Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)

This course will provide a general introduction to the discipline of psychology. It will also introduce basic concepts of OT in mental health. Emphasis will be given to the methods, theories, and findings of psychological research and how these relate to OT mental health intervention. Areas covered include biological bases of behavior, learning, perception, thinking, development, personality, abnormality, and social behavior. Additionally, this course provides a framework for students to learn the major theories of psychology and how they relate to theories used in occupational therapy addressing mental health.

This course will examine the anatomical and physiological aspects of the various systems of humans, including musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, neurological, endocrine, lymphatic, digestive, integumentary and genitourinary. Biomechanics of the human body and movement related to daily occupations via task analysis will be addressed. Students will learn hands on skills such as range of motion and strength measurement and taking vital signs. Theories related to remediation and adaptation of activity in relation to physical impairment will be applied A close correlation between lecture and laboratory topics will be maintained.

The course will focus on the observations, analysis, and performance of human occupations as they relate to typical changes through normative life tasks in various environments and culture through work, self-care, and play/leisure. The student will explore normal human physical, social, behavioral and cognitive development and performance from infancy to adolescence. The OT Practice Framework terminology will be used to describe observations and findings. This course includes an offsite fieldwork component to complement academic teaching content.

The course will focus on the observations, analysis, and performance of human occupations as they relate to typical changes through normative life tasks in various environments and cultures. The students will explore young, middle, and late adulthood years in regards to work, self-care and play/leisure. The teaching-learning process will be incorporated, with an emphasis on self-directed learning by doing. The OT Practice Framework terminology will be used to describe observations and findings.

The etiology and symptoms of clinical conditions that are commonly referred for occupational therapy services are examined. The effects of trauma and disease on the biological, psychological, and social domains of occupational behavior are introduced, with particular emphasis on conditions usually experienced from infancy through adolescence. Procedures and precautions ensuring safety for patients and caregivers will be reviewed.

The etiology and symptoms of clinical conditions that are commonly referred for occupational therapy services are examined. The effects of trauma and disease on the biological, psychological, and social domains of occupational behavior are introduced, with particular emphasis on conditions usually experienced in adulthood. Procedures and precautions ensuring safety for patients and caregivers will be reviewed.

Environments and contexts can have an enormous effect on occupational therapy intervention. Across all practice areas, occupational therapy intervention uses environments and contexts to support the client’s health and participation in meaningful occupations. This course focuses on understanding the complex nature of contexts and environments and their impact on engagement in occupations across the life span.

Basic management skills and abilities required as an OTA in occupational therapy and other programs will be defined and analyzed. The student will explore topics associated with health care delivery systems, including contextual factors, federal and state regulations, reimbursement systems, and credentialing laws. Skills in management will be reviewed, including organizing and maintaining workload, marketing services, documentation in its various forms, and supervision of aides and developing skills as a fieldwork educator. Ethical and professional principles will be defined in the context of a variety of employment and intervention settings, with an emphasis on applying AOTA’ s Code of Ethics to different situations.

Students will examine the AOTA Code of Ethics in relation to case studies and examples from fieldwork to further their understanding of liability issues, ethical challenges, and decision-making in professional interactions, client interventions, and employment settings.

This course will ask students to contemplate the transition from the student to practitioner role including exploring clinical reasoning, the importance of advocacy and marketing or services to stakeholders, value of local, state, and national professional organizations, and creating a professional development plan outlining strengths and areas for improvement. Students will begin to prepare for the national certification exam. At the end of the course, students will demonstrate their critical thinking and knowledge acquisition of the program curricular themes by completing their summative OTA Program Portfolio.

Fieldwork IIA requires a minimum of eight weeks of a full-time, supervised experience. Students apply and integrate didactic knowledge and skills with clients in a variety of settings under the supervision of a registered and licensed occupational therapist. Students are assigned to facility and community settings and receive practical experience applying knowledge and skills with individuals of varying ages and conditions. Prior to enrolling, students must successfully complete all required OTA course, demonstrate current CPR certification, and receive departmental approval.

Fieldwork IIB requires a minimum of eight weeks of a full-time, supervised experience. Students apply and integrate didactic knowledge and skills with clients in a variety of settings under the supervision of a registered and licensed occupational therapist. Students are assigned to facility and community settings and receive practical experience applying knowledge and skills with individuals of varying ages and conditions. Prior to enrolling, students must successfully complete all required OTA course, demonstrate current CPR certification, and receive departmental approval.

Through analysis and simulation of occupations, OTA students gain insight and skill in observation, assessment, documentation, and teaching of adapted self-care, work and play/leisure activities for the person with life challenges from infancy through adolescence. Conditions commonly occurring in this age group will be reviewed. The dynamics of group and individual participation in occupations are explored as they relate to assessment and therapeutic intervention.

Through analysis and simulation of occupations, students gain insight and skills in observation, assessment, documentation, and teaching of adaptive self care, work, and play/leisure activities for the person with life challenges from young through middle adulthood. Conditions commonly occurring in this age group are reviewed. The dynamics of group and individual participation in occupations are explored as they relate to assessment and therapeutic intervention. The course includes laboratory and directed offsite fieldwork components to complement lecture content.

Through analysis and simulation of occupations, the students gain insight and skills in observation, assessment, documentation, and teaching of adaptive self care, work, and play/leisure activities for the person with life challenges in late adulthood. Conditions commonly occurring in this age group will be reviewed. The dynamics of group and individual participation in occupations are explored as they related to assessment and therapeutic intervention. This course includes laboratory and directed offsite fieldwork components to complement lecture content.