Occupational therapists (OTs) help people with injuries or illness recover and cope through the use of common, everyday tasks. Usually working one-on-one with patients, OTs will watch how they do tasks ask questions and look over medical history, create treatment plans and goals, show patients how to use adaptive technology, demonstrate exercises to relieve pain and increase mobility, and much more.
1. Uses available resources, including patient outcomes and past experiences, to guide patient/client assessment
2. Using multiple sources, comprehensively assesses patient/client factors that impact treatment plan and outcome
3. Selects appropriate assessment tests and measures to conduct patient/client assessment and re-assessment
4. Administers tests and measures accurately, following standardized criteria if applicable. Modifies tests and measures based on patient/client needs
5. Recognizes and incorporates precautions and contraindications for treatment
6. Identifies impairments and their influence on patient/client performance
7. Incorporates prioritized impairments to establish a therapy classification or therapy diagnosis that is specific to the patient/client
8. Makes accurate predictions about patient/client outcomes
9. With the patient/client and/or the patient/client’s family input, establishes goals that reflect anticipated outcomes
10. Based on assessment and on-going reassessment, develops a treatment plan by selecting and modifying appropriate interventions
11. In adherence to the profession's Code of Ethics, uses ethical reasoning to make decisions based on objective principles and values
12. Is accountable and takes responsibility to identify and meet the needs of the patient/client. Seeks alternate strategies and/or other resources to make sure patient/client needs are met.
13. Provides treatment interventions to patients/clients that are safe, timely, effective, efficient, patient-centered, and equitable, in compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
14. Demonstrates competency in treatment skills by completing institutional and program-specific competencies and consistently meets annual requirements
15. Practices competently in accordance with professional practice standards and expectations
16. Provides effective therapeutic interventions that are patient centered
17. In accordance with patient/client need, selects treatment with consideration of resource utilization, including space, time, people and equipment
18. Identifies and provides appropriate strategies to educate patients so that environmental constraints, learning barriers, and cultural factors are addressed effectively
19. Facilitates patient/client responsibility for self-care
20. Progresses treatment interventions effectively
21. Interventions take into account behavioral, cognitive, and perceptual dysfunction and appropriate referrals to specialists are made, if needed
22. Delegates treatment to appropriate clinical staff and provides necessary supervision
Occupational therapists need a master's degree in occupational therapy
3 years minimum experience in a hospital setting providing therapy to patients
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and cognitive dysfunctions
Collective bargaining unit: SEIU 1199-MSSL