The Role of the Therapist and Interprofessional Collaboration

Question 1

Occupational Therapist (OT)

Answer 1

Help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations).

Question 2

Physical Therapist (PT)

Answer 2

Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.

Question 3

Both OT and PT

Answer 3

Often there is overlap where both professions are working on similar impairments but for different outcomes. For example, the OT may be working on transfers to improve patient’s ability to toilet independently (ADLs) whereas the PT may be working on strength to improve the ability to transfer independently (functional movement).

Question 4

Interprofessional Collaboration

Answer 4

Between professions

• Occupational Therapist and Physical therapist
• Speech Language therapist and Nurse

Question 5

Intraprofessional Collaboration

Answer 5

Within your professions

• Occupational Therapists would with Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants (COTA)
• Physical Therapists working with Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA)