Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Terry,

I can refer you to a large rehab company where they pay COTAS $40.00 an hour per diem, and OTRS $50.00 an hour. I will check to see if they have facilites in Riverside.I made $35.00 an hour per diem weekends in 1995 my very first year. After PPS the lowest I made was $30.00 an hour, some places I still made $35.00 the same year PPS went into affect. It's really about supply and demand. If they have a need, they'll pay what they have to pay to get you. If they don't, they won't. As I said before, as a PART TIME gig ( Saturdays only in my case) at the rates I mentioned above it's not bad. But full time, I don't know how COTAS and OTRS do it! NOTE: Also, when working per diem you may want to ask how many patients, not just how many hours, sometimes they try to load per diem staff up with HMO pts and you need to see a lot of them to make the number of hours that you want. So the question should always be, how many patients..not just how many hours when you're called for per diem work. You need to know the answer to both questions to see if its worth your while.

Lynn,

Have you thought about checking into Respiratory Therapy? I can send you an email from someone who has been in the field a long time and works as an independent contractor.
Seems like there are a lot of positive reimbursement changes happening in 2008 from what she said.Also, she likes the fact that she gets to work pretty much alone, unlike PT and OT where you have to interact with the the other discipline. But if you like to work as a team, you may not like RT.

Hello, I am a OTA student at shawnee state university and our discussion topic is PPS. We are to interview a COTA to gain this knowledge or research it online. I was wondering if someone could help me out here because i am not finding anything.

1)Can someone give me information on what PPS is and how i can determine what the truth is about it???
2)And also what is one PPS concept that is critical for a COTA to understand when working in LTC??

1) Can someone give me information on what PPS is and how i can determine what the truth is about it???
PPS is the prospective payment system.
You can determine what the truth is by doing continuous research and by becoming an active member of the American occupational therapy association and keeping informed of the changes that occur all the time. The AOTA is our professional organization platform that basically protects our jobs. Never just take someone’s word when it comes to billing for treatments.
.
2)And also what is one PPS concept that is critical for a COTA to understand when working in LTC??
In a Long-Term Care Facility, when a therapist is working simultaneously with two or more residents - at least one each from Part A and Part B - providing the same or different activities, the regulations for each payer source must be followed.

Keith in Peterson, Alabama said: 1) Can someone give me information on what PPS is and how i can determine what the truth is about it???
PPS is the prospective payment system.
You can determine what the truth is by doing continuous research and by becoming an active member of the American occupational therapy association and keeping informed of the changes that occur all the time. The AOTA is our professional organization platform that basically protects our jobs. Never just take someone’s word when it comes to billing for treatments.
.
2)And also what is one PPS concept that is critical for a COTA to understand when working in LTC??
In a Long-Term Care Facility, when a therapist is working simultaneously with two or more residents - at least one each from Part A and Part B - providing the same or different activities, the regulations for each payer source must be followed.

Thanks for your help!
How can I find out what the regulations are for each payer source?

Terry in Riverside, CA wrote:
The only other gripe I have besides the low pay is having too deal with all the non-english speaking patients I have to work with everyday

Terry, this is one reson why I moved out of California five years ago. If something happened to a patient because there was a communication barrier between us, I might put license in jeopardy. The pay in Oregon is a little less, but the cost of living here is much less then California.

As for PPS, just go to Medicares website and you can find a lot of information. As for other payer sources, i.e. HMO's, PPO's, etc, you will have to contact them and ask for information as each company has different policies.

Janet said: Lynn,

Have you thought about checking into Respiratory Therapy? I can send you an email from someone who has been in the field a long time and works as an independent contractor.
Seems like there are a lot of positive reimbursement changes happening in 2008 from what she said.Also, she likes the fact that she gets to work pretty much alone, unlike PT and OT where you have to interact with the the other discipline. But if you like to work as a team, you may not like RT.

Thanks. Probably that would have been a better choice. I would much prefer working as an individual. I just cannot go back to school again, as I have gone so many times, and spent so much money. I used my OTR degree as something to fall back on if all else fails. And it did, so that is why I am doing this. I spend many a sleepless night worrying about what to do and can not find any conclusion. Hopefully something will come up or I will have to be lifting bodies and diapering into my very old age. Yuck. Truthfully this job just leaves me so emotionally and physically exhausted that I feel I cannot think straight. I do appreciate the people on this board not flaming me and telling me what a rotten person I am not to love O.T. and how someone like me is ruining the profession. There are people that are known to do that. Anyways it feels better to vent. You know how I found this forum was that I put in a search engine the words occupational therapy and changing diapers and this appeared. Just wanted to see if anyone else was suffering through this as I was. Thanks for anyones help out there. And Good luck to us all....

