Certified occupational therapy assistants and microcomputers

This article deals with the continually changing role of the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. When the need for Registered Occupational Therapists became greater than the number of available therapists, a program was instituted for assistants. At first these aides, as they were called at that time, were delegated the tasks of transporting patients to and from therapy and setting them up for therapy. Gradually, the assistant's role grew, and with the emergence of the team approach, the assistant's role changed once again. Today the assistant is a valuable member of the team and by specializing can enhance the quality of care provided for the patient. One area of specialization is computer-assisted therapy. The assistant can enhance the quality of care provided and offer a different treatment approach. This article will review software in current use at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center and the involvement of assistants in computer-assisted therapy.