Occupational Therapy Aide

PROGRAM OUTLINE

Instruction Sets
Your program consists of four Instruction Sets designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you'll use in your new career.

Here's how it works: Your first Instruction Set will be sent immediately after your enrollment has been accepted. Other Instruction Sets will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with. Here is an overview of what you'll learn and the order in which you'll receive your lessons:

Instruction Set 1

Introduction to Occupational Therapy
Brief history of occupational therapy; settings in which OT is practiced: hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, etc.; categories of OT personnel; educational requirements; members of the patient-care interdisciplinary team.

The Physical/Occupational Therapy Aide
Definition of OT aide’s role; education and training; job responsibilities; unskilled and skilled tasks, including clerical, inventory, treatment setup, direct patient care, therapeutic activities; supervision of the OT aide; OT Code of Ethics.

Video: Rehabilitative Careers

Instruction Set 2

Introduction to Medical Terminology
Definitions; anatomical positioning, directional terms, body regions; therapeutic terminology; common abbreviations; the musculoskeletal system.

Body Systems Terminology
Nervous, circulatory, and respiratory terminology.

Learning Aid : Terminology Flashcards

Pronunciation Tapes:
• Introduction to Terminology
• Body Systems

Instruction Set 3

Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
Definition of ADL; self-care activities; homemaking activities; leisure activities; work activities, including on-site job evaluations; community re-entry activities; patient transfer techniques; driving; home safety.

Adaptive Equipment
Wheelchair components and care; ambulation devices; bathroom equipment; dressing equipment; feeding equipment; grooming equipment; transfer equipment; OT aide’s role in assisting with or modifying adaptive equipment.

Video: Activities of Daily Living and the OT Aide

Instruction Set 4

Therapeutic Treatment
Aide’s role in assisting with therapeutic treatment, including psychosocial skills; group interaction skills; cognitive, perceptual and sensory stimulation activities; fine and gross motor activities; range of motion and strengthening activities; aide’s role in diagnostic-related activities.

Customer Service
The patient relationship; patient rights; confidentiality; telephone and interpersonal skills; interacting with patients; problem solving and conflict resolution.

Workplace Health and Safety
Patient safety, including standard first aid, CPR, recognizing patient distress; personal safety, including wellness and proper body mechanics; environmental safety, including infection control, universal precautions; fire/disaster procedures.

Supplement: Clinical Work Experience Option

Online Library and Librarian
Students in Penn Foster Career School have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and assist students in research activities during their studies with Penn Foster Career School.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

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