Hi Lynn,

I have Many OTR, COTA and PT friends who feel exactly the way you do..you're not alone at all. How far are you from Rockville , MD? I know of a great opportunity where you can use the skills you have for an established large national organization at the pay rate of a new OTR. It may be a little less than what you're currently making, but it's well worth it because the work is home based and very flexible, and you're still dealing with patients and their care givers,primarily via email and phone with occassional visits.If there is a way we can connect off this site I would be happy to share the information with you. Even if they do not have current openings, it would be a good move to establish a contact so when an opening does occur you will be someone they will contact. The organization is full of EX therapy and nursing people.

Another thought came to mind Lynn.
What are your thoughts on being a Rehab Director or Area Manager as another option?

Therapists in California and Florida looking for a career change, read below.
The writer of the email is from Chicago, she said they don't have direct pay in their state yet, but she told me this will soon be available national, it's being worked on now. She has 27 years experience as an RT.

Your being in California changes everything. When you said you were from LA it triggered the memory that there are some states receiving direct reimbursement from Medicaid (and then subsequently HMO/PPO populations) the first two to do this were California and Florida. Below is just one thing I found about California. I know that there is a lot more out there on your state and what can be done as an RT. The other reason I included this is that it gave some reimbursement dollar amounts.

As far as physically our job is no way near as taxing as yours is I'm sure. I'm 46 and I know MANY therapists that are older than me. I have a good friend that is 61 and still working in the field.

Let me know if this is any help to you!

. Historical Precedent: RCPs Receive Direct Reimbursement
CALIFORNIA-For the first time in California, RCPs are now receiving direct reimbursement for respiratory care services. RCPs who are MedMembers of the California Association of Respiratory Care Practitioners benefit from the recently implemented policy which by law, authorize third party payers to directly pay RCPs for professional services provided outside of the hospital. This will have a significant affect on the Respiratory Care Profession, make services more convenient for patients, and save money for health care providers.
MedMembers click here for the full story
Guests click here to become a member to get the full story
2. Reimbursement Rates Confirmed: RCPs Receive $80-$120
Per Patient Visit
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA-CARCP MedMembers in Los Angeles and San Diego confirm rece

PART 2

2. Reimbursement Rates Confirmed: RCPs Receive $80-$120
Per Patient Visit
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA-CARCP MedMembers in Los Angeles and San Diego confirm receiving $80-$120 per patient visit for professional services performed in either an outpatient or home setting. The ten year struggle to obtain the legislation and regulations to authorize direct reimbursement has become fruitful.
MedMembers click here for the full story
Guests click here to become a member to get the full story

3. Reimbursement Rates for RCP Services Available
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA-CARCP has compiled all the billing codes and prevailing reimbursement rates and methods from MediCal, private insurance, medicare, HMOs and PPOs, that RCPs receive in California for patient services provided outside of a hospital. Reimbursement data is on this web site for MedMembers.
MedMembers click here for the full story
Guests click here to become a member to get the full story

4. New State Guidelines for RCP Reimbursement
SACRAMENTO-New regulations have been promulgated that specify conditions and criteria for RCP reimbursement for their respiratory services provided in their office, outpatient setting, mobile service, or patient's home. Both David Blackney, Clinical Coordinator and Brad Lopez, Executive Director for the California Association for Respiratory Care, helped write the initial draft of the authorization guidelines. In the near future the guidelines will very likely affect how RCPs will be reimbursed by private insurance, HMOs, PPOs, and in-patient hospital care. The new guidelines are available to CARCP MedMembers on this web site.
MedMembers click here for the full story
Guests click here to become a member to get the full story

PART # 3- part of this may be cut off due to the number of characters this site allows you to enter.

