well as a calm environment throughout the facility

Staff Development

•  Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast
• of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain any applicable licenses
•  Attend meetings and in-services as required
•  Complete assigned Relias training timely

Equipment and Supply Functions

•  Recommend to the DOR equipment and supply needs for the department
•  Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is
• available and working properly
•  Clean equipment
•  Check supply rooms to assure that needed supplies are on hand
•  Ensure that all therapy equipment is operating in a safe manner
•  Ensure that therapy supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste
•  Ensure that appropriate cleaning supplies are on hand to perform necessary clean-up

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

•  May assist in the development of preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the
• therapy needs of each patient
•  Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to
• ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing a comprehensive plan of care

Resident Rights

•  Maintain the confidentiality of all patient care information
•  Know and practice the Center’s policy on patient/residents rights

Miscellaneous

•  Be sure that appropriate protective clothing/devices are on hand and used for handling
• infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids
•  Flexibility with schedule to cover the needs of the department

Working Conditions

•  Works in the Therapy gym, patient rooms, in offices, as well as throughout the Center
•  Move continuously during working hours
•  Subject to frequent interruptions
•  Involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under
• all conditions and circumstances
•  Subject to hostile and emotionally upset patient, family members, etc.
•  Communicate with the medical staff, nursing services, and other department supervisors
•  Work beyond normal working hours, on weekends and in other positions temporarily,
• when necessary
•  Subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-
• disaster, etc.)
•  Subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the day, as
• well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, and other air contaminants
•  Subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc.,
•  May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals

Qualifications

Specific Requirements

•  Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language
•  Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such
• action
•  Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, patients, family members,
• visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public
•  Must have patience, tact, cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to
• handle patients based on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning
•  Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to
• incorporate them into existing services
•  Must be able to relate information concerning a patient’s condition
•  Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace
• Physical and Sensory Requirements (with or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)
•  Must be able to move continuously throughout the work day
•  Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position
•  Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to
• function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met
•  Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to
• work effectively with patients, personnel and support agencies
•  Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at
• times, hostile people within the facility
•  Must be able to lift up to 35 pounds. Requires pushing, pulling, lifting, kneeling,
• squatting, crawling, stooping, bending, walking and the ability move freely from one
• position to another
•  May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations

Education and Certification Requirement

•  Current COTA License
•  CPR/BLS Certification