If you are considering a career as an occupational therapy assistant (OTA), you are probably someone who wants to make a difference in the lives of other people. As an OTA, you will be responsible for providing personalized care to clients who might be experiencing a variety of difficulties. Some of these difficulties might affect what is commonly referred to as Activities of Daily Living, or ADLs.

Helping clients with their ADLs is something that you may have to do as an OTA. For that reason, it is important for aspiring OTAs to be aware of the ways that a client’s environment can impact their ADLs.

Check out our blog to learn more about ADLs, client environments, and your role as an OTA!

Understanding Environmental Impact in Your Occupational Therapist Assistant Course

To understand how a client’s environment (i.e., the space around them) can impact their ADLs, it is important to understand what exactly ADLs refer to. Although some clients might be more autonomous than others in completing their ADLs, here are a few things that the term refers to:

Ambulating — is the technical term used to describe a person’s ability to walk or move from one place to another.

Feeding — is the ability of a person to independently prepare their food and feed themselves.

Dressing and grooming — refer to a person’s capacity to choose appropriate clothing for different occasions, put that clothing on, and to manage or maintain their personal appearance.

Toileting — means going to the toilet, using it appropriately, and cleaning up after themselves.

Transferring — is the ability to move from one position to another. This may include movements like transferring from a bed or a chair to a standing position, or vice-versa.

A career training program in occupational therapy assistance will teach you that when the environment of a client is adapted to their needs, it can help the client to perform their ADLs. There are many environmental changes that can be made to a client’s living space. Some of the more common ones include: ramps, modified lighting, adapted steps, adherent floors, and wider doors.

Here’s How You Can Help Clients Manage Their ADLs

When you complete your occupational therapy assistant training, you’ll find that a client’s ability to complete their ADLs is important for maintaining their overall health and quality of life. The combination of the right environmental adaptations and a qualified OTA can help give clients a feeling of independence.

As an OTA, if your client lives in a place with adapted environmental conditions, it is important that you take the time to understand everything that has been put in place for them. Learning what your client needs is essential in being able to provide the right services. When you have a good awareness of your client’s needs and how their environment is assisting them, you can help them with their ADLs, and encourage them to perform certain activities on their own.

You might meet many different clients who have difficulty completing their ADLs. These may range from people who are recovering from major surgeries to senior citizens and to people who have incapacitating illnesses. As an OTA, you must be prepared to help different clients perform different tasks.

Are you looking for an occupational therapy assistant program?

Contact KLC College today and find out more!

When looking for career training, you might know that you want to enter the workforce equipped with a practical and valuable education, but also feel unsure of which program to choose. It helps to look at your aptitudes and personality traits as they stand, then see if they apply to the profession you might pick. The things that interest you, come naturally to you, and matter to you are excellent indicators of what career would have you feeling the most fulfilled, actualized, and engaged. It’s also probably important to you to choose an education and career path that makes the most of your best qualities. Read on for some good ways to know if an education that can lead to bookkeeping and accounting department management is appropriate for you.

Numbers Matter in the Real World, Not Just in an Accounting Clerk Course

An aptitude for numbers and a genuine interest in math is very important for a career that requires a lot of number-crunching. You won’t just encounter a large volume of math in your courses – you’ll experience it in your future career as well. If you are someone who is comfortable working with numbers and can perform basic arithmetic with accuracy, an accounting program might be a good fit. It is best to be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide quickly and accurately without a calculator in hand. If you find yourself very quickly solving mathematical problems with ease, you might make a great accounting clerk student. Additionally, if you have responsibilities to balance while getting your education, it could be worth looking into what a quick, partially self-facilitating accounting clerk course has to offer.

If You Pay Attention to Detail, Accounting Clerk Training Might be for You

Do you notice small details that others often don’t? Are you able to catch typos, inconsistencies, mathematical mistakes and misquotes because you are good at paying close attention? Accounting is an exact science, without wiggle room or the opportunity to take shortcuts. For example, when you record transactions, you must make sure every detail is properly recorded, with exact amounts, whether payment was given, and what the payment was for, in addition to other details. If you are able to pay close attention to everything in front of you, your work will be less prone to error and much more efficient. Inconsistent recording and math can put an accounting clerk on a fast track to jumbled records and a huge amount of stress. Additionally, the more detail-oriented you are, the better you will be at picking up on mistakes made by other people, before they become a big problem. To fine-tune your attention to detail as it specifically applies to accounting, a career training program can offer small class sizes and hands-on training to give you experience for the real world.

