Occupational Therapy Assistant Handbook

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Welcome

Welcome to the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program at Illinois Central College.

On behalf of the program faculty, I would like to express my pleasure that you have chosen ICC to make your dream of becoming a professional a reality.

This handbook and the Catalog and Student Handbook are the policies and procedures you must follow and are accountable for adhering to. Sometimes, the Medical Coder Program requirements may exceed the College's requirements.

If you have any questions regarding the Medical Coder Program's policies and procedures, please get in touch with the Program Director. You may schedule an appointment by calling (309) 690-7530.

We look forward to helping you achieve course objectives, student learning outcomes, and program and professional standards.

Wendee Guth, RN, MS, CNE, Dean of Health Careers

Jennifer Haines, MS, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, Program Director

OTA Program Overview

Upon completing the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, the student is awarded an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. Information on the Occupational Therapy Assistant program is available in the ICC Catalog and Student Handbook.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Illinois Central College is to effectively provide educational resources within theory, laboratory, and fieldwork experiences to prepare graduates for a successful career in occupational therapy service delivery and to begin practice as a competent, entry-level generalist occupational therapy assistant.

Program Goals

Find OTA Program goals and related student learning outcomes.

Goal 1

Students/Graduates of the program will demonstrate an understanding and application of knowledge from the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process, theory, models of practice, and guidelines for practice utilized in the occupational therapy process.

Student Learning Outcome 1.1: The student will recognize the importance of occupational therapy history, theory, and philosophical base of the profession and its relevance to current practice.
Student Learning Outcome 1.2: The student will identify the components of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process.
Student Learning Outcome 1.3: The student will state the role of the occupational therapist and the occupational therapy assistant throughout the occupational therapy process.
Student Learning Outcome 1.4: The student will demonstrate skill in task analysis in areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, activity demands, context and environments, and client factors to implement client-centered interventions.

Goal 2

Students/Graduates of the program will exhibit proficiency in the delivery of interventions to facilitate participation and enhance occupational performance across the lifespan.

Student Learning Outcome 2.1: The student will choose evidence-based approaches in the selection of occupation-based strategies appropriate to individual and group intervention planning, implementation and review of outcomes addressing the physical and psychosocial needs of identified populations across the lifespan.
Student Learning Outcome 2.2: The student will demonstrate use of technology to support performance, participation, health, and well-being to include: keyboarding, use of the internet, electronic documentation systems, distance communication, virtual environments, assistive technology, and telehealth technology.
Student Learning Outcome 2.3: The student will examine bones, boney landmarks, joint structures, muscle groups, and their functions in occupation-based assessment and intervention.
Student Learning Outcome 2.4: The student will examine of the use of assistive technology, compensatory strategies, and sensory integration principles to enhance occupational performance in home, educational, work and community settings.

Goal 3

Students/Graduates of the program will perform entry-level skills to practice as a generalist in a variety of traditional and emerging occupational therapy practice settings.

Student Learning Outcome 3.1: The student will demonstrate appropriate judgment in regard to safety of self and others and by adhering to safety regulations throughout the occupational therapy process.
Student Learning Outcome 3.2: The student will demonstrate skill competency in assessing joint range of motion, gross and fine motor coordination, muscle strength, and functional mobility including physical transfers, wheelchair and mobility device management procedures.
Student Learning Outcome 3.3: The student will select occupational therapy assessments and design interventions to enhance safety and promote occupational performance in ADLs, IADLs, education, play, rest, leisure, and social participation with individuals and pediatric populations.
Student Learning Outcome 3.4: The student will examine the use of remediation strategies, assistive technology, compensatory strategies, and environmental adaptations to enhance occupational performance in home, work, school and community settings.
Student Learning Outcome 3.5: The student will employ knowledge and skill in selected fieldwork experience related to pediatric health conditions, physical and psychosocial function.

Goal 4

Students/Graduates of the program will effectively interact through written, oral, and non-verbal communication with the client, family, significant others, and the public in a professionally acceptable manner.

Student Learning Outcome 4.1: The student will demonstrate effective written and oral communication in context of appropriate settings in which occupational therapy service delivery addresses intervention planning, implementation, review of outcomes and documentation.
Student Learning Outcome 4.2: The student will utilize sound professional judgement in regard to safety of self and others by demonstrating proper care and maintenance of lab equipment and supplies and by adhering to safety regulations throughout the occupational therapy process as appropriate to setting and scope of practice.
Student Learning Outcome 4.3: The student will employ skill in performing, teaching, and adapting selected occupations and activities as reflected in current occupational therapy practice.
Student Learning Outcome 4.4: The student will document occupational therapy services to ensure accountability of service provision to meet standards for reimbursement of services to effectively communicate the need and rationale for services.
Student Learning Outcome 4.5: The student will formulate effective written, oral, and nonverbal communication skills throughout the occupational therapy process in traditional and emerging practice areas as an interprofessional team member and advocate to ensure accountability of service provision.
Student Learning Outcome 4.6: The student will employ professional oral and written communication skills as they relate to specific traditional and emerging practice settings.

Goal 5

Students/Graduates of the program will model positive behaviors to promote effective interprofessional team collaboration.

Student Learning Outcome 5.1: The student will identify the principles and historical perspective of development and the dynamics of normal and abnormal human behavior across the lifespan.
Student Learning Outcome 5.2: The student will formulate effective written, oral, and nonverbal communication skills throughout the occupational therapy process in traditional and emerging pediatric practice as an interprofessional team member and advocate to ensure accountability of service provision.

Affiliated Organizations

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) 7501 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: (301) 652-6611 TDD: (800) 377-8555 Fax: (301) 652-7711 www.acoteonline.org, accred@aota.org
American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA) 7501 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814-6519, Phone: (301) 652-6611, TDD: (800) 377-8555, Fax: (301) 652-6611, www.aota.org
Illinois Department of Financial Professional Regulation (IDFPR) 320 West Washington Street Springfield, IL 62786 Phone: (217) 785-0820 Toll Free: (888) 473-4858 www.idfpr.com
Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) P.O. Box 4520 Lisle, IL 60532 Phone: (708) 452-7640 Fax: (866) 459-4099 Contact Information Resource: www.ilota.com
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) One Bank Street Suite 300 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Phone: (301) 990-7979 Fax: (301) 869-8492 www.nbcot.org

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Health Careers Department

The mission of the Health Careers Department is to:

Enable students to attain knowledge, professional skills, and general education for successful entry-level employment in a health career;
Serve as a resource for the educational and employment needs of the health care community.

To fulfill our mission, the Department:

Promotes student access through equal opportunity admission policies;
Offers educational opportunities for all students by providing associate degree programs;
Provides career advisement and supports career recruitment in the community;
Assures quality teaching and learning by meeting professional accreditation standards, promoting faculty continuing education, providing access to current technologies, and participating in continuous outcomes assessment;
Provides general education and career education courses in preparation for successful employment and life-long learning;
Cooperates with community agencies to offer appropriate practicum and field experiences and to promote safe practices;
Offers continuing education opportunities to meet personal and professional goals of updating employment skills and additional specialization.