Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant - COTA

Under the direction and supervision of the occupational therapist, the certified occupational therapy assistant administers and directs therapeutic procedures to patients recovering from injury, disease, surgery, or other ailments, as prescribed by a referring practitioner. Care is provided in alignment with goals established by the occupational therapist. The assistant re-assesses patient progress at regular intervals and documents findings appropriately.

Responsibilities

• Administer and direct therapeutic procedures to patients as prescribed by a referring practitioner.
• Provide care in alignment with goals established by the occupational therapist.
• Re-assess patient progress at regular, timely intervals.
• Support findings with appropriate documentation.

Requirements

• Associate degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.
• Licensed by South Carolina as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification with the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross BLS for Healthcare Providers.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform job functions while standing, sitting, and walking (Continuous).
• Ability to climb stairs (Infrequent).
• Ability to work indoors (Continuous) and outside in temperature extremes (Infrequent).
• Ability to work from elevated areas (Frequent) and in confined/cramped spaces (Frequent).
• Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions (Infrequent).
• Ability to bend at the waist (Continuous), twist at the waist (Frequent), and squat (Frequent).
• Ability to perform "pinching" operations (Frequent) and gross/fine motor activities with fingers and hands (Continuous).
• Ability to reach overhead (Frequent) and in all directions (Continuous).
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders (Continuous).
• Ability to fully use both legs (Continuous) and use lower extremities for balance and coordination (Frequent).
• Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. unassisted (Infrequent).
• Ability to lift/lower objects 50 lbs. from/to floor from/to 36 inches unassisted (Infrequent).
• Ability to lift from 36" to overhead 25 lbs. (Infrequent).
• Ability to exert up to 50 lbs. of force (Frequent). Examples include:
  • Transferring a 100 lb. patient who cannot assist requires 50 lbs. of force; for every additional 100 lbs., assistance is required.
  • 20 lbs. of force is needed to push a 400 lb. patient in a wheelchair on carpet.
  • 25 lbs. of force is required to push a stretcher with a patient using one hand.
• Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes (Continuous).
• Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance, match or discriminate between colors, and determine distance/relationship between objects (Continuous).
• Good peripheral vision capabilities (Continuous).
• Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction (Continuous).
• Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements (Continuous).
• Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations (Continuous).
• Ability to work rotating shifts (Frequent) and overtime as required (Frequent).
• Ability to work in a latex-safe environment (Continuous).
• Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions (Continuous).
• Selected positions require ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function (Continuous).
• Selected positions require ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and as required (Continuous).

Pay

Hourly pay grade: Health-25.

Schedule

Scheduled weekly hours: 40.