Honesty and Trustworthiness is an Important Trait for Accounting Clerks

Are you good at keeping sensitive information away from prying eyes? Are privacy, confidentiality, and professionalism some of your core values? In an accounting career, you will often be handling confidential documents, such as bank statements, payroll records, and files containing other company information. Integrity is a foundational quality for a career in which you will be handling funds. If you have integrity, you will be of great value in the field and to the companies you may work for. Professional office procedures and business law are parts of a career college accounting diploma program, which you can apply to your level of professionalism and respect for confidential info during your career.

Are you interested in knowing more about accounting clerk training?

Contact KLC College for more information.

As Canada’s population ages, the demand for pharmaceuticals is likewise expected to increase. In fact, Statistics Canada reports that the number of pharmacists in Ontario has nearly doubled in the past decade. All those new pharmacists require a dedicated team behind them to make sure their pharmacies are running smoothly and can fully address the needs of their customers.

Among the many important roles within a pharmaceutical team are pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants. If you’ve ever considered a career in a pharmacy, you may be wondering what technicians and assistants do and how these two careers differ from one another.

Read on to learn how pharmacy technicians and assistants play very different, but essential, roles behind the pharmacy counter.

Pharmacy Technicians Focus on the Technical Aspects of the Pharmacy

A pharmacy technician’s main responsibility is to support the pharmacist by helping to fill prescriptions. Pharmacy technicians must know how to measure and mix medications, retrieve a patient’s medical history, and take calls from doctor’s offices. Additionally, technicians assist wit—and may even oversee—inventory management, including reordering products and helping to stock and organize shelves.

To become a pharmacy technician, you’ll need to register with the Ontario College of Pharmacists. While there are several different paths to registration, one of the most common is by completing a pharmacy technician program that is accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). Registration also requires aspiring technicians to complete an exam and prove good character. The purpose of registration is to ensure that pharmacy technicians across the province all meet the same standards.

Pharmacy Assistants Focus on Customer Service and Clerical Duties

The role of the pharmacy assistant focuses primarily on clerical duties, such as answering phone calls and taking prescriptions from customers to give to the pharmacist or technician. These professionals also play an essential role in maintaining the public face of the pharmacy by greeting customers, taking down their contact information and ensuring retail displays are tidy and well-stocked. Since pharmacy assistants interact quite a bit with customers, a good pharmacy assistant program will help students develop essential communication skills, ensuring they thrive in their careers.

In some pharmacies, assistants may be allowed take on more advanced duties behind the counter, such as counting medications and entering new orders. Sometimes technicians may even be permitted to take part in mixing medications and labelling bottles; however, this is only done under the direct supervision of the pharmacist or pharmacy technician, who verify the pharmacy assistant’s work.

Pharmacy assistants do not have to be registered, and training to become a pharmacy assistant typically takes less time than for becoming a technician.

Choosing Whether to Become a Pharmacy Technician or Pharmacy Assistant

So which career path is right for you? This will depend greatly on your personality and your career goals. If you want to get started in your new career quickly, then the fact that the pharmacy assistant program can be completed in less time than the technician program is definitely a big incentive for becoming an assistant. Also, if you are attracted to the customer service aspect of working at a pharmacy then the assistant position will likely be more worthwhile.

While technicians also need to have excellent customer service skills, most of their work is done behind the counter. As such, if you prefer the more technical and medical aspects of the pharmacy, such as filling prescriptions, calling doctor’s offices and tracking down patients’ medical histories, then you may be more suited to a role as a technician. Additionally, a career as a pharmacy technician may be right for you if you’re naturally independent and can work with little supervision and guidance, since technicians are supervised only by the pharmacist, unlike assistants, who are supervised by both the pharmacist and technician.

