An Occupational Therapist is a health professional who is responsible for helping patients regain their ability to perform daily living and work activities. They treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.
Key Responsibilities
- Facilitates development and rehabilitation of patients with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities by planning and administering medically prescribed occupational therapy.
- Improves the play and movement skills of the patient with a disability.
- Demonstrates exercises that can help patients better perform everyday tasks and relieve pain
- Develops a treatment plan for patients, identifying specific goals and the types of activities that will be used to help the patient work toward those goals
- Recommends special equipment, such as wheelchairs and eating aids, and instruct patients on how to use that equipment
- Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
- Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
- Demonstrates exercises, for example stretching the joints for arthritis relief that can help relieve pain in people with chronic conditions
Job Requirements/Qualifications:
- Graduate of Occupational Therapy course
- must be licensed to provide occupational therapy in the state of employment.
- Minimum of one year of recent work experience as an occupational therapist
- Current BLS for Healthcare Provider CPR or CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer certification
- Practical, creative, Problem-solver with a ‘can-do’ attitude.
Skills needed for this role
The Occupational Therapist must have the ability to build and maintain good relationships with a wide range of people and enjoy working with people of all ages. He/She must have the capacity to listen carefully combined with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ingenuity, enthusiasm, common sense, and a sound knowledge base are also essential in this job.
Career Level
Licensed Healthcare Professional
Job Specializations
Healthcare, Occupational Therapy