Often a misunderstood profession, Occupational Therapy is an important part of a rehabilitation team. Occupational Therapists strive to increase their patients' independence; however, the methods they use are different than any other profession. Read on to learn more.
Misconceptions
Occupational Therapists are often confused with Physical Therapists, or even job training specialists. The truth is, the term "occupation" relates more to performing a task than it does to employment. Despite the fact that Occupational Therapy, or OT, has been around since the early 1900s, very few people outside the health care industry actually know what it is.
History of
Occupational Therapy began as a way to keep patients busy and happy during hospital and convalescent home stays. OT developed out of the nursing field, as many of the nurses did a great deal of arts and crafts with patients. As the profession developed, therapists received specialized training in human behavior, anatomy and physiology, and eventually OT became a professional degree. Once crafty "basket makers," OTs now have master's degrees and are required to have professional certifications from both national and state licensing boards. Today, OTs work in a variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes and community health care centers.
The Facts
What is Occupational Therapy? In short, OT is the process of teaching individuals complete their daily living routines as independently as possible. When a person is injured, they may lose the use of one or more limbs, or become extremely deconditioned. If a doctor orders OT for a patient, the OT will assess the patient's current ability with basic tasks such as dressing and bathing. Once she has determined what deficits are preventing this patient from completing these routine tasks, she establishes a treatment plan that focuses on strengthening the weak areas as much as possible and compensating for the rest. For example, some patients might require the use of adaptive devices to complete simple tasks such as brushing their teeth. Other patients may require instruction on use kitchen appliances from a wheelchair.
Type
Because there are so many types of health care settings, there are many types of OTs. OTs can work in acute care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, community and home-based settings, and outpatient clinics. Many specialize in an area of expertise such as pediatrics or hand therapy. Some OTs even work privately as consultants for ergonomic designs or workplace evaluations.
Benefits
The benefits of OT are evident in rehabilitation settings, as patients recover function through activity and practice of daily routines faster than they would through exercise alone. A paraplegic patient who has been educated in techniques to put his own pants and shoes on may be able to live alone, while one who has not received this specialized training may require an expensive live-in caregiver. Recovering function helps patients regain control in their daily routines, and can even cut down on health care costs both to the patient and to his insurance company.
Tags: health care, Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapists, daily routines, many types, specialized training