Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist

An Occupational Therapist, or OTR, is responsible for providing patients with treatment to help them develop and improve their ability to complete everyday tasks related to their job and daily life. Their duties include performing initial patient assessments, teaching patients to use adaptive technology and coaching them through therapeutic activities.

An Occupational Therapist must excel at a variety of duties and responsibilities, such as:

• Assessing the patient's physical, communication and cognitive skills to develop a treatment plan
• Giving advice and providing support for family members and care givers
• Assessing the home, school and work environments of the patient
• Installing the necessary equipment in the classroom for children with disabilities and teaching them how to use the equipment
• Helping children and adult patients to take part in everyday activities based on their unique circumstances
• Assisting patients' exercise for pain relief
• Reviewing the patient's progress and adapting the treatment accordingly
• Performing administrative tasks such as keeping records, writing reports and making telephone calls

Occupational Therapists work at physical therapy clinics, occupational therapy offices, hospitals, assisted living centers and other healthcare environments to evaluate and treat patients struggling with motor skills and cognitive issues. They guide patients through intake and learn about their medical history, including past injuries and conditions that influence their ability to complete everyday tasks. After assessing a client's condition, Occupational Therapist develop muscle memory, sensory feedback and practice performing the tasks they perform at work and home. They create a plan to discharge patients and help them transition back to their life.

A good Occupational Therapist should have the following skills:

• Patience
• Empathy and Compassion
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Observational and analytical skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Teamwork skills

Typically, an Occupational Therapist will need a relevant bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Since 2007, all states except Colorado require a professional Occupational Therapist to have at least a master's degree in Occupational Therapy. Along with classroom learning, the master's program includes extensive work in hospitals, residential centers, rehabilitation facilities or clinics.

Licensing requirements vary from state to state, but all state require Occupational Therapist to pass the national examination from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. To maintain their certification once an Occupational Therapist is licensed, they need to complete continuing education credits.

Occupational Therapists need a minimum of 1 year of recent work experience as an Occupational Therapist. They can earn this experience through work in any setting, but it could be helpful for their experience to line up with the setting in which the job will take place. For example, if the position is for an Occupational Therapist in a hospital, an applicant with experience in home care might not be as competitive as an applicant with experience in a hospital setting.