Reimbursement Rates for RCP Services Available
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA-CARCP has compiled all the billing codes and prevailing reimbursement rates and methods from MediCal, private
5. How to Start Your Own Successful Business Practice
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA-MedMember, a division of the California Association of Respiratory Care Practitioners provides RCPs with business services to help start and maintain a successful private business practice. RCPs who work in hospitals earn $190-$240 per shift. RCPs in private practice, part time or full time can earn $480-$600 per day for 6-8 patient visits. Want to learn how? As a demonstration of our commitment to help you start your business go to the first page that appears at this web site and click on "Guest," then click on "Membership Perks" and lastly click on "Start your own practice." Some basic, yet essential steps are provided to help you begin. Once you become a MedMem

I am going to a OTA program in Florida. I have been working with information all my life and want to work with people. I have seen what one COTA was doing at the VA and it seems like really nuturing and satisfying work I do not think that all OTR's are arrogant and they need the COTA.

Sheryl from Oklahoma said: Well after only a year working as a COTA I have had enough and have enrolled back into college. The OT/PT's were so arrogant and power hungry that I finally said enough is enough. I get tired of going to work and being degraded by these therapists. I have worked for five companies in the last year but they are all the same. I should have listened to my High School counselor and got my degree in Dental Hygiene. Next time I'll listen.

Janet said: Lynn,

Respiratory Therapy?? I think mucus and other respiratory secretions are kinda gooky. It is not just about the money.
Michael

Have you thought about checking into Respiratory Therapy?

I can send you an email from someone who has been in the field a long time and works as an independent contractor.
Seems like there are a lot of positive reimbursement changes happening in 2008 from what she said.Also, she likes the fact that she gets to work pretty much alone, unlike PT and OT where you have to interact with the the other discipline. But if you like to work as a team, you may not like RT.

Respiratory therapy? That is gross-mucus and all other respiratory secreations. I will stick with being an COTA.

Out of the mouth or out of the other end it's all gross. With that being the case, why not go for the money and do something you can do in your older years...OT and PT is for people in their 20 and early 30s. Theres a reason you don't see many people much older than that in the field. Be smart and think of your future if you work exclusively as an OTR or COTA. You're not going to want to do that until you retire! Good luck to you all. Like COTAMAN, I'm glad I don't have be a part of that scene any longer!

Janet said: Out of the mouth or out of the other end it's all gross. With that being the case, why not go for the money and do something you can do in your older years...OT and PT is for people in their 20 and early 30s. Theres a reason you don't see many people much older than that in the field. Be smart and think of your future if you work exclusively as an OTR or COTA. You're not going to want to do that until you retire! Good luck to you all. Like COTAMAN, I'm glad I don't have be a part of that scene any longer!

I am actually planning to get my masters in library science. But everybody is complaining the library market stinks. Working as a COTA will pay the bills.

True, It will definitely pay the bills ..and if you find the right facilities you can make a full time salary working 3 days with over time or working per diem at another building.

Janet said: True, It will definitely pay the bills ..and if you find the right facilities you can make a full time salary working 3 days with over time or working per diem at another building.

Thanks for your encouragement, Janet. I do appreciate your feedback.

Freddo in Canyon Country, California said: ------"I invite you come to California and tell all the people here that live paycheck to paycheck that can hardly pay their housing that they have to pay more in taxes."-------

I live in California, in LA County, and I don't know anybody over the age of 25 who still lives paycheck to paycheck. Those who have the intelligence, desire, and grammatical ability to work and get educated are doing so. There is more money in LA than any city I've ever been to.
Seems to me that homeless folks have much larger issues than not receiving their precious OT or PT (drug addiction and mental health issues perhaps?), and there are many gainfully employed people, in addition to the homeless, who don't have medical insurance. The cost is too high and the support is too weak, most likely because the costs are driven up by fraud (ie. gloom'n'doom helpers who double bill for services not rendered).

Jennifer29, I invite you to come to Cali and enjoy the most beautiful and plentiful state in the union!

I lived in LA for 20 years-you could not pay me to come back there. Foul air-miserable traffic-uppity-attitudes-overpriced houses.

Debbie P, COTA/L in Fayetteville, North Carolina said: I want to appolize for these people in the OT profession. The profession as a whole is wonderful, helping people try to gain or regain their independence in everyday living skills. I find it very rewarding and the pay isn't that bad either. You have to like working with people. Some of these people could be burned out and they may need to do something else. This can happen in any job profession anyway. You just have to learn how to prevent it and not allow it to happen. Anyway, I hope this helps.

You and I are on the same page!!!

Michael in Albuquerque, New Mexico said: You and I are on the same page!!!

So what... you are basing your future on what you saw at one facility. That's pretty naive. Wait tell you get into the field and see how the real world works. Low pay, 100% productivity requirement, getting yelled at if you are not productive, headhunters that lie to you so you will take a job nobody else wants. The list goes on. I think you need to do some extensive research. Also for those who feel that there are those that are trying to destroy this field... not true. This field itself has already done that.

