Occupational Therapist Assistant / Physiotherapist Assistant
Program Overview
This OTA/PTA program blends classroom and clinical learning, preparing graduates to work under the supervision of healthcare professionals. They will assist in implementing therapy plans, enabling optimal performance and coping with limitations, making a fulfilling career path in healthcare.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Graduates will work under the supervision of a Physiotherapist and/or Occupational Therapist to assist in the implementation of therapeutic plans and programs. Graduates will assist in enabling a client’s optimal performance, and help them effectively cope with limitations to function, activities of daily living, leisure and work. If you are the type of individual who welcomes a challenge and enjoys being with people of all ages, a career as an OTA/PTA is a great career path to choose.
Program Highlights:
- Utilization of innovative, current and integrated approaches to the role of the OTA/PTA assistant.
- A blend of classroom and clinical/practical learning involving “hands-on” learning.
- Clinical placements within a variety of work settings including hospitals, private clinics, long term care facilities and children’s treatment centres.
Outline:
Semester 1
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | OTP101 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 | | OTP102 | Clinical Pathology I | 2 | | OTP111 | Lifestage Development And Rehabilitation | 4 | | ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
Semester 2
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | OTP200 | Functional Human Movement | 5 | | OTP206 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 | | OTP202 | Clinical Pathology II | 2 | | OTP203 | Communication & Documentation Skills For The OTA/PTA | 3 | | OTP204 | Orientation To Rehabilitation II | 4 | | OTP213 | Mental Health In Rehabilitation | 2 | | ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
Semester 3
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | OTP300 | Therapeutic Skills - OTA I | 5 | | OTP305 | Therapeutic Skills - PTA I | 5 | | ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 | | OTP301 | Field Experience I | 17 |
Semester 4
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | OTP400 | Therapeutic Skills - OTA II | 5 | | OTP405 | Therapeutic Skills - PTA II | 5 | | OTP401 | Field Experience II | 17 |
Past Cohorts:
Fall 2019 Cohort
Semester 1
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | OTP101 | Anatomy And Physiology 1 | 3 | | OTP102 | Clinical Pathology1 | 2 | | OTP103 | Orientation To Rehabilitation 1 | 3 | | OTP104 | Lifestage Health And Rehabilitation | 3 | | SSC240 | Developmental Psychology | 3 | | ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
Semester 2
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | OTP200 | Functional Human Movement | 5 | | OTP201 | Anatomy And Physiology II | 2 | | OTP202 | Clinical Pathology II | 2 | | OTP203 | Communication & Documentation Skills For The Ota/Pta | 3 | | OTP204 | Orientation To Rehabilitation II | 4 | | OTP310 | Psychiatric Disorders | 2 | | ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
Semester 3
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | OTP300 | Therapeutic Skills - Ota 1 | 5 | | OTP305 | Therapeutic Skills - Pta 1 | 5 | | ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 | | OTP301 | Field Experience I | 17 |
Semester 4
| Code | Title | Credits | |---|---|---| | OTP400 | Therapeutic Skills - Ota II | 5 | | OTP405 | Therapeutic Skills - Pta II | 5 | | OTP401 | Field Experience II | 17 |
Careers:
As an OTA/PTA, you will work for such healthcare providers as hospitals, family health teams and community clinics, mental health facilities, long term care facilities such as Nursing Homes, Residential Care and Senior Assistive Living facilities, rehabilitation centres, and children treatment centres.
Other:
- Pre-Placement Requirements: Students are required to complete an Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV) Review through the Verified platform in order to receive clearance to begin their clinical placement.
- Field Placement: Clinical placement is undertaken for a total of 525 hours in two placement blocks during semesters three and four. Placements occur for two seven-week blocks and attendance is 5 days per week (est. 5 hours /week). The first placement in semester 3 is typically from early November to mid-December and the second placement in semester 4 is from mid-March to the end of April.
- COVID-19 Vaccination Placement Notice to Students: Most placement sites require students to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to be eligible to attend.
- Placement Details:
- Placements may be outside the Windsor/Chatham area.
- Students are responsible for their own accommodation.
- Students are responsible for their own travel and all costs of placements.
- Students are responsible for the cost of scrub uniforms/footwear and equipment (such as a stethoscope, a watch with a second hand) and other incidentals as required.
- Placement schedules may include shifts on days, afternoons, weekends and holidays throughout the program based on placement needs and agency availability.
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes:
- Communicate appropriately and effectively, through verbal, nonverbal, written and electronic means, with clients, their significant others, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, members of the interdisciplinary health care team and others.
- Participate in the effective functioning of interdisciplinary health care teams to optimize client physical and occupational functions.
- Establish, develop, maintain, and conclude client-centred, therapeutic relationships.
- Promote a safe environment that prevents or minimizes potential physical or mental harm to the client, therapist assistant and others.
- Practice in a legal, ethical, and professional manner within the role of a therapist assistant.
- Document client records in a thorough, objective, accurate, and timely manner within the role of the therapist assistant.
- Engage in reflective practice and ongoing professional development activities to maintain and enhance competence.
- Perform the roles and responsibilities of the therapist assistant effectively through the application of relevant knowledge of health sciences, psychosocial sciences, health conditions, resource management, and clinical procedures.
- Contribute to the occupational therapist's or physiotherapist's assessment of the client and the development, implementation and modification of intervention/treatment plans.
- Maximize the client’s occupational performance by accurately and safely implementing the interventions and related tasks under the direction and supervision of the occupational therapist.
- Maximize the client’s physical function by accurately and safely implementing the interventions and related tasks under the direction and supervision of the physiotherapist.
