Revised 8/2023

OCT 202 - Occupational Therapy with Physical Disabilities (4 CR.)

Course Description

Focuses on the theory and application of occupational therapy in the evaluation and treatment of physical dysfunction. Includes a survey of conditions which cause physical disability as well as the role of the occupational therapy assistant in assessment, planning and implementation of treatment programs. Lecture 3 hours. Laboratory 3 hours. Total 6 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to prepare students to be able to effectively evaluate and provide client-centered occupational therapy interventions to adult individuals and groups with a variety of conditions with associated physical dysfunction.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: Completion of OTA program semesters 1-3 coursework.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

  • Demonstrate sound judgment and safety of oneself and others throughout the occupational therapy process as appropriate to the setting and scope of practice. This includes the ability to assess and monitor vital signs to ensure that the client is stable for safe treatment. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.3.7)
  • Demonstrate effective clinical reasoning skills to address occupation-based interventions, client factors, performance patterns, and performance skills when working with adults and elderly. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.2)
  • Employ sound clinical reasoning to facilitate occupation-based interventions that address client factors, including interventions that focus on promotion, compensation, adaptation, and prevention. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.3)
  • Collect, organize, and report client data for evaluation outcomes under the supervision of an occupational therapist (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.6).
  • Effectively and efficiently document occupational therapy services to ensure accountability and justification of provided services and to meet the reimbursement standards and funding mechanisms set forth by the facility, the local, the state, the federal, and the involved reimbursement agencies while incorporating electronic documentation systems. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.15; aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.29)
  • Provide direct interventions and procedures to persons to enhance safety, health and wellness and occupational performance. This must include the ability to select and deliver occupations and activities, preparatory methods and tasks (including therapeutic exercise), education and training, and advocacy. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.10)
  • Provide training in self-care, self-management, health management and maintenance, home management, and community and work integration with clients with physical dysfunction.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of intervention strategies that remediate and/or compensate for functional cognitive deficits, visual deficits, psychosocial and behavioral health deficits that impact occupational participation. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.9)
  • Explain the need for orthotics, and design, fabricate, apply, fit and train in orthoses and devices used in occupational therapy practice to enhance occupational performance and participation. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.12)
  • Train in the safe and effective use of a prosthetic device. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.12)
  • Perform and effectively train individuals in functional mobility techniques, including: physical transfers, wheelchair management and mobility devices with varying levels of dependence and diagnoses. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.13)
  • Provide training in techniques to increase overall independence in community mobility, including addressing transportation transitions, community access opportunities, and driving rehabilitation. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.14)
  • Demonstrate interventions that address dysphagia and disorders of feeding and eating among adults and elderly and train others in precautions and techniques, while considering client and contextual factors. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.16)
  • Define the safe and effective application of superficial thermal agents, deep thermal agents, electrotherapeutic agents, and mechanical devices as a preparatory measure to improve occupational engagement. Indications, contraindications and precautions will be included. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.17)
  • Apply the basic neuro-handling skills when working with the neurological population to enhance occupational participation.
  • Monitor and reassess, in collaboration with the client, caregiver, family, and/or significant other, the effect of OT intervention and the need for continued or modified intervention, and to communicate this need to the OT. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.22)
  • Identify the need for a referral to specialists both internal and external of the profession, including to community agencies and communicate this to the OT. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.26)
  • Implement a discharge plan from OT services that was developed by an OT in collaboration with the client and members of an interprofessional team by considering the needs of the client, caregiver, family, and significant others and while considering the available resources and discharge environment. (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.28)

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Demonstrate an awareness of and application of occupational therapy interventions for persons, groups and populations that are client-centered, culturally relevant, evidence-based, and current (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.2.1).
  • Role of OTA when working with individuals with physical dysfunction and cognitive dysfunction.
  • Use of occupation-based, purposeful activities, and preparatory methods to enhance occupational performance and participation of individuals with adult physical dysfunction.
  • Theories and their application of theories and the OTPF as related to providing occupational therapy services to persons, groups and populations with physical dysfunction (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.2.1).
  • Occupational therapy process including evaluation, intervention application, and discharge planning.
  • Effective communication with patients, family members, community members/agencies, and members of the interprofessional team to support a team approach to health and wellness (aligns with 2018 ACOTE standard B.4.23).
  • Effective and efficient documentation and reimbursement of occupational therapy services.
  • Techniques to enhance occupational performance with individuals with physical dysfunction to include: ADLs, IADLs, functional mobility, community mobility, and other areas of occupation.