This paper presents the Comprehensive Occupational Therapy Evaluation Scale (COTE Scale) for use by occupational therapists in short-term, acute-care psychiatric facilities. The scale defines 25 behaviors that occur in and are particularly relevant to the practice of occupational therapy. The scale is used as an initial evaluation, as a record of patient progress, and as a means of communicating the evaluation, progress, and treatment to other hospital departments. Ratings of patients that indicate improvement and readiness for discharge are supported by the evaluations of other disciplines.