Vivian Said:

What can Occupational therapist assistants do?

We Answered:

Occupational therapist assistants and aides work under the direction of occupational therapists to provide rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments. The ultimate goal is to improve clients’ quality of life and ability to perform daily activities. For example, occupational therapist assistants help injured workers re-enter the labor force by teaching them how to compensate for lost motor skills or help individuals with learning disabilities increase their independence.

Occupational therapist assistants, commonly known as occupational therapy assistants, help clients with rehabilitative activities and exercises outlined in a treatment plan developed in collaboration with an occupational therapist. Activities range from teaching the proper method of moving from a bed into a wheelchair to the best way to stretch and limber the muscles of the hand. Assistants monitor an individual’s activities to make sure that they are performed correctly and to provide encouragement. They also record their client’s progress for the occupational therapist. If the treatment is not having the intended effect, or the client is not improving as expected, the therapist may alter the treatment program in hopes of obtaining better results. In addition, occupational therapist assistants document the billing of the client’s health insurance provider.

Virginia Said:

Does anyone know how much occupational therapist assistants make in southern california entry wage?

We Answered:

http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layou…

I went to salary.com and put in my zip code...I live in Southern Cali also...in the city of Tujunga.

Robert Said:

Physical Therapist Assistants and Occupational Therapist Assistants what the difference between the two?

We Answered:

Physical therapists help patients walk, help treat patients with large body pain like back, knees, etc. An occupational therapist helps with smaller scale stuff, hand injuries, etc. They also teach peoplehow to feed themselves, etc after a huge accident. In general, a pt (and assistants) help with the large scale things, and ots help with the smaller more minute movements.

Thomas Said:

Do physical therapy assistants or occupational therapist assistants make more money? ?

We Answered:

It's so close it's like splitting hairs. According to the bls, COTA's median salary is about $42,000 and PTAs about $41,000.

I would argue that PTAs have more job opportunities. In my personal experience, PTs and PTA positions outnumber OTs and COTAs by almost 2:1...yet, there aren't as many OTs and COTAs as PTs and PTAs so perhaps there are more jobs PER COTA...but this is just my speculation.

I know in our clinic, we have no interest in hiring COTAs...only OTs (in contrast we readily hire both PTs and PTAs)