Occupational Therapy - Jefferson College of Health Sciences

Occupational Therapy from Jefferson College of Health Sciences is a Campus Master Occupational Therapy degree that prepares you for a Healthcare career. What is Occupational Therapy? Occupational Therapy (OT) is an allied health profession. Its primary aims are to provide intervention to individuals whose lives have been disrupted by adverse circumstance, assist them in gaining or improving their quality of life, and make them capable, using specific skills required of them, to function effectively within their own dynamic environments. To this end occupational therapist use meaningful / purposeful "occupations" (those tasks and functions of life that time and energy which otherwise able-bodied individuals take for granted) to develop or redevelop necessary and/or desired skills for life. These life tasks include, but are not limited to, self care skills such as bathing, dressing, and toileting; interpersonal communication skills such as carrying on a telephone conversation or speaking with family members or an employer about sensitive issues; everyday living tasks such as the roles of a homemaker, vocational interactions and the roles of employee; paying personal bills, balancing a checkbook, purchasing groceries, driving, planning for the future, enjoying leisure pursuits, etc. Occupational therapists function in a variety of settings. Graduates may work in a hospital, rehabilitation center, extended care facility, nursing home, public schools, developmental daycare facility, adult day care program, mental health clinic, out-patient facilities, home health agencies, industrial rehabilitation programs, hospice programs, private practice and in various community agencies that aid individuals with specific disabilities. What do Occupational Therapists do? Occupational Therapists: Assess and treat clients experiencing a mental, physical, emotional or developmental problem. Assist clients in developing, recovering or learning new ways to perform daily activities. Use physical exercises to help clients increase strength and dexterity. Use activities to help patients improve visual acuity and the ability to discern patterns. Design and fabricate adaptive equipment, instructing patients/families in its use. Use computer programs to help clients improve decision-making, abstract reasoning, problem- solving, memory, sequencing, coordination and perceptual skills. In addition, Occupational Therapists can choose to work with a certain age group or with clients throughout their lifespans. What are the job prospects for Occupational Therapists? Employment for Occupational Therapists is projected to increase much faster than other healthcare professions due to the rapid growth of middle-aged and elderly populations demanding therapeutic services. Emerging specialty areas in Occupational Therapy include driver rehabilitation and fall prevention. Places of employment include hospitals, rehabilitation centers, public schools and skilled nursing facilities. View more details on Jefferson College of Health Sciences . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Occupational Therapy courses.