Occupational Therapy Sarah Johnson

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapists assist patients in the “occupation” of daily life. This includes all the ways in which we spend our time.

Independent living is the ultimate goal in occupational

therapy .

OTs assist those at various ages accomplish the tasks required for daily living and adapt to losses in skills.

Criteria for Occupational Therapists

Master’s or Doctoral Degree from an accredited occupational therapy program

Knowledge in human growth and development, with specific influence on illness and injury

Great interpersonal communication skills

Creativity with problem solving!

Job Outlook & Salary

Job outlook for Occupational Therapists is great! Employment in OT is expected to grow much faster than the average job.› Between 2006-2016, the US Department of

Labor projects a 23% increase in OT employment

Salary

The median reported earnings for occupational therapy in May 2006 was $60,470, depending on the employment setting.

Career Advancements

Continuing education is vital for success as an occupational therapist.

Supervisor roles are becoming increasingly common, as more OT aides and assistants are being added to the workforce.

Specialties such as pediatrics, gerontology, or mental health also increase an OT’s opportunities.

OTs can also work in education and teach classes in occupational therapy programs.

Possible OT Settings

Hospitals Acute care centers Nursing homes Rehabilitation

centers Home health

practices Private practice School systems

Professional Interactions

Regardless of the settings, occupational therapists interact with other disciplines to provide the best patient outcome possible.

Physical therapists, physicians, speech therapists and other professionals are just some of the people OTs regularly coordinate with.

Medical University of South Carolina: College of Health Professions

The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at MUSC offers a 26 month program in occupational therapy

Curriculum

26 months, 7 semesters The first year of the program focuses

heavily on the sciences, including anatomy, neuroscience, and pathophysiology.

The second year focuses on more OT-specific curriculum and hands-on field work experience

Qualifications Prerequisite Courses

› Human Anatomy and Physiology- 8 hours 4 hours completed with a final grade of B 4 hours currently in progress

› Statistics- 3 hours Completed with a final grade of A

› Lifespan human development- 3 hours Completed with a final grade of A

› Abnormal Psychology- 3 hours Planned enrollment in Fall 2009

› Sociology – 3 hours Completed with a final grade of A

Personal Qualifications

Academically qualified through experience in a rigorous academic program at Clemson University’s Department of Public Health Sciences.

Overall GPA of 3.84

Passionate for helping others through especially difficult times, and enjoy making a difference.

Love to work with people ranging in age from infants to the elderly.

Goals & Aspirations

As an occupational therapist, I hope to generate creative and simple ways to help people to live at the best possible standards they can.

References

American Occupational Therapy Association› www.aota.org

United States Department of Labor › http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm

Medical University Of South Carolina- College of Health Professions, Occupational Therapy › www.musc.edu/chp/ot