Occupational Therapy Aides.

This job has 15 core tasks. We went through 9 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Occupational Therapy Aides actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

1. TASK 01

   Perform clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paperwork, and scheduling appointments.

   AI DOES

   Drafts emails, suggests appointment slots, tracks supply levels, and fills out routine forms

   YOU DO

   Handle live patient calls and make context-sensitive scheduling decisions

2. TASK 02

   Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.

   AI DOES

   Drafts written progress notes and organizes patient data into clear report formats

   YOU DO

   Confirm what you actually saw and add real observations only you witnessed

3. TASK 03

   Observe patients' attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.

   AI DOES

   Suggests note templates, auto-fills routine fields, and flags missing record entries

   YOU DO

   Watch patients in person and judge what their behavior and progress really mean

4. TASK 04

   Instruct patients and families in work, social, and living skills, the care and use of adaptive equipment, and other skills to facilitate home and work adjustment to disability.

   AI DOES

   Suggests teaching scripts, explains equipment use in plain language, and finds resources for specific disabilities

   YOU DO

   Show up in person, demonstrate skills, and build trust with patients and families

5. TASK 05

   Evaluate the living skills and capacities of clients with physical, developmental, or mental health disabilities.

   AI DOES

   Helps organize assessment checklists, flags patterns in notes, and suggests standardized tools to use

   YOU DO

   Observe the client in person and use real-world judgment about their actual daily abilities

6. TASK 06

   Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.

   AI DOES

   Helps score some standardized tests and flags patterns in results

   YOU DO

   Stay present with the client and read their reactions in the moment

7. TASK 07

   Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.

   AI DOES

   Tracks inventory lists, sends low-stock alerts, and helps organize supply orders

   YOU DO

   Physically set up, clean, and arrange the real workspace and materials

8. TASK 08

   Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.

   AI DOES

   Generates checklists, tracks equipment logs, and drafts infection control protocols

   YOU DO

   Physically inspect, clean, and secure equipment in the real space

9. TASK 09

   Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.

   AI DOES

   Suggests therapy activity ideas and helps with notes or session planning documents

   YOU DO

   Stay present with patients and adapt activities in real time based on what you see and feel