• Read short text passages on product labels, e.g. physical rehabilitation technicians read safe handling procedures on products used for disinfecting equipment surfaces. (1)
• Read email messages, e.g. read messages from colleagues to learn about training opportunities and from clients who wish to re-book appointments. (2)
• Read text passages in patients' files, e.g. read files to learn about patients' health histories, descriptions of previous treatments and the progress made during prior visits. (2)
• Read letters and assessment reports, e.g. read referral letters from medical professionals and assessment reports to learn about patients' difficulties, general health, test results and treatment goals. (3)
• Read information about government programs, e.g. long term care physiotherapists read about the types of assistive devices, such as wheel chairs and prostheses, funded by provincial ministries of health. (3)
• Read articles in newsletters, magazines and journals, e.g. massage therapists read Massage Therapy Canada to learn about new medical research, treatment techniques and equipment. (3)
• Read manufacturers' equipment and product manuals, e.g. audiometric assistants read manuals to understand how hearing aids operate, procedures for cleaning and maintenance and troubleshooting steps. (3)
• Read legislation, regulations and codes of practice, e.g. read their professional association's codes of ethics to ensure they are adhering to laws and professional standards of practice. (4)
• Read reference textbooks, e.g. massage therapists and physical rehabilitation technicians may read anatomy, kinesiology and physiology textbooks to refresh their knowledge of skeletal, muscle and circulatory systems. (4)

• View labels to locate data, such as ingredients and mixing ratios, e.g. massage therapists and physical rehabilitation technicians scan the labels on cleaning solutions to locate dilution ratios. (1)
• Locate data in a variety of lists and tables, e.g. massage therapists refer to lists of contraindications for massage treatments and refer to tables to locate typical recovery times when creating treatment plans. (2)
• Locate bones, muscles, organs and other structures on drawings and radiographs, e.g. audiometric assistants use ear drawings to show patients where cochlear implants are to be placed. (2)
• Extract data from graphs and interpret trends, e.g. audiometric and communication assistants interpret graphs showing patients' language, hearing and skill acquisition and progress results. (2)
• Locate data in forms, e.g. locate data, such as names, address, dates, times and costs, in case history forms. (2)
• Complete a variety of forms, checklists and graph plots, e.g. physical rehabilitation technicians complete requisition forms for equipment, such as prostheses, mobility aids and specialized seating systems. (3)

• Write reminders and notes to co-workers, e.g. write reminders of points to enter in patients' files and notes to co-workers asking them to re-schedule missed appointments. (1)
• Write email to supervisors, colleagues and co-workers, e.g. communication assistants write to speech-language pathologists requesting suggestions for working with patients who are not responding to current treatments. (2)
• Write succinct technical notes in patients' treatment logs to record treatment activities, patients' progress and their observations. (2)
• May write letters, e.g. ophthalmic medical assistants write letters to the providers of medical health plans regarding outstanding payments. (2)
• May complete accident and incident reports, e.g. write incident reports that describe the sequence of events leading up to incidents and actions taken afterward. (2)
• May write reports and summaries describing patients' treatment plans and progress, e.g. write comprehensive reports in response to insurance companies' requests, which describe patients' health histories, symptoms and discomforts, treatment plans, progress to date and prognoses. (3)

• Receive payment and provide change for services and products purchased by patients. (1)
• Measure the time they spend with clients and doing tasks, such as cleaning equipment. (1)
• May take measurements using common measuring tools, such as rulers and tapes, e.g. physical rehabilitation technicians measure the lengths of patients' limbs when fitting them for walkers (1)
• Compare measurements to specifications, e.g. audiometric assistants compare performance of hearing aids, as measured by American National Institute reference tests, to patients' hearing levels to ensure compatibility. (1)
• May estimate measurements, e.g. massage therapists estimate patients' range of motion, such as shoulder and joint movement, before and after treatment. (1)
• May take various measurements using specialized equipment, e.g. audiometric assistants measure frequencies and decibel levels of sounds using audiometers. (2)
• Manage inventory to ensure there is sufficient stock on hand, e.g. massage therapists count the number of sheets and towels to ensure there are enough available for scheduled patients. (2)
• Analyze changes in test results over time, e.g. ophthalmic assistants compare recorded measurements of patients' vision test results from each visit to determine increases or decreases in visual acuity. (2)
• May estimate number of visits that treatment plans will require, e.g. physical rehabilitation technicians and massage therapists consider the severity of patients' conditions, typical recovery times and their professional experience when estimating the number of treatment sessions required. (2)
• Prepare and total invoices that include service fees set at hourly rates plus fixed fees for tests, supplies and applicable taxes. (3)
• May total and reconcile cash, credit and debit card payments. They count each type of payment and reconcile this with cash register receipts and other financial records. They may prepare deposit slips and reconcile daily cash floats. (3)
• May create and monitor budgets, e.g. self-employed massage therapists create operating budgets and monitor accounts receivable and accounts payable. (3)