Are you interested in pursuing a new career?

Contact KLC College today to learn more about our career training programs!

If you’re considering a career as a medical office assistant, you may be looking into the type of training and experience you’ll need to pursue this path. You may also be wondering whether you’re going to have the time and discipline needed to begin a new career, especially if you have other existing commitments.

A training program that includes a self-directed component will provide you with some flexibility to fit your studies into your existing schedule.

Self-directed learning allows students to take control over their education, providing them with the program modules to learn on their own, as well as one-on-one instructor support, should they have difficulty with any of the course material.

Want to know how you can succeed in a medical office administration training program that is partially self-directed? Read on for a few important strategies for learning success.

Remember Why You Want to Become a Medical Office Administrator

Before you begin your medical office administrator program, you should have a clear goal and a reason for pursuing this career. Being goal-oriented will reduce the risk of procrastination and of you growing bored over time.

If you’re considering medical office administration training because you would like to unlock more lucrative and in-demand career opportunities, reminding yourself of this goal is a great way to stay focused throughout your program. As you study, try to visualize yourself working in a medical office and the benefits that doing so may entail, such as potential for career growth, a higher salary and greater job satisfaction.

Use the 5-Hour Rule to Make Long-Term Progress in Your Career Training Program

How do you put a growth mindset into action? Take Benjamin Franklin as an example. Franklin dropped out of school at age 10, but went on to become a brilliant statesman, inventor, businessman and author. One of the keys to his success was setting aside one hour each day to learning, by reading or writing. This strategy has become known as the 5-hour rule. While an hour a day doesn’t sound like much, it quickly adds up to a substantial 5 hours over the workweek. For one hour each weekday, study the modules in your career training program and you’ll find that learning a small, incremental amount each day is manageable and leads to big gains over time.

Your Career Training Instructor Can Help You Engage with Course Materials

A good medical office assistant training program that incorporates self-directed learning won’t leave you completely to your own devices. Instead, you will have an instructor who will be available to offer one-on-one support and guidance. Make use of the instructor’s help by reaching out with any questions you may have about the course materials. Not only can your instructor help clear up any problems you may be having, but the more you engage with the instructor, the more you will ultimately engage with the course material itself.

Do you want to become a medical office administrator?

Contact KLC College to learn more about our programs.

The overarching goal for any Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) is to assist in improving the quality of life of clients. Indeed, the fact that you’ll be able to help people in tangible ways may be one of the main reasons you’re considering a career as an OTA.

The people you’ll help are likely to have different individual needs and abilities. Here’s a look at some of the types of clients you might work with if you pursue a career as an occupational therapy assistant.

Children and Young Clients Present Unique Opportunities for Occupational Therapy Assistants

Children and younger clients have a wide array of needs and goals that occupational therapy assistants can help with. OTAs work under the direction of an occupational therapist (OT) to help children develop their skills. While the occupational therapist will develop a program for the client, it is the job of the OTA to work directly with that client so that they complete the tasks in the program.

For example, occupational therapists often develop what are called “sensory circuits” for children with autism. A sensory circuit is a series of physical tasks, like skipping, juggling and wall push-ups, that helps autistic children activate or control their sensory-motor activity. A trained OTA will guide the child through each step of the sensory circuit and report back to the occupational therapist about the child’s progress with the program.

Occupational Therapy Assistants Improve the Quality of Life for Elderly Clients

When you become an occupational therapy assistant, you will likely work with senior clients. The needs of seniors vary considerably depending on their individual circumstances, which may range from struggling with Alzheimer’s disease to managing arthritis pain.

For a client suffering from arthritis, an occupational therapist may recommend a range of adaptive equipment that causes less stress to the client’s joints. Your job as an occupational therapy assistant will be to help the client use this equipment and report back to the OT about whether the equipment has helped lessen the client’s pain or not.

Occupational Therapy Assistants Help Support Clients Suffering from Terminal Illnesses

OTAs provide invaluable support to those who require palliative care, such as seniors who are nearing the end of their lives, or individuals suffering from terminal illnesses. The goal in end-of-life care is not rehabilitation, but it is to help the client feel as though they are still leading a meaningful life, even though they may no longer be able to do the things that were once important to them.

