Occupational therapy is a health profession whose goal is to help people achieve independence, meaning and satisfaction in all aspects of their lives.
Occupational therapists:
- Apply their specific knowledge to enable people to engage in activities of daily living that have personal meaning and value.
- Develop, improve, sustain, or restore independence to any person who has an injury, illness, disability or psychological dysfunction.
- Consult with the person and the family or caregivers and, through evaluation and treatment, promote the client's capacity to participate in satisfying daily activities.
- Address by intervention the person's capacity to perform, the activity being performed, or the environment in which it is performed.
The occupational therapist's goal is to provide the client with skills for the job of living - those necessary to function in the community or in the client's chosen environment.
People who work in the Occupational Therapy field can be credentialed as Occupational Therapists or as Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA).
The World Federation of Occupational Therapists provides the following definition of Occupational Therapy: "Occupational therapy is as a profession concerned with promoting health and well being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by enabling people to do things that will enhance their ability to participate or by modifying the environment to better support participation."
What does it take to be an OT?
An occupational therapist completes a 5 or 6-year post baccalaureate occupational therapy degree. An occupational therapy assistant completes a 2-year associate degree program. Both must complete a supervised fieldwork program during thier studies and pass a national certification exam (NBCOT).
Many states require continuing education couses to be taken to maintain licensing.
What kind of problems can OT treat?
Occupational therapy treats any physical or mental problem that interferes with a person's ability to perform activities of daily living.
Therapy can be provided for anyone from young children to older adults. Some typical injuries or illnesses are: paralysis, injury to a hand, joint disease, injury that limits movement, cognitive impairments, inability to perform personal care tasks, activity of daily living (ADL), and many more.
What are the areas of practice for OTs in physical health?
- Pediatric - in schools, community, inpatient hospital based child OT.
- Acute care hospitals
- Inpatient rehabilitation - OTs help in recovery and adaptation for people with disabilities.
- Rehabilitation centers - treating stroke (CVA), spinal cord injuries, head injuries.
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Home Health
- Outpatient clinics
- Specialist assessment centres
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Productive Aging
- Mental Health
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What is the Occupational Therapy process?
- Referral
- Information gathering
- Initial assessment
- Needs identification/problem formation
- Goal setting
- Action planning
- Action
- Ongoing assessment and revision of action
- Outcome and outcome measurement
- End of intervention or discharge
- Review
What are the goals of Occupational Therapy?
Increaing function and independence in regards to physical disability and limiations to enable a person to perform the activities alone, with limited help, or with the use of devices. With occupational therapy treatment, a person can become more independent.
What kind of treatments are used in OT?
There are many ways to provide occupational therapy. Depending on the cuase of the problem, each person is evaluated and a treatment plan is designed to fit his/hers needs. The first step in treatment is an evaluation process by the therapist. This helps the therapist determine the best treatment plan and frequency of treatments.
Does insurance cover Occupational Therapy?
Most health insurance policies will cover occupational therapy. Some insurance companies might have limits to the number of covered treatments in 1 calendar year.
Job Outlook for Occupational Therapists
Employment is expected to grow much faster than average. Job opportunities should be good especially for occupational therapists treating the elderly. [Source: bls.gov]