Janet said: True, It will definitely pay the bills ..and if you find the right facilities you can make a full time salary working 3 days with over time or working per diem at another building.

At what cost major burnout? Who wants to go between three or four facilities a day six days a week just to get forty hours.

You seem to be really ticked off, Pete-I have worked in a situations where I was yelled at. But it went like water off a duck's back. If you get burned out-you try a different environment. I still feel being a COTA is being part of a good profession. Try being in medical records for over 20 years and having docs go off on you because you put them on suspension or ask them to sign a DRG attestation. I have seen women cry.

Michael in Albuquerque, New Mexico said: You seem to be really ticked off, Pete-I have worked in a situations where I was yelled at. But it went like water off a duck's back. If you get burned out-you try a different environment. I still feel being a COTA is being part of a good profession. Try being in medical records for over 20 years and having docs go off on you because you put them on suspension or ask them to sign a DRG attestation. I have seen women cry.

And you don't think Therapists have to deal with Doctors. Try dealing with Doctor's who interrupt your therapy session and treat you like a lower life form, unpleasant patients who don't want to do anything, Nurses and CNA's with rude and lazy attitudes. There's a lot more to being an OT then doing ADL's.

Pete... soon to be ex COTA said: At what cost major burnout? Who wants to go between three or four facilities a day six days a week just to get forty hours.

I agree, thats why I never did it more than a weekend job for extra mony..which was great at $35-$40 an hour.. My advice for COTAs and OTRs..have another profession because you're definitely NOT going to want to do OT when you're older. Can see retiring in a profession like that!? Most full time OTRs and COTAs want OUT before age 40!

I agree. Thats why I never did it full time..only weekends for extra money at $35-$40 an hour 1 mile from my home!
My advice to OTRs
and COTAs, have another profession lined up. You will not want to do that job full time at 40..the ones I met wanted OUT sooner than that. As a PART TIME PER DIEM weekend or early evening job it's not bad, just have another profession that you can do.

You complainers need to stop whining and change your profession ASAP. I am 51 years young and I love my job. I don't concentrate on all the negatives I look at how I change the lives of people in need. There are disrespectful colleagues in any discipline of work. This is the easiest job for what it pays that exists in the world. I've got a feeling some of you would complain even if your job consisted of only cashing your check.

This is the easiest job for what it pays that exists in the world.

~ I TOTALLY agree with you on the easiest job for what it pays comment!
Here in Los Angeles COTAs can get as much as $35.00- $40.00 PER DIEM weekends and even some non- weekend jobs pay that much if you know which companies to go to. I think it's a joke that OTRs are now required to have a Master as of 2008 for such an easy job..thats a joke!

Well-it is not unethical or criminal activity or it is degrading work. I think the compensation is worth it.

Michael

Keith in Peterson, Alabama said: You complainers need to stop whining and change your profession ASAP. I am 51 years young and I love my job. I don't concentrate on all the negatives I look at how I change the lives of people in need. There are disrespectful colleagues in any discipline of work. This is the easiest job for what it pays that exists in the world. I've got a feeling some of you would complain even if your job consisted of only cashing your check.

I agree with you, Keith-how long have you been a COTA?

Michael

Keith in Peterson, Alabama said: You complainers need to stop whining and change your profession ASAP. I am 51 years young and I love my job. I don't concentrate on all the negatives I look at how I change the lives of people in need. There are disrespectful colleagues in any discipline of work. This is the easiest job for what it pays that exists in the world. I've got a feeling some of you would complain even if your job consisted of only cashing your check.

Easiest job in the World... what planet do you live on? I've always enjoyed working in the field of OT, but never found it to be an easy job. I've had two OTR's leave this month, then my only COTA walked into my office this morning, said "I quit", and walked out the door.
The reason... rude staff/patients, high productivity requirements, job insecuruty, etc.

Janet, how do you pay your bills working only weekends, what else do you do for a living? There are no quaranteed hours when working Per-Diem. How much time do you spend on the phone calling people every day.

Thank you for your kind response Janet. I would love to email you but do not want to put my email address on this board. Perhaps I will try opening up a new one and put it on here. The only thing I know is that I need to find a way to make money that does not beat the life out of me like this job does. More power to the people that like the job, but I need something that is emotionally rewarding rather than draining. I have to do something that I feel is right rather than trying to please whoever the fools that make the rules think is right. I know there is good and bad in every career. But the ONLY thing I find good in this is the weekly paycheck. (And it certainly doesn't make me rich).

