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TOPIC: The Occupational Therapy Association of the Philippines (OTAP) Code of Ethics

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BRIEF DISCUSSION

The Occupational Therapist shall accept referrals for assessment and/or treatment from medical practitioners, colleagues, and other qualified professionals, providing he/she is dully registered and/or licensed; has direct access to the patients doctor; and where necessary, informs the latter prior, to commencing treatment.

The OTRP shall possess the personal qualification of integrity, reliability, and loyalty.

The OTRP shall maintain a high standard of practice at all times.

The OTRP shall respect confidential information available to him/her in the course of his/her professional duties.

The OTRP shall consult the medical and other relevant records before commencing treatment.

The OTRP shall consult and cooperate with all persons responsible for the psychosocial, medical, and educational progress of those in need for such services.

The OTRP shall keep reports and records clearly and concisely for the information of professional colleagues, and for legal purposes.

The OTRP shall continue growing professionally, through advance studies, researches, seminars, in-service trainings, and other ways to update trends in the practice of the profession.

The OTRP shall recognize the responsibility to promote the profession to the students, medical, and allied health profession and to the public in general.

The OTRP shall contribute to the growth and development of the profession by supporting the professional organization at the local, national, and international levels.

OTAP GUIDELINES for an OTRP in PRIVATE PRACTICE REFERRALS An OTRP practitioner shall accept referrals in accordance with OTAPs statement of Occupational Therapy Referral. An OTRP acts on requests for services, whatever their sources. They may accept and enter cases at their own professional discretion and based on their own level of competency. Unregistered or unlicensed OTs shall not accept and enter cases at their own professional discretion without the close supervision and direction of an OTRP.

An OTRP practitioner shall assume responsibility for determining the appropriateness of the scope, frequency, and duration of services. This means, serving an individual only in ones capacity as occupational therapist, without attempting to deal with medical and educational problems (among others), which are better handled by a physician or educator, for example. An OTRP practitioner shall refer individuals to other appropriate resources when the therapist determines that the knowledge and expertise of other professionals is indicated.

Frequency and nature of services must be determined and assessed periodically as needs change. For example, a post-stroke individual may initially require a one-on-one session, three times a week, one hour per session in order to deal with postural and self-care difficulties. Thats same individual may progress to a level where socialization goals are more vital; he/she may be seen in a group of three, once a week, for one hour per session.

COURSE OF TREATMENT PROGRAM An OTRP practitioner shall assess an individuals Areas of Occupation, Performance Skills, Client Factors, Performance Patterns, Activity Demands; and Context and Environment. All areas evaluated must have a functional implication and outcome. Likewise, the areas assessed must be addressed during intervention. An OTRP practitioner shall develop and document an intervention plan based on analysis of the OT assessment data and the individuals expected outcome after the intervention. The intervention plan must state goals that are clear, measurable, behavioral, achievable, functional, and appropriate to the individual. The assessment and intervention plan must be communicated to the appropriate persons. An OTRP practitioner shall educate the individual, significant others, or legal guardian, non-certified OT personnel, and non-OT staff, as appropriate, in activities that support the established intervention plan. The OTRP practitioner shall communicate the risks and benefits of the intervention. Information regarding community resources relevant to the practice of the practitioner must be maintained. For example, a pediatric OTRP should assist his clients family in seeking appropriate educational placement in the community. An OTRP practitioner shall discontinue service when the individual has achieved pre-determined goals or has achieved maximum benefits from OT services.. A discharge plan must be formulated, documenting changes between the initial and current states of functional ability and deficits in Areas of Occupation, Performance Skills, Client Factors, Performance Patterns, Activity Demands; and Context and Environment. Recommendations for follow-up or re-evaluation may also be included when applicable.

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has a publication, A Guide to Self-Appraisal , which explains issues related to establishing, maintaining, and measuring competency in OT. An abridged version may be found in OT Week Magazines issue (June 19 1997,vol 11, #25)

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Reaction/ Feedback

I agreed to the OTAP Code of Ethics. I think that registered occupational therapist or even the unlicensed occupational therapist must practice, obey, comply and respect the OTAP code of ethics. It must be always serve as guidelines for an OTRP. Honestly speaking, some of the rules in the OTAP code of ethics were difficult to comply and follow like keeping an accurate documentation and report of the clients condition and progression because its not easy for the therapist to do a multitasking task. The most common situation encountered by the therapist working in rehab were evaluating and treating a patient and after these assessments, the occupational therapist should make documentation. But thats the duties of an OT. I think if a registered occupational therapist put the code of ethics in their heart and also in their practice, they might be able to attain a stable job, promotion, and success in this field and they will be also compassionate and dedicated to the profession.