Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

## COTA

Occupational Therapist Assistant

• **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