Go out and get yourself your new career. Come back in 10 years and let me know how excited and wonderful things are now. Just like COTAman counting chickens before the eggs hatch. Janet, the reason you have never found it to be an easy job is because you have never had to really work to make a living. Michael, I have been a COTA for 14 years and feel it was the best career choice I have ever made. I was a Roofer for 17 years. I had to just about kill myself for not even half of what I make now. I had to find a new career quick because there was simply no way I was going to be able to continue working like I was, and I need to keep working. I loved my Roofing job also but it was very hard work both physically and mentally. Even during the early years of PPS I found being a COTA to be very rewarding and the pay excellent. I hate to see the dissatisfied therapist and understand their frustration. This job, thank God, is not for everyone, but it is perfect for me.

Keith, I called Healthcare Professional Staffing and told them I wanted a COTA job that pays 100K a year. The guy I talked to (Mike) started laughing when I told him there was a COTA on this forum who said he makes 100K plus. His response "Yeah, when pigs grow wings and fly...LOL!" Also, I left many messages for over a week before I finally got a human to answer the phone. My God, there must of been twenty names on the answering machine. How can you say that OT is not a physically challenging field. No, you may not have to lift bundles of shingles onto a roof everyday, but then again shingles don't weigh 150LB's or more, or yell, complain, and sometimes get physical with you. If you break a shingle all you do is toss it aside and get a new one. Hurt a patient and your in a world of trouble. I have seen this happen to many good therapists over the years. At 51 y/o your almost ready for Medicare and SS. I am only two years younger than you and there is no way I could do this line of work the rest of my life.

I've had two OTR's leave this month, then my only COTA walked into my office this morning, said "I quit", and walked out the door.
The reason... rude staff/patients, high productivity requirements, job insecuruty, etc.

Janet, how do you pay your bills working only weekends, what else do you do for a living? There are no quaranteed hours when working Per-Diem. How much time do you spend on the phone calling people every day.

Well, you have something in common with my past rehab manager only I didn't leave because of other staff in the building. I left because she was a terrible rehab manager along with 2 others leaving the same week I did making that 8 people in less than 2 years so obviously I wasn't the only one and productivity levels were never the reason. sounds like in your case that maybe the people you are hiring are just not a good fit for that building and maybe you need to find out what the facility is looking for before you hire. Just a thought because you sound really frustrated.

Also, I work for 8 companies at present (crazy I know, but I actually love the profession) and 7 of them are per diem. I never call them...they call me. I work for the one almost every weekend. (It is my play money.) You would be surprised depending on what area you live in how often other companies call for per diem coverage. A lot of the long term care companies now provide 6 day a week coverage for their ortho patients and their full time employees are not willing to work 6 days a week. That's were us per diem therapists come in. I make anywhere from $25 to $35 an hour as a COTA depending on the company and the distance of the facility from my home (never more than an hour). It can make for some very nice money.

Jennifer29 in Ford City, Pennsylvania said: I've had two OTR's leave this month, then my only COTA walked into my office this morning, said "I quit", and walked out the door.
The reason... rude staff/patients, high productivity requirements, job insecuruty, etc.

Janet, how do you pay your bills working only weekends, what else do you do for a living? There are no quaranteed hours when working Per-Diem. How much time do you spend on the phone calling people every day.

Well, you have something in common with my past rehab manager only I didn't leave because of other staff in the building. I left because she was a terrible rehab manager along with 2 others leaving the same week I did making that 8 people in less than 2 years so obviously I wasn't the only one and productivity levels were never the reason. sounds like in your case that maybe the people you are hiring are just not a good fit for that building and maybe you need to find out what the facility is looking for before you hire. Just a thought because you sound really frustrated.

Also, I work for 8 companies at present (crazy I know, but I actually love the profession) and 7 of them are per diem. I never call them...they call me. I work for the one almost every weekend. (It is my play money.) You would be surprised depending on what area you live in how often other companies call for per diem coverage. A lot of the long term care companies now provide 6 day a week coverage for their ortho patients and their full time employees are not willing to work 6 days a week. That's were us per diem therapists come in. I make anywhere from $25 to $35 an hour as a COTA depending on the company and the distance of the facility from my home (never more than an hour). It can make for some very nice money.

