Occupational Therapy Assistant Handbook

Body

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

OTA Program Philosophy

The Illinois Central College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program (OTA) is committed to the facilitation and development of knowledge, skills and professional relationship habits necessary for a satisfying and successful career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

The OTA program is built upon the belief that people are complex, composite beings driven by an intrinsic need to meaningfully participate in human occupation, within their life context. Such engagement in occupation is intended to support survival, promote or restore health and also serves to create opportunity for the client to experience human flourishing in ways which are developmentally meaningful. The OTA program appreciates fully the philosophical tenets of existential-humanism, which inspire practical reflection upon the most meaningful and objective occupational needs of each individual person within their particular context and life situation. Client-centered assessment and interventions respect human developmental needs and also assure that the clinician is listening to the client’s need for function, purpose and meaning.

The OTA program philosophy is further based upon the belief that its learners need to be actively engaged in a learning community which expresses high expectations, but which is also supportive and ready to give regular feedback. The OTA program seeks to developmentally transition students from initially more dependent learners, to learners who are positively interdependent adult learners, able to access information and technology, as well as other resources, in order to meet the needs of modern professionals. Cognitive development and problem-based learning within the learning community will be aligned not only with the historical ethos of OT but also with the current and emerging practice areas of the profession.

The OTA program cohort is viewed as a community wherein collaboration and mutual respect will exist and where adult learner diversity will be considered beneficial and good. This same cohort will interface with other college disciplines and with the surrounding community via relationships based upon the OT Code of Ethics.

Graduation and completion of the OTA program will not be viewed as the only goal of the educational process. Students will be engaged with the intentional process of becoming a professional and with the expectation that professionals are self-motivated, lifelong learners who perpetually develop through appropriate participation in professional development activities. The OTA program faculty are committed to the development of Occupational Therapy practitioners and also advocate for the profession through involvement with the area health care community.

OTA Program Vision

The vision of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program at Illinois Central College (ICC) is to provide a successful path to completion of the program and to be prepared to begin generalist practice as an entry level OTA by enabling students to attain the knowledge, professional skills, and an exceptional educational foundation.

To fulfill its vision, the OTA Program will:

Promote student access through equal opportunity admission policies.
Provide academic advisement and supportive career resources in the community.
Assure quality instruction by meeting ACOTE Accreditation standards; promote faculty scholarship.
Provide a curriculum design which includes a sound general education and relevant
OTA-specific content courses in preparation to implement optimal client-centered practice.
Promote evidenced-based research and practice to foster a desire to embrace lifelong learning and commitment to scholarship.
Establish interprofessional relationships with community partners for the procurement of in-depth fieldwork placements to expose students to a variety of settings and clients across the lifespan.
Facilitate a professional culture that is characterized by inclusiveness and respect for persons, groups, and populations.
Facilitate an awareness of current and future roles within the scope of practice of an occupational therapy assistant within the local and global communities of the rapidly changing service delivery systems.

OTA Program Information

The certified occupational therapy assistant collaborates with the supervising occupational therapist to provide the use of occupations (everyday life activities) with individuals and/or groups across the lifespan. These occupations include ADLs (activities of daily living), IADLS (instrumental activities of daily living), education, work, rest, sleep, play, and social participation. The occupational therapy assistant may be employed in a variety of practice areas. These settings include but are not limited to: hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient facilities, schools, community-based health agencies, behavioral health programs, and home health agencies. Occupational therapy assistants provide services that will promote health, well-being, participation, and engagement in occupation throughout one’s lifespan. Occupational therapy assistants apply a client-centered holistic approach and recognize the significance of the mind, body, and spirit.

OTA Program Mission

The mission of the Associate in Applied Science Occupational Therapy Assistant Degree 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.

