Questions about Occupational Therapy

 QUESTIONS ABOUT OT

For our assignment this week, we were asked to come up with ten questions we had about our chosen career, then to find a textbook that could answer as many as possible. After searching in MSU's library, I found a very useful textbook that I was able to use to answer all of my questions. The only minor problem is that the textbook I used was published in 1983. But, I found that though some information was outdated (for example the second way in which you can become a COTA, question #5) the majority pf information provided was very helpful. So, the ten questions I thought of were as follows... I hope you learn something new!

1. What is the official definition of occupational therapy?
• The very first definition was written in 1914, but there have been many definitions of occupational therapy throughout its history. The first formal definition declared in 1922 was "any activity, mental or physical, definitely prescribed and guided for the distinct purpose of contributing to, and hastening recovery from, disease or injury." This definition was revised in 1923, 1924, 1972, and 1981. It became a very long definition that can be summarized as "the study of human occupations (self maintenance, productivity and leisure) and the management of the adaptive behavior required to perform these occupational functions"
2. When did occupational therapy begin?
• The National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy was founded on March 15th, 1917 by a group of seven people.
  
3. Who founded occupational therapy? 
• George Barton, Susan Cox Johnson, Isabel Gladwin Newton Barton (George Barton's secretary and wife), Eleanor Clarke Slagle, Susan Edith Tracy, Thomas Bessell Kidner, William Rush Dunton, Jr., M.D., 
4. How can you become a OTR (occupational therapist, registered)? 
• There are two ways to become an OTR: Graduation from an AMA/AOTA accredited OT program, or professional education outside of the US and completion of the requirements to sit for the Certification Examination for Occupational Therapist, Registered. 
5. How can you become a COTA (certified occupational therapists assistant)?
• There are two ways to become a COTA: Graduation from an accredited program for occupational therapy assistants, or have been granted the status of a COTA by the American Occupational Therapy Association prior to 1976 
6. Is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) the same to an OT as a PTA is to a physical therapist?
• COTAs assist OTs in the evaluation process and must be supervised by the OT during the rest of the program.
7. What is the general process of evaluating a patient?
• Referral or Initial Evaluation (does the patient have potential in occupational performance?), Analysis (will the patient benefit from OT?), Formative Evaluation (what is the patient's entering level?), Plan (what is the patient's problem and what techniques can you use to help?), Program (When can the patient be scheduled, what supplies are needed), Summative Evaluation (How has the patient improved, should the program be stopped, continued, or revised?), and Discharge ( should the patient be discharged?)
8. What are the main goals of an occupational therapist?   
• The main goals can be summarized as: To evaluate human behavior and function in terms of occupational performance and the required adaptive behavior; to support optimum health based on the individual's needs; to develop, improve, or reestablish normal occupational functions throughout the lifespan; and to prevent or minimize dysfunctional occupational performance and adaptive behavior.
9. What kind of facilities do occupational therapists work in?
• Hospitals and institutions, clinics, schools and educational facilities, community centers, nursing homes and residential centers, community agencies, national societies, correctional facilities, workshops, private practice, and industrial settings.  Each of these main groups can then be split into smaller subgroups.
10. Which facility do the highest percentage of occupational therapists work?
• Most occupational therapists work in general hospitals.

 WORKS CITED

Reed, Kathlyn L. Concepts of Occupational Therapy. 3rd ed. Baltimore. Williams & Wilkins, 1983. Print.