Occupational therapists take a unique, holistic approach to care . OTs work with patients to address their clinical conditions, recommending habits and home adaptations to help them participate more fully in day-to-day life. The best part is that OT is safe, cost-effective, and backed by scientific research.
What is so unique about occupational therapy?
The unique core skills of occupational therapists are largely hidden. They are the reasoning skills used to apply the understanding of occupation and its impact on health to the meaningful activities and occupations of service users. Visible practice skills are diverse and some may be shared with other professions.
Occupational therapy differs from other healthcare professions like physical therapy or nursing in its focus on treating the whole patient , rather than treating a particular injury, ailment, or disability. ... Using those activities as therapeutic tools helps us build better lives for our patients.”
Why is occupational therapy awesome?
Summary: OT is a good career because it offers a flexible schedule, comfortable salary and the ability to choose where you work. ... Occupational therapy is a good career choice for anyone who wants to get into the healthcare field and work directly with patients to make their lives easier.
Why is Occupational Therapy meaningful?
Occupational Therapists assist individuals across their lifespan to do the things they want to do and participate in activities, roles , and routines that are meaningful to them. ... Uniquely, Occupational Therapy recognizes the therapeutic use of occupation as a means and an end in therapy.
What body parts do occupational therapist treat?
Typically occupational therapists are the specialists in conditions affecting the elbow, wrist and hand . Physical therapists treat anything spine related, and other body parts including the foot, ankle, knee, hip. Both professions treat the shoulder.
What is the main purpose of occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent —or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.
What skills does an occupational therapist need?
- Communication skills. Occupational therapists must be able to listen attentively to what patients tell them and be able to explain what they want their patients to do.
- Compassion. ...
- Flexibility. ...
- Interpersonal skills. ...
- Patience. ...
- Writing skills.
What qualities make a good occupational therapist?
- Outstanding Communication Skills. Occupational therapists spend a great deal of their day communicating with others. ...
- Lots of Patience. ...
- Creative Problem Solving Skills. ...
- Superb Organizational Skills.
What is the ultimate goal of the occupational therapist?
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 are the disadvantages of occupational therapy?
- The Medical Field is Emotionally Stressful. ...
- Occupational Therapy is a Physically Demanding Job. ...
- Institutional Barriers May Prevent Desired Results. ...
- Long Work Hours Are Common.
Is Occupational Therapy harder than nursing?
OT and PT school are definitely not easier than nursing . Different subject matter in some regards, but not an easy route, especially considering that OT/PT school are graduate level degrees and nursing is only a Bachelors. Graduate programs, as mentioned, are more strict regarding grades.
Are occupational therapists happy?
Occupational therapists are below average when it comes to happiness. ... As it turns out, occupational therapists rate their career happiness 2.9 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 27% of careers.
What are the core values of occupational therapy?
The profession of occupational therapy remains grounded in seven core concepts, as identified in the Core Values and Attitudes of Occupational Therapy Practice (AOTA, 1993): altruism, equality, freedom, justice, dignity, truth, and prudence .
What is an example of occupational therapy?
For example, activities to build fine motor skills might include picking things up with tweezers . Exercises to improve gross motor skills might include jumping jacks or running an obstacle course. For someone who struggles with motor planning, therapists might work on daily routines like getting dressed.
What are the concepts of occupational therapy?
Seven Core Concepts
In this document, the core values and attitudes of occupational therapy are organized around seven basic concepts –altruism, equality, freedom, justice, dignity, truth, and prudence .