OTA Program Goals

Students/graduates of the program will demonstrate clinical reasoning through an understanding and application of knowledge from the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process, theory, models of practice, and guidelines of practice utilized in the occupational therapy process.
Students/graduates of the program will exhibit proficiency in the delivery of evidence- based practice and interventions to facilitate participation and enhance occupational performance across the lifespan.
Students/graduates of the program will perform skills to practice as a competent, entry- level generalist in traditional and emerging occupational therapy practice settings across the lifespan.
Students/graduates of the program will effectively interact through written, oral, and nonverbal communication with the client, family, significant others, and the public in a professionally acceptable manner.
Students/graduates of the program will model positive behaviors to promote effective interprofessional team collaboration.

Student Handbook

The Student Handbook is published annually as part of the ICC Catalog and Student Handbook.

Academic Policies and Procedures

Student, Rights, Responsibilities, and Procedures

Campus Police and Regulations

Additional College Information

College Information & Resources

Learn about Illinois Central College.

Student Hub

Visit the Student Hub, your one-stop portal for everything you need about campus information and services. You can find information about your User ID and password, technology support, Canvas, the Bookstore, Safety and Security, Student Life, the Library and Academic Support Center, well-being, and more!

Visit the Student Hub

My Alert

Current students are automatically enrolled in MyAlert to receive emergency notifications through text messages, calls, and emails. Please keep this information up-to-date in your ICC account. You can opt-out of receiving text or voice calls by replying unsubscribe. Learn more about emergency notifications and closings.

Safety Policy and Procedures: On Campus

Student Safety

Accident/Injury Reporting Procedure is addressed in the OTA Program Student Handbook.
General College safety procedures – examples include, but not limited to, classroom evacuation, location of AED, etc. The College Emergency Response Guide is available online.
Students are not permitted to utilize the OTA lab without faculty consent, and a faculty member must be present.
Students are not permitted to use any electrical equipment unless a faculty member is in the classroom.
Students may practice only procedures and techniques that have been introduced in lecture and laboratory and only with other currently enrolled OTA Program students with faculty present.
A small first aid kit is available in the OTA lab.
A campus phone is available in the OTA Lab and in academic classrooms in Birch Hall.
Building evacuation routes are posted in the lab and classroom and reviewed with students at the beginning of each semester.
The OTA Program Student Handbook contains information detailing infection control and exposure in the Health Careers Policies and Protocols:
Clinical Tuberculosis (TB) Exposure Procedure, Student TB Exposure Form; and TB Exposure Assessment Student Questionnaire
Clinical Blood and Body Fluid Exposure and Student Exposure Report Form
Accident/Injury Reporting Procedure and the Student Accident Injury/Report Form
Safety measures related to health, such communicable diseases.
OTA lab and classroom safety and evacuation procedures are discussed and simulated at the initial program orientation and reviewed at the beginning of each academic semester.

Equipment

Equipment manuals/instructions are maintained in the lab file cabinet.
Faculty inspects equipment prior to laboratory use.
All new equipment is checked by the Program Director prior to use.
Routine equipment inspections and preventative maintenance are performed at the end of each semester or more often as needed by OTA faculty. Logs of equipment maintenance are maintained by the Program Director. Electrical safety checks are performed annually by an outside vendor and results maintained by the Program Director.
Equipment in need of repair will be taken out of service and repairs done internally with a work order or through an external company, as appropriate. Copies of repair records are maintained in the Program Director’s office.
Faculty or students who experience any equipment malfunctions are to report the issue to the Program Director immediately, with the equipment labeled and removed from use.

Safety Policy and Procedures: Off Campus

Safety and Security

Fieldwork education sites will provide information regarding accident, illness, and security procedures at respective individual facilities.
Fieldwork education sites may provide emergency service but not routine medical care. Cost of emergency care in off-campus educational experiences is the responsibility of the student. The College does expect students to have health insurance and students are aware of this upon admission into the program.
Students will follow facility procedures and complete necessary documentation regarding the reporting of incidents, and the fieldwork educator will assist with this process. Information related to the incident report will be shared with the AFWC and/or Program Director with College documentation completed.
The OTA program includes community-based learning opportunities, such as field trips during specific courses. For these, students are given an explanation of the activity and travel information and sign the institution’s Assumption of Risk and Release Form, which is maintained by that faculty member. A faculty member remains at the facility for the duration of the field trip.
Faculty reviews information regarding safety and emergency procedures applicable to field trips and shares with students. The instructor will complete the Field Trip Safety Checklist in collaboration with community partner. This completed checklist will be maintained by the faculty with course documents.
Student travel to/from field trip location is the responsibility of the student.

