The COTA Name Debate

I like the idea of using OTC-Occupational therapist, Certified and OTR-Occupational therapist, Registered.  Having been both, I think this is 717432

I like the idea of using OTC-Occupational therapist, Certified and OTR-Occypational therapist, Registered.  Having been both, I think this is 717432

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COTA?  I worked as an independent contractor for a school district in southern state for 15 years.  The past year the school district considered hiring on their therapists (both OTR's and COTA's) as employees.  When the salary proposals came through the COTA's were offered the same pay as the classroom assistants.  I won't even tell you how low the offer was.  When we discussed this with the district the reply "but you are only assistants" I left this job at the end of the school year. To my knowledge the district is still not offering employee positions to the assistants.  How about that for recognizing what we do!  I have been a COTA for 25 year and very proud of what I do.  I know the OTR say "go back to school if you want the title".  Many of us just want to be recognized for what we do for the profession.

I agree the title should be changed.  I like COTP-Certified Occupational Therapy Practitioner.  I usually introduce myself to patients or parents and tell them I will be providing occupational therapy services to them/ their child, which usually eliminates the need for the explanations required if I introduce myself as their Occupational Therapy Assistant.

I agree the title should be changed.  I like COTP-Certified Occupational Therapy Practitioner.  I usually introduce myself to patients or parents and tell them I will be providing occupational therapy services to them/ their child, which usually eliminates the need for the explanations required if I introduce myself as their Occupational Therapy Assistant.

As an OTR/L, I have worked on a full-time basis with alot of COTAs. I respect their role and know their value as clinicians.

I just want to hear from you that suggest a name change is necessary. If the word "assisstant" is changed to "practicioner", "associate", "certified OT" or "registered OT", what will the OTR be referred to as? In my opinion, occupational therapy is finally getting its respect from the general population and a name changes will only further confuse the public of our role.

From my experience, most patients don't know or really even care about your credentials or job title as long as they are recipients of services that meet/exceed their expectations during therapy. And remember, if a therapist makes an impact on a patient, the patient will remember the clinicians name, not the letters that come after it.

In California, if a COTA represents themselves as an OT then they would be in violation of the licensure law.  See www.bot.ca.gov "OT Practice Act."  

I highly respect COTAs and the talents that they have in delivering therapy services.  However, as the OTR I am ultimately responsible for the patient's treatment planning and evaluation of progress.  The occupational therapist assistant's role is to assist the occupational therapist in implementing treatment that uses meaningful and purposeful goal directed activities.  

COTAs are very valuable to our profession, and I know in California that several COTAs have been elected to leadership positions in our State Association.  These individuals are highly respected professionals and co-workers, who have strong skills.  

It is our professional and ethical responsibility to educate the public about occupational therapy.  OTRs and COTAs must educate / define to our patients and the public on what OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY entails   When both an OTR and COTA are working with a patient, we need to further educate / define  commonalities and differencies of an OTR and COTA.  As a manager of both OTRs and COTAs, I have never had a patient refuse treatment from a COTA because we address this issue professionally (which is the ethical thing to do).

I have worked in all settings and have had many problems over the last 25 years. I AM a C.O.T.A. and proud of it. My skills are equal to anyone I have ever worked with. I have worked with good OTR's and bad OTR's. Worked with OTR's who thought that the COTA was just there to file their paperwork. (I did an extra semester of Theory just to be a better therapist, not to file their paperwork.)

The next day when the OTR arrives to work they find the paperwork still on their desk. They get the point and there are no more problems.

I don't give a hoot about the designation. In my mind I AM a therapist due to education and on the job ongoing training.

My patients that I treat everyday show me respect for my education and they treat me as their therapist and after all that's what really counts isn't it? What your patients think of you.

I work in a SNF, the PT happily refers to the PTA as "her" assistant, "whether she likes it or not" as she points out, they are titled Physical TherapIST Assistants.  The OTR I work with often says things like "doesn't she have a COTA, or who is her COTA" when referring to other therapists in our district.  When she first came on board I felt very insulted by this attitude, and we had to discuss it honestly.  I do not belong to anyone, she is not "my" OTR, she is THE OTR.

She may no longer refer to me that way, but the attitude is obviously still there.  But, as I was taught in my program. i am not anyone's assistant.  I am a professional in my own right.  

I know many COTA's who never run into this, but unfortunately I also know some who are not respected at all.

One  COTA I know had to contact the Board about the OTR he worked with stating she was the BOSS and ordering him to give her part of his treatment minutes everyday since she was in the room while he provided treatment.

Many OTR's never work with a COTA in a clinical setting, and from the OTR's I have felt comfortable discussing this with, they say they had very little education about the COTA role beyond supervisory requirements.

I would like to see it changed, and like the term Associate.

Hm, I was just blogging about a related issue - readers here may be interested in my blog post at http://abctherapeutics.blogspot.com/2008/12/assistants-aides-and-importance-of.html

I think there might be more confusion between aides and assistants than we realize - if we are to believe the BLS data.  However, the problem does not seem to be nearly as large for OTAs as it is for PTAs.

Chris

Personally I have felt from the beginning of my career that the term "assistant" didn't truly represent our training, education, or level of competency.  Tim, I liked how you equated OTR to COTA as RN to LPN.  I believe that is a good analogy.  And although the nursing designations are different, patients still view them as nurses.   I am very careful to introduce myself as an Occupational Therapy Assistant however, I do feel that the designation takes away from what my job entails.  I am definitely more than just an assistant.  I do the majority of hands on treatment in my facility.  Fortunately my supervising OTR realizes my contribution, or I would probably take even more offense to the "assistant" part of my title.   I like what I do, and feel that I provide a crucial piece to our rehab team but I wish I could take a little more pride in my job title.  

But then again... what is in a name?

Tim,

      As part of this discussion over the years and with my state association, a lot of COTAs liked my idea "Certified Occupational Therapy Associate"  I felt it was relevant as most of us have associate degrees and even if you have been practicing so long where you came from a 1 year program, associate has a better connotation for most people.  On the side of the discussion, I receive a lot of my medical care from a physician's assistant and I don't feel they are any different and I call them doctors even though they aren't.  

Tim,

I am treated as an important member of the IEP team by my school staff.  I rarely have to establish that I am a COTA but I do think it would help set us apart from aides.  It has been commonly known that assistant usually indicates less decision making which we know is not an accurate account of what we do.  I would like to see us classified as Certified Occupational Therapy Practitioners.

Tim,

As I am an itinerant COTA serving multiple buildings, I generally introduce myself to staff and parents as the Occupational Therapy person serving the building.  Whenever evaluations are needed, I make it clear that my supervising OTR and I collaborated together.  My OTR's are really great about being there if I have a question or need support explaining the program developed by my OTR and myself.  I have a great team that really appreciates my input and treats me like a professional.   I have never had anyone have a problem with it.  

I think if people are made aware that have you a specific role

and your supervisor is readily available the issue of being an "aide" need not arise.

Miles-

Yes, I guess I worded that poorly. Normally I say something like "I'm with Occupational Therapy, and I'll be working with you as your therapist".

The "A" in the title dosen't bother me one bit, but I think there are a few that still look for a change.

tim.........better be careful........introducing urself as the Occupational Therapist could get u into some deep do-do.....

i suggest u tell ur clients/patients that u are their OT practitioner.....this will free u of the 'A' word, if that bothers u, and will be a true reflection of what u do.

miles