Occupational Therapists essays

Occupational Therapists essays An occupational therapist work with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling, and help them to develop, recover, or maintain daily living and working skills. Their goal is to help their clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives. They use resources such as computers, and do physical activities with them, such as, teaching them how to dress, cook, and eat. They also use physical strength to help them build their strength and dexterity. Another thing they do is teach them life skills, such as, decision making, abstract reasoning, problem solving, and perceptual skills. Occupational therapists also go to such lengths as designing or making special equipment to aid their clients. Along with this, they must keep accurate records for evaluating clients, billing, and reporting to physicians and others. An average workweek is about 40 working hours, however, about 1/3 of all occupational therapists work part time. Many work in spacious rooms with medical equipment, but fatigue can become a big factor. Another negative aspect is that they can strain the bodies, especially their back, and may spend many hours in a car per day. They may hire assistants, but this may become costly. In 1996, occupational therapists held about 57,000 jobs. Most of these jobs were in hospitals, but there were also jobs in rehabilitation centers and pediatric hospitals. Others work in private practices or become solo practitioners. They obtain their clients by being referred to by physicians or other health care professionals. A bachelors degree in occupational therapy is a minimal requirement to obtain this position, but to gain a license one must pass a national certification exam. All of the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. regulate occupational therapy. Along with a bachelors degree, a masters is also obtainable. Along with the education, on must also com...