Supervision of OTA and OT student

Question 1

Cannot assign these duties to OTA…

Answer 1

Cannot assign the following duties:
1. Service initiation
2. Assessment that require clinical judgement
3. Interpretation of assessment findings
4. Communication of occupational therapy recommendations requiring clinical judgement
5. Discharge planning

Question 2

Establish a supervisory plan… including…

Answer 2

1. role and responsibilities of OTA
2. mode of supervision (clinical record review, observation, informal and formal meeting)
3. Expectations for reporting by assistants to the occupational therapist
4. what kind of duties assigned
5. what kind of duties can OTA do if OT cannot provide direct supervision
6. If client medically stable, can remotely supervise (e.g. off site, short term vacation); but need to assign which medical professional OTA can contact in case emergency

Question 3

Occupational Therapists Providing Education or Training of Recommendations to Others

Answer 3

consultation：
- only providing recommendations and training

• does not assign occupational therapy service components
• accountable for the recommendations they make, but they are not accountable for the individual carrying out the recommended activities.
• The individual carrying out the recommendations may be involved with the client even after the occupational therapist service has ended, and accountable to their employers.

Other examples of occupational therapists in a consulting role:
- Teaching care providers a home exercise program for a client.
- Teaching an Educational Assistant (EA) strategies to help a student dress at school.
- Providing recommendations to a building contractor about home modifications for a client.

Question 4

Factors to consider when assigning OTA

Answer 4

1. Client factors
   (stability and complexity of conditions e.g. physical, mental, social, predictability of change of conditions, client’s ability to direct care, communicate needs)
2. Competency of support personnel
   (e.g. knowledge and experience with task, client population, environment, working relationship with therapist)
3. Environmental factor
   (e.g. availability of resources, degree of independence or isolation)
4. Assigned duties of OT service (e.g. technical skill required)