$25-35 AN HOUR-WHAT IS EVERYBODY COMPLAINING ABOUT? I REALLY FEEL THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE POOR MANAGERS THAT MAKE PEOPLE'S SKIN CRAWL BUT THERE ARE SOME GREAT MANAGERS OUT THERE

Ben in Dayton Beach, FL said: Keith, I called Healthcare Professional Staffing and told them I wanted a COTA job that pays 100K a year. The guy I talked to (Mike) started laughing when I told him there was a COTA on this forum who said he makes 100K plus. His response "Yeah, when pigs grow wings and fly...LOL!" Also, I left many messages for over a week before I finally got a human to answer the phone. My God, there must of been twenty names on the answering machine. How can you say that OT is not a physically challenging field. No, you may not have to lift bundles of shingles onto a roof everyday, but then again shingles don't weigh 150LB's or more, or yell, complain, and sometimes get physical with you. If you break a shingle all you do is toss it aside and get a new one. Hurt a patient and your in a world of trouble. I have seen this happen to many good therapists over the years. At 51 y/o your almost ready for Medicare and SS. I am only two years younger than you and there is no way I could do this line of work the rest of my life.

Stop whining and just quit your job if you hate it so much. If you don't know how to negotiate a contract you should attempt it. Telling a recruiter that your want to make a $100K a year right up front tells him (and me)that you have absolutely no experience and he can then take full advantage of your lack of skill. If a patient gets hurt because of your negligence that is where liability insurance comes into the picture and that should not happen more than once in a lifetime. If they get hurt for another reason what does that have to do with you? Stop being so negative. There is a lot more than shingles on a roof. First of all, I was not a shingle layer. That too is an easy, old man, low paying, job. I was a roofer, tear offs and re-roofs with hot asphalt and gravel up and down 40 foot ladders carrying 150 pound rolls of felt. I feel sorry for you if you cannot work but you are in otherwise good health.

Keith in Westville, Florida said: Stop whining and just quit your job if you hate it so much. If you don't know how to negotiate a contract you should attempt it. Telling a recruiter that your want to make a $100K a year right up front tells him (and me)that you have absolutely no experience and he can then take full advantage of your lack of skill. If a patient gets hurt because of your negligence that is where liability insurance comes into the picture and that should not happen more than once in a lifetime. If they get hurt for another reason what does that have to do with you? Stop being so negative. There is a lot more than shingles on a roof. First of all, I was not a shingle layer. That too is an easy, old man, low paying, job. I was a roofer, tear offs and re-roofs with hot asphalt and gravel up and down 40 foot ladders carrying 150 pound rolls of felt. I feel sorry for you if you cannot work but you are in otherwise good health.

Actually I am in excellent shape and Health and don't need little CNA's to help me lift patients in and out of bed all day. I do know how to negotiate a contract and did not come right out and ask for 100K. We talked for about 30 minutes and he told me the most he could get me was 70k a year, but I would have to work in places where nobody else wanted to go. He also didn't know anyone named Keith. Well, there goes your referral bonus. If you think liability insurance is the only thing you need to protect you, then you are the one who is inexperienced not me. If you hurt a patient enough to get sued then the state you are licensed in has to investigate... this is a federal law called mandated reporting. You should know that. If they decide you were negligent then they can take your license away. If you think I am being negative then so be it. If you want to live your life in an RV so be it. However, family life is more important to me then living the life as a traveler and trying to get rich. Money isn't everything.

First, my name is not Keith. Second, yes you are being negative., and lastly, don't be negligent.

Keith in Westville, Florida said: First, my name is not Keith. Second, yes you are being negative., and lastly, don't be negligent.

If your name is not Keith then why does "your name" say Keith? If someone is negative then that is their right. If you don't like it then don't say anything. Everyone has a right to their own opinion... I think it has been brought up here more then once.

Micheal:

I definitely agree with you. I am certainly not complaining and am perfectly happy with being in the field of OT and have been for almost 14 years. And to be quite honest, the manager I am speaking of is the only bad manager that I have had in 14 years. I also have not found the OTRs that talk down to their COTAs. On the contrary, I am very good friends with 99.9% of the OTRs, PTs, STs, COTAs, and PTAs that I have worked with and wouldn't trade those friendships for anything. In all of these years I have really only found 2 people that I would never work with again. Not bad. I feel bad for those of you who have had such bad experiences because this really can be a rewarding field if you work with the right people and under the right circumstances and I am very happy with the money I make for the area I live in.

