The Occupational Therapist Aides under close supervision of an Occupational Therapist or Occupational Therapist Assistant perform only delegated, selected, or routing tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing patient and treatment rooms.
Tasks for Occupational Therapist Aides
- The Occupational Therapist Aide encourages patients and attends to their physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals.
- The Occupational Therapist Aide reports to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patient’s progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.
- The Occupational Therapist Aide observes patients’ attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.
- The Occupational Therapist Aide manages intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.
- The Occupational Therapist evaluates the living skills and capacities of physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled clients.
- The Occupational Therapist prepares and maintains work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.
- The Occupational Therapist Aide instructs patients and families in work, social, and living skills the care and use of adaptive equipment, and other skills to facilitate home and work adjustment to disability.
- The Occupational Therapist Aide supervises patients in choosing and completing work assignments or arts and crafts projects.
- The Occupational Therapist assists occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
- The Occupational Therapist performs clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paper work, and scheduling appointments.
Knowledge requirements for Occupational Therapist Aides
The Occupational Therapist Aides needs knowledge of principles and processes for processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. The Occupational Therapist Aides needs knowledge in principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. The Occupational Therapist Aides needs knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. The Occupational Therapist Aides need knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. The Occupational Therapist Aides needs knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality and interests; learning motivation; psychology research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. The Occupational Therapist Aides need knowledge of information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventative health-care measures.
Work Activities for the Occupational Therapist Aides
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates- The Occupational Therapist Aides must provide information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Assisting and Caring for Others- The Occupational Therapist Aides provides personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Documenting/Recording Information- The Occupational Therapist Aide enters, transcribes, records, stores, or maintains information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Performing General Physical Activities- The Occupational Therapist Aide performs physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships- The Occupational Therapist Aide develops constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintains them over time.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems- The Occupational Therapist Aide analyzes information and evaluates results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work- The Occupational Therapist Aide develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish their work.
- Handling and Moving Objects- The Occupational Therapist Aide uses hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge- The Occupational Therapist Aide must keep up to date technically and apply new knowledge to their job as it is appropriate.
- Getting information- The Occupational Therapist Aide must observe, receive, and otherwise obtain information from all relevant sources. This sometimes requires them to take the patients health history and keep it for the Occupational Therapist.