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Posts Tagged ‘Occupational Therapy’

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Schools Demand OTs and Traveling Occupational Therapists

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

By Erica Ronchetti

Considering a career as an occupational therapist?  Now’s an excellent time to find an occupational therapy travel job.  Demands for occupational therapists are growing, especially in schools.  Occupational therapists will find many positions in school settings needing to be filled, as there is an ongoing need for occupational therapy professionals to aid children in critical points in their development.  This is the case for children who suffer from a variety of different conditions, such as cerebral palsy, autism, hearing difficulties and vision impairments.  Occupational therapists, both full time and part time can really make a difference in children’s lives.

Skilled occupational therapists work with patients on different computer equipment and programs, instructing them and monitoring their progress.  Many help the children receive therapy on specially built exercise machines or in swimming pools.  Often times children will need to receive rehabilitation tailored for their individual needs, and physical therapists and speech therapists can be of great assistance here, depending on the program.

These occupational therapy programs teach children to communicate in new ways, sometimes through pictures or signs, and sometimes through speech.  Others learn dexterity and control, muscle strength, writing, and speaking.  Occupational therapists can provide children with the care they require that could not ordinarily have been met in other school settings.  Occupational therapists are important teachers preparing children to join other mainstream classrooms.
Traveling occupational therapists fill temporary openings in schools, rehab centers and other facilities. There is a shortage of skilled rehab therapists and sometimes it takes a while to