OTA Program Beginning Semester Safety Checklist

Birch Hall, Peoria Campus

1. Location of Emergency Phone

Birch 127-OTA Lab-mounted on wall main entrance Birch 126-OTA Apartment-mounted on wall in kitchen Birch 119-PTA Lab-mounted on wall main entrance
Birch 118-PTA Skills Lab-mounted on wall main entrance
Birch Classrooms #115, #116, #131 and #132-mounted on wall main entrance

2. Location of Fire Extinguishers

Mounted on wall outside entrance to Birch 127-OTA Lab
Mounted on wall in OTA Apartment in kitchen-Birch 128-OTA Lab
Mounted on wall outside entrance to Birch 119 -PTA Lab
Mounted on wall in hallway outside Birch Classrooms #115, #116, #131 and #132

3. Location of AED

Birch Hall-Hallway outside Birch 118

4. Location of Fist Aid Equipment

Birch 127-OTA Lab-Basic First Aid Kit and BP cuff & stethoscope
Birch 119 -PTA Lab- Basic First Aid Kit and BP cuff & stethoscope
Student Center-Public Safety Officer Office in Elm

5. Location of Assisted Mobility Devices-wheelchairs, walkers, crutches

Birch 126-OTA & PTA Storage Room

6. Location of Incident Report Forms

Cedar Hall 105 - Health Careers Office - Phone (309) 690-7530

7. Evacuation of Building- Emergency Procedures and Routes

Evacuation Routes/maps are posted in each classroom and lab in Birch Hall.

** In Case of an emergency, call 911 and activate the emergency response system

Fire/Evacuation

OTA Program: B127, B131, and B132

Exit hallway near OTA lab (B127) and exit building through exterior door to parking lot (South side of building).
Please wait in parking lot for official head count and further instructions.

Students are not to leave campus until notified by faculty.

OTA Apartment: B126

Exit building through exterior door to grounds/parking lot (South side of building).
Please wait in parking lot for official head count and further instructions.

Students are not to leave campus until notified by faculty or emergency personnel.

PTA Program: B119

Exit door and exit to the left and exit building through exterior door near handicap parking lot (West side of building).
Please wait in parking lot for official head count and further instructions.

Students are not to leave campus until notified by faculty or emergency personnel.

PTA Program: B118, B131, B132

Exit hallway near OTA lab (B127) and exit building through exterior door to parking lot (south side of building).
Please wait in parking lot for official head count and further instructions.

Students are not to leave campus until notified by faculty or emergency personnel.

PTA Program: B116

Exit door to the right and exit straight ahead to exterior door to the outside corridor (west side of building).
Please wait in parking lot for official head count and further instructions.

Students are not to leave campus until notified by faculty or emergency personnel.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy NBCOT Early Determination

An individual who is considering entering, or who has already entered, an occupational therapy

educational program can have their background reviewed prior to actually applying for the exam by requesting an Early Determination Review. NBCOT uses a third party vendor to provide background checks on current and prospective occupational therapy students who are concerned that an issue in their background may prevent them from being eligible to sit for the certification exam. A written explanation of any incidents in question is also required. If an individual has been on parole or probation at any point within the last seven (7) years, they must also include official documentation confirming their compliance with or completion of all terms and conditions imposed by the court. NBCOT may request additional information as needed on a case-by-case basis.

In this Early Determination Review process, NBCOT may give early or prior approval to take the certification exam, as it pertains to good moral character, provided that the information reviewed is not found to be a violation of any of the principles of the Practice Standards/Code of Conduct.

Current and prospective occupational therapy students should visit NBCOT's Character Review webpage to see what questions must be answered at the time of the exam application. If a current or prospective student answers "Yes" to one or more character questions, that individual should then determine whether or not an Early Determination Review is the right option for them.