An OT will develop a program for the client, which may include small daily tasks like making coffee or performing simple exercises, for instance. When performed by the client, these tasks can help them feel as though they still have some autonomy over their lives. After completing your occupational therapy assistant training, you’ll be equipped with the skills to help such clients complete these tasks, or discuss with their caregiver how they can help.

Occupational and Physiotherapy Assistant Training Can Help Those Recovering from Injuries

An injury, such as from a workplace accident or a motor vehicle crash, can require victims to undergo extensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy. In many cases, the goal of the treatment will be to help the client achieve full or partial rehabilitation. If you pursue occupational and physiotherapy assistant training, you’ll learn much more about the steps involved in rehabilitating from a traumatic injury.

As an OTA, you could find yourself helping injured clients in a number of ways. One client’s rehabilitation program may focus on helping them regain their speech abilities, while another client might need assistance to improve their hand function.

Your role may also consist of helping clients learn how to use special equipment found in their homes, such as stair lifts, grab rails, and raised toilet seats, which can help them live more independently.

Are you interested in becoming an occupational therapy assistant?

Contact KLC College today to learn more about our career training programs!

Working as a dental assistant doesn’t just mean having a great smile, although that is a plus. There are also many phrases and terminology that are used every day to identify different areas and problems, as well as procedures involved in effective dental care.

According to the Canadian Dental Association, more than 70% of the world’s population is in need of appropriate and affordable dental care. Oral hygiene can contribute to a variety of complications and issues, and in order to properly address a patient’s needs, aspiring dental assistants need to be aware of the common terms and phrases that are used in their workplace. Read on for an essential guide to dental terminology.

Identifying Parts of the Mouth and Teeth in Dental Assistant Training

One of the first things to learn in dental assistant training is how to tell parts of the mouth and teeth apart. A good place to begin is with the maxilla and the mandible, which are the upper and lower jaws, respectively.

 

The maxilla and mandible both typically have 16 teeth each, and are protected by the palate, or the roof of the mouth. Our teeth are supported by periodontal tissues and held in place by the root, which is located within the tooth socket.

Inside the tooth itself, there are four major tissues. The enamel is the outermost layer and located near the crown of the tooth. Dentin, which supports the crown, is the substance between the enamel and the root canal which holds the connective tissue and blood vessels inside the tooth. The root itself is covered in cementum, a calcified substance that attaches the tooth to the bone.

Potential Dental Issues to Watch for

Teeth, as with any part of the body, can be subject to decay, disease, or injury. It’s important to learn the proper terms for dental issues during a career training program in order to be able to appropriately address problems that you may see in the dentist’s chair.

 

One of the most common complications is a cavity. This is when decay forms a large hole inside of the tooth. In order to check for cavities, dentists use an explorer, or tooth counter, which is only meant to touch the surface of the teeth.

Gingivitis will also sound familiar. Its name comes from the gingival portion of the gums, also known as the cervical area, and pertains to a swelling or inflammation caused by gathered plaque or tartar around the teeth, which are reserved buildups of acids and bacteria. These two problems, while unfortunate, are some of the most common complaints that a dental assistant will encounter, and have relatively simple solutions compared to more complex issues.

Terminology Used in Common Dental Procedures

Once the root of the problem has been addressed, there are a variety of reparatory measures which can be undertaken, with treatment generally depending on the severity of the underlying cause.

In cases of a cavity, many can simply be filled to support the tooth’s structure. Similarly, crowns, or artificial covers, can be put in place at the top of a damaged tooth. In the event that a damaged tooth is extracted or removed, spacers are placed to prevent tooth movement and keep the bite even.

An abscess, where bacteria have been allowed to grow and cause inflammation in the root canal, is a common complication of tooth decay. This means that the abscess must be drained of infected pus and material before it can be treated, and restorative dentistry may be necessary to repair the damage.

Are you interested in enrolling in a dental assistant diploma program?

Contact KLC College today for more information!