OTA 270 - OTA Clinical Internship 1

Credits: 3
Lecture Contact Hours: 1
Off Site Contact Hours Without Faculty: 21.33

Description: This course is designed to help the student transition from classroom learning to practical application. Under the supervision of experienced occupational therapy staff, the student will engage in situational learning in a clinical setting utilizing clinical reasoning appropriate to the occupational therapy assistant role, developing professional behaviors, and applying knowledge and skills acquired in the didactic portion of their education. The student is expected to work full time, as determined by the facility, for eight weeks in their assigned setting for a total of 320 hours. Students are evaluated by a standardized form, The American Occupational Therapy Association Fieldwork Performance Evaluation for the Occupational Therapy Assistant. Per AOTA policy, a student MUST score a three or above in the Fundamentals of Practice section in order to pass the fieldwork course.

Prerequisites: OTA 220 with a minimum grade of 2.5. OTA 230 with a minimum grade of 2.5. OTA 240 with a minimum grade of 2.5. OTA 250 with a minimum grade of 2.5.
Corequisites: OTA 280 .
Recommended: None

Course Category: Occupational
This Course is Typically Offered: Fall
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Course Competencies
1. Model the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Code of Ethics, as well as the code of ethics of the fieldwork site.

2. Exercise safety precautions to keep clients, families, significant others and service providers safe throughout the occupational therapy process and during all fieldwork-related activities.

3. Explain the value and beliefs of occupational therapy, including the distinct nature of occupation, interaction of occupation and activity, balancing areas of occupation and the role of occupation in the promotion of health and prevention of disease, illness and dysfunction for persons, groups and populations.

4. Make informed practice decisions based on scholarly reports and publications, classroom knowledge and occupational therapy theory.

5. Collect, under the supervision of the occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy assistant, relevant information regarding factors that impact the occupational performance of a client.

6. Interpret, with assistance from the occupational therapist, assessment results of the client’s performance.

7. Outline assessment results in a clear, concise and accurate manner that reflects the client’s status and goals.

8. Plan client-centered, occupation-based goals in collaboration with the occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy assistant.

9. Establish entry-level service competency in all areas of OT within the context of the service delivery setting.

10. Examine the effect of psychosocial factors on client engagement in occupations in the selection of interventions.

11. Establish, in collaboration with the occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy assistant, client-centered, occupation-based intervention plans, including selection of appropriate modalities that promote engagement in occupation within the context of the setting.

12. Analyze activities to determine the need for grading and adapting in order to promote the client’s occupational performance.

13. Recommend environmental modification, as necessary, for enhancement of the client’s occupational performance and well-being.

14. Monitor, in collaboration with the occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy assistant, the client’s status with regard to the need for modification or termination of the intervention plan and/or environments.

15. Analyze alternatives to the termination of OT treatment, including the need to refer the client to a specialist, both internal and external to the profession.

16. Illustrate clear and effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication with clients, families, caregivers, colleagues and the general public.

17. Prioritize client-centered goals through collaboration with the healthcare team, client and others.

18. Prepare clear and accurate documentation that reflects the client’s response to intervention.

19. Demonstrate professional behaviors, including self-assessment, consistent with expectations in the clinical setting, as well as with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

20. Create health promotion, health wellness or other educational materials to meet the needs of the clients, caregivers and the public.