It says Keith because that is my screen name.
I am happy to see that you are able to put your family before your career really do envy that part of your life. Traveling is not as easy as the work of OT is.

I think anyone who has worked in this field would have to say that the overall picture for therapists and assistants has declined since PPS. From my experience there is more Medicare Fraud, higher demands for productivity, decreased job security, and longer hours and days to make ends meet. I left this field six years ago when after needlessly trying to find work I failed. I decided that a career change was my only choice. I am now in a wonderful career where I don't have to travel between failities, travel 200 miles from home just to find decent work, or have to worry about job security. I have two OTR friends who continue to work in the field, but they too are planning on making a career change real soon. Yes, OT is a wonderful field but not as a career with all the problems that still exist. Things really need to change.

Janet said: Terry,

I can refer you to a large rehab company where they pay COTAS $40.00 an hour per diem, and OTRS $50.00 an hour. I will check to see if they have facilites in Riverside.I made $35.00 an hour per diem weekends in 1995 my very first year. After PPS the lowest I made was $30.00 an hour, some places I still made $35.00 the same year PPS went into affect. It's really about supply and demand. If they have a need, they'll pay what they have to pay to get you. If they don't, they won't. As I said before, as a PART TIME gig ( Saturdays only in my case) at the rates I mentioned above it's not bad. But full time, I don't know how COTAS and OTRS do it! NOTE: Also, when working per diem you may want to ask how many patients, not just how many hours, sometimes they try to load per diem staff up with HMO pts and you need to see a lot of them to make the number of hours that you want. So the question should always be, how many patients..not just how many hours when you're called for per diem work. You need to know the answer to both questions to see if its worth your while.

I live in Riverside and like to get in cantact with this company. I am only making 28.00 and hour but feel there has to be a company who payes more than that.

Jennifer,

I'm a CPA who went back to school so they could learn to do something that would help people part time.
I never had to call around for per diem weekend work except when I first started.
Once they know you they call you all the time.

Janet said: Jennifer,

I'm a CPA who went back to school so they could learn to do something that would help people part time.
I never had to call around for per diem weekend work except when I first started.
Once they know you they call you all the time.

Janet:

The first 2 paragraphs to my post were actually a quote of Sandy's. I do know that you do not have to call them. I work for 7 other companies per diem on top of my full time job and I am constantly busy. I was referring to her quote to you. Sorry for the mix up.

Jen

Freddo in Canyon Country, California said: ------"I invite you come to California and tell all the people here that live paycheck to paycheck that can hardly pay their housing that they have to pay more in taxes."-------

I live in California, in LA County, and I don't know anybody over the age of 25 who still lives paycheck to paycheck. Those who have the intelligence, desire, and grammatical ability to work and get educated are doing so. There is more money in LA than any city I've ever been to.
Seems to me that homeless folks have much larger issues than not receiving their precious OT or PT (drug addiction and mental health issues perhaps?), and there are many gainfully employed people, in addition to the homeless, who don't have medical insurance. The cost is too high and the support is too weak, most likely because the costs are driven up by fraud (ie. gloom'n'doom helpers who double bill for services not rendered).

Jennifer29, I invite you to come to Cali and enjoy the most beautiful and plentiful state in the union!

Well, Freddo, you certainly are one to talk about "grammatical" issues. By the way, the vast majority of Americans do live paycheck to paycheck. And also, recovery from mental health/drug addiction is often achieved with the help of occupatonal therapy.

Has anyone ever notice that the jobs on indeed.com are the same everyday. I have called a few companies and some of them are not even real job openings. I have sent e-mails to the ones who want to be contacted this way and have heard nothing back. Makes me wander about some of these websites.

Doug in Ohio said: Has anyone ever notice that the jobs on indeed.com are the same everyday. I have called a few companies and some of them are not even real job openings. I have sent e-mails to the ones who want to be contacted this way and have heard nothing back. Makes me wander about some of these websites.

That's probably why the salaries for COTA's are so inflated. Maybe it's their way of stirring things up.

Mass/RI COTA in Taunton, Massachusetts said: That's probably why the salaries for COTA's are so inflated. Maybe it's their way of stirring things up.

Or it's their way of making a few bonus dollars for happy hour. This is why so many of the therapists that I work with are about to say bye bye to this field.
Sometimes I think these job sites are a waste of time.