Occupational Therapy Assistant - Lewis and Clark Community College

Occupational Therapy Assistant from Lewis and Clark Community College is a Campus Associate Occupational Therapy degree that prepares you for a Healthcare career. The fundamental purpose of occupational therapy is the development and maintenance of a person's capacity throughout life to perform those tasks and roles essential to productive living. As an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) you will provide services to those impaired by physical illness, psychosocial disability, developmental deficits and aging. Through occupational therapy intervention individuals are returned to their maximum level of independence, mastering life skills that include: self-care, daily living, leisure and work. OTAs work in a variety of settings that include: hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, school systems, mental health centers, rehabilitation hospitals, residential care facilities, home health settings, work hardening centers and non-medical settings. The employment outlook for occupational therapy personnel is excellent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a continued growth in the number of available positions in occupational therapy. Employment opportunities in occupational therapy are expected to grow because of increased growth in rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities and a rise in long-term care services. The demand in the occupational therapy field has created more openings for occupational therapy assistants than there are applicants. Lewis and Clark offers an education that focuses on academic preparation and supervised clinical practice, allowing the student the opportunity to become familiar with a variety of treatment diagnoses and work in diverse settings. The program can be completed in two years. Enrollment is limited. Selection of qualified applicants will be based upon a point system and fulfillment of other admission criteria. Nature of Work: The fundamental purpose of occupational therapy is the development and maintenance of a person's capacity throughout life to perform those tasks and roles essential to productive living. As an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) you will provide services to those impaired by physical illness, psychosocial disability, developmental deficits and aging. Through occupational therapy intervention individuals are returned to their maximum level of independence, mastering life skills that include: self-care, daily living, leisure and work. The occupational therapy assistant carries out a treatment plan under the guidance and supervision of an occupational therapist . The OTA provides a variety of treatment modalities for the patient such as: activities of daily living training, splinting, environmental modifications, safety training during activities of daily living, wheelchair positioning and modifications, sensory integration, life skills training, job site analysis, energy conservation techniques, cognitive retraining and neuromuscular retraining techniques for individuals who have lost functional use of an extremity. Other duties include documenting patient progress and assisting with formulation of discharge planning. The OTA also maintains clinical equipment and supervises aides. Skills and Abilities: To pursue a career as an occupational therapy assistant , you must possess physical stamina, manual dexterity and be able to work with people of all ages, temperaments, and personalities. Good communication skills, self initiation, established organizational skills, ingenuity, imagination to adapt activities and treatment, and a caring personality are needed for effective patient care. View more details on Lewis and Clark Community College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Occupational Therapy courses.