occupational therapist fall 2016
TRANSCRIPT
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
By: JOHN CASAS
What is Occupational Therapy?
A health profession that uses the daily living of therapydisabled children
elderly citizens
Injured patients
Education RequirementsBachelor’s and Master’s Degree - may combined for approx. 5 years
Can include following courses:
functional anatomy, medical and social conditions, assistive technology, patient care concepts, and more
Required 3.0 GPA: chemistry, human anatomy and physiology, statistics, psychology and other prerequisites
REQUIRED STATE LICENSE and a passing score on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam
SkillsExcellent Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Organization and Problem-Solving
Compassion and Huge patience
Strong writing skills (documentation of actions)
Job Duties and ResponsibilitiesObserving patientsAttempt task of daily activitiesCreate a treatment Plan based on specific activities and goalsRecommend aids ( specific equipments)Teach exercise to relieve pain and educate families for patients carePrepare reports for progress and update medical records
Working ConditionsHospitals : collaborating with doctors, nurses, or other part of health care team
Nursing Homes
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists and audiologists
Home Health Agencies
Service individuals or family homes
Annual IncomeMedian salary as of May 2015 is $80,150 per year
Approximate Hourly rate: $38.54Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)
$88,780Home healthcare services
87,960Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists
82,610Hospitals; state, local, and private
80,250Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private
69,460
Growth The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program predicted:
Projected growth of 27% from 2014 to 2024- Much faster than average for all occupations
2014 Employment is 114, 600 - Projected employment to be 145,100
Highest Employment Location State Employment Hourly Mean Wage Annual Mean Wage
Texas : 8,260 $45.37 $94,360
California : 10,210 $42.72 $88,850
Florida : 5,890 $41.12$85,520
New York : 8,680 $38.97$81,060
Pennsylvania : 6,480 $36.51$75,930
Pros
Variety of different fields to specialize in (geriatrics, pediatrics, hand therapy,
vision therapy)Huge demand of job opportunities High income rateHappiness and fulfillment one can feel after changing
someone’s life (JOB SATISFACTION)Flexibility of work settings
Cons
● Extensive time of education ● Risk of Infections ● Uncooperative or misbehaving patients● Long work hours ● Emotionally Challenging (for new OT)● Busy environment with a lot of pressure● Physicality of work
Sourceshttp://study.com/articles/Occupational_Therapist_How_Do_I_Become_an_Occupational_Therapy_Professional.html
http://work.chron.com/qualities-good-occupational-therapist-26306.html
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm#tab-5
http://www.topoccupationaltherapyschool.com/pros-cons-occupational-therapist/