• Greet patients and family members and make general conversation to help them feel comfortable and at ease. (1)
• Discuss products and services with suppliers, e.g. physical rehabilitations technicians and audiometric assistants speak with manufacturers' representatives when troubleshooting malfunctioning equipment. (2)
• Gather information from patients, explain procedures and coach them through exercises and tasks, e.g. audiometric assistants provide patients with instruction for inserting, removing and cleaning hearing aids. (2)
• Exchange information during meetings, e.g. ask questions and offer their personal insight during in-service training sessions. (3)
• Reassure and encourage patients, e.g. communication assistants and physical rehabilitation technicians reassure, encourage and motivate patients who are relearning speech and mobility skills. (3)
• May make presentations to small groups, e.g. massage therapists may explain the benefits of massage therapy to small groups of multiple sclerosis patients. (3)
• Discuss patients' treatments with their supervisors and colleagues, e.g. communication assistants discuss alternative learning activities with speech-language pathologists. (3)

• Are unable to complete tasks due to equipment malfunctions. They refer to troubleshooting sections of equipment manuals to fix the equipment themselves and call service technicians when malfunctions cannot be repaired. (2)
• Find that patients or their families are not satisfied with the care being provided. They talk to the complainants to learn about their concerns and attempt to resolve them. They refer those who are still unsatisfied to their supervisors. (2)
• Decide if patients require further testing, e.g. consider information provided by patients, test results that are outside of specified ranges and their supervisors' preferences to determine if further tests are required. (2)
• Determine which treatment methods, exercises and equipment to use with patients, e.g. massage therapists consider patients' medical histories, injuries, response to treatments and their own professional experience to determine the duration and content of treatment plans. (2)
• Assess suitability of equipment for patients, e.g. physical rehabilitation technicians consider patients' injuries and physical limitations, home environments and family support when recommending ambulatory equipment. (2)
• Assess suitability of patients' treatment plans. They consider patients' general heath and the specifics of their diseases, disorders or ailments and available family support. (2)
• Set up and follow appointment schedules. They modify daily job task planning to respond to missed appointments and emergencies. (2)
• Gather information about patients by reading their files, speaking with medical professionals and interviewing patients and their families. (2)
• Find information on medical conditions and treatments by speaking with colleagues, reviewing medical textbooks and professional journals and searching the Internet for new developments. (2)
• Encounter lethargic and aggressive patients. They attempt to motivate lethargic patients and reschedule appointments as necessary. They speak to aggressive patients to calm them, enlist family support and introduce new resource materials to capture and focus the patient's attention. (3)
• Decide that patients are ready to progress to other treatments, e.g. communication assistants decide to give patients more advanced exercises when patients are correctly forming sounds, words and speech patterns. (3)
• Evaluate effectiveness of treatment plans. They consider any changes in patients' responses over time, review their patients' file notes and discuss patients' progress with their supervisors. They compare patients' results to published recovery times for specific injuries. (3)

• May use calculators and personal digital assistant (PDA) devices to complete numeracy-related tasks, such as summing figures and calculating interest charges. (1)
• May operate point-of-sale equipment, such as electronic cash registers, bar scanners and touch- screens, to complete financial transactions. (1)
• May use electronic office equipment, such as printers, scanners, fax machines, copiers and postage meters. (1)
• May use word processing programs to prepare letters, progress reports and activity sheets. (2)
• Use specialized databases to enter and retrieve patients' contact information, health histories, policy numbers, test results and treatment dates. (2)
• May use spreadsheets to record time spent with patients. (2)
• May use specialized bookkeeping, billing and accounting software to record and track income and expenditures. (2)
• May use communications software, such as email to exchange messages and attachments with supervisors, colleagues, co-workers and patients. (2)
• Use the Internet to search medical and professional association websites for the findings of new research and information about new therapies and equipment. (2)
• May use the Internet to access training courses and seminars offered by suppliers, employers and trainers. (2)
• May use the Internet to access web blogs where they seek and offer advice about new therapies and products. (2)
• Use digital equipment, such audiometers and sound meters, to measure the hearing abilities of patients. (2)
• Use specialized software, e.g. audiometric assistants use specialized software to program hearing aids and verify their operating capacities. Communication assistants use specialized software to show patients their voice intonations and inflections. (2)
• May use customer relationship management (CRM) software to enter and retrieve information about patients and schedule appointments. (2)

Practitioners of other technical occupations in therapy and assessment work independently when treating patients. They co-ordinate their efforts with co-workers, colleagues and supervising professionals to accomplish patients' treatment goals.

Practitioners of other technical occupations in therapy and assessment are generally responsible for setting their own learning goals and choosing their own learning methods. They learn continuously on the job through their interactions with patients, co-workers and colleagues. They remain knowledgeable in their specialities by attending courses and conferences, reading magazines and journals and researching topics using the Internet.

All essential skills are affected by the introduction of technology in the workplace. The ability of other technical occupations in therapy and assessment to adapt to new technologies is strongly related to their skill levels across the essential skills, including reading, writing, thinking and communication skills. Technologies are transforming the ways in which workers obtain, process and communicate information, and the types of skills needed to perform in their jobs. In particular, the use of digital technology, such as sophisticated office management systems, is growing within the health care field. Workers in other technical occupations in therapy and assessment need to keep developing their digital skills in order to keep pace and perform at the highest professional standards. For example, workers may use customer relationship management (CRM) software to enter and retrieve information about patients and schedule appointments.

Technology in the workplace further affects the complexity of tasks related to the essential skills required for this occupation. For example, sophisticated mechanisms found in hearing devices have increased the complexity of technical drawings used by audiometric assistants (e.g. these workers use ear drawings to show patients where cochlear implants are to be placed). At the same time, workers can complete documents, such as requisition forms, checklists and graph plots, with speed and accuracy using software applications that input data automatically and generate copies for patients.