Each early review case is reviewed on an individual basis. After NBCOT has completed its review, the individual is notified in writing regarding whether they will be eligible to sit for the NBCOT exam, provided that all eligibility requirements are met.

It is important to note that the NBCOT staff is only able to advise any individual regarding eligibility after all required information has been received and reviewed. This means that individuals who contact NBCOT requesting a “Yes” or “No” response as to whether their background would be cause for disqualification must go through the background screening process and will receive written notification after the review is complete.

Please note, if an individual receives a favorable Early Determination Review, they will need to apply for the certification exam upon completion of all academic and fieldwork requirements. When individuals applies for the exam, they will be expected to answer the character questions. Individuals who receive a favorable Early Determination Review decision two or more years prior to applying for the certification exam and answer affirmatively to one or more of the character questions will undergo another background check as part of their exam application.

To request an Early Determination Review, complete and submit the Early Determination Review Payment Form.

NBCOT Character Review

To ensure that occupational therapy practitioners meet standards of professional conduct prior to entering the profession, all applicants for certification are required to provide information and documentation related to affirmative responses to character questions on the examination application. The character review consists of eight key questions:

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? (NOTE: Applicants must answer affirmatively even if convictions have been pardoned, expunged, released, or sealed.)
Do you currently have a felony charge or charges against you?
Have you ever had any professional license, registration, or certification denied, revoked, suspended, or subject to probationary conditions by a regulatory authority or certification board, including NBCOT®?
Do you currently have a professional license, registration, or certification under review for possible disciplinary action?
Have you ever been found by any court, administrative, or disciplinary proceeding to have committed negligence, malpractice, recklessness, or willful or intentional misconduct which resulted in harm to another?
Do you currently have a charge(s) of negligence, malpractice, recklessness, or willful or intentional misconduct that resulted in harm to another against you?
Have you ever been suspended and/or expelled from a college or university?
Are you currently under active investigation that could lead to being suspended and/or expelled from a college or university?

NBCOT uses a third-party vendor to provide background checks for applicants with affirmative responses to character questions. The following required documentation must also be submitted:

A detailed, written explanation regarding the incident(s). Please describe your involvement and behavior in the incident(s), including how your actions were discovered.
If you have been on parole or probation at any point within the last seven (7) years, you must include documentation confirming your compliance with or completion of all terms and conditions imposed by the court. This can be a letter from your probation officer, or other official court documentation.

For details on NBCOT’s disciplinary action process, visit the Professional Conduct page.

Criminal Background Check Policy

All Health Careers students who have a clinical component to their educational process are required to submit the necessary information in order for the College to conduct a criminal background check. The student must read and sign the Fingerprint/Background Check Informed Consent/Release and review the Fingerprint/Background Check Policy and Procedures upon admittance to the program. The student is responsible for the costs associated with all criminal background checks.

This process is completed in the spring upon admission and acceptance into the OTA Program for fall semester. Additional criminal background checks may be required upon participating at a specific fieldwork setting.

Application for Admission to OTA Program

Applications for Health Careers Programs are accepted at all times but the deadline for fall admission to the OTA Program is January 15. Completed applications should be submitted to the Health Careers Department and include: completed ICC application, high school transcript or GED, OTA program specific template, and all college transcripts. Specific eligibility and program requirements are listed in the Health Careers Booklet or ICC’s website.

From the applicants, a predetermined number of students, (typically 16) will be selected on the basis of program score template. If two or more applicants hold the same score, the student cumulative GPA will be used and students will be selected from highest to lowest. Students who are not admitted are encouraged to meet with a health career advisor to review the application process and program template.

Transfer Credit

Students wishing to have courses evaluated for transfer to ICC for the purpose of receiving a degree or certificate or to have course work earned at another college or university applied to the ICC record must have an official transcript from each institution attended sent to ICC.

ICC students have access to the transfer center, which will provide accurate information to help them achieve a seamless transfer to the four-year institution of their choice. For more information, contact the center at (309) 694-5530.

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