Occupational Therapists
Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual's environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.
What is this job like?
- Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- Train caregivers in providing for the needs of a patient during and after therapy.
- Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
- Provide training and supervision in therapy techniques and objectives for students or nurses and other medical staff.
- Provide training and supervision in therapy techniques and objectives for students or nurses and other medical staff.
- Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions.
- Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate those impaired because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
- Consult with rehabilitation team to select activity programs or coordinate occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities.
- Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
- Design and create, or requisition, special supplies and equipment, such as splints, braces, and computer-aided adaptive equipment.
- Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
- Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions.
- Develop and participate in health promotion programs, group activities, or discussions to promote client health, facilitate social adjustment, alleviate stress, and prevent physical or mental disability.
- Design and create, or requisition, special supplies and equipment, such as splints, braces, and computer-aided adaptive equipment.
- Recommend changes in patients' work or living environments, consistent with their needs and capabilities.
- Conduct research in occupational therapy.
- Advise on health risks in the workplace or on health-related transition to retirement.
- Complete and maintain necessary records.
- Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate those impaired because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
- Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
- Provide patients with assistance in locating or holding jobs.
Local Wage Data
Showing wage data for: New Orleans
Entry
Median
High
Salary
Hourly Wage
$61,340
$95,590
$123,280
$29.49
$45.96
$59.27