Getting Your Competency Up to Par!!

Everyday when a COTA is working they make decisions about how to adjust their patients care. Whether they are being challenged enough, or if the activities presented are too difficult for their current level. So, if as a COTA we are allowed to make adjustments during the treatment session why would we not be allowed to be involved in the assessment process?

Some OTs believe that COTAs should not be able to do assessments. Some think that it would take away from their jobs, while others think that COTAs don't have enough training, or the clinical reasoning skills adequate to give tests of this nature. Yes, the treatment program is put into motion considering all of the testing. Which raises another question. Would it not be better if the person implementing therapy be the one to give the assessments they are based from. Therapy would be more focused, and less time spent in communication & debate over the results of the test between the OT and OTAS. I am not saying that OTs don't need to check in and make sure everything is accurately working for the patient & COTA, but rather more people would have more client focused therapy, which could only be more beneficial.

Now, you also have to consider the experience and competence of the COTA giving the tests. All employees at a facility should be checking in with each other regularly to make sure their tests & results are proving accurate and equal to one another. If there is a problem with a COTA's skills not being up to par enough to give assessments, then perhaps that individual should take some continuing education classes to improve their knowledge and skills before assessing clients. But, if like the school I attended COTAs are being trained well enough, and have the knowledge and skill base, they should not be held back from helping to perform assessments for patients after service competency has been proven. After all, this will only give OTs more time to treat more people, and allow for more therapy planning so every patient's therapy is more client centered.

If, as a COTA you are wondering if your skills are up to par, check out this self assessment tool manual put out by the NBCOT, and the different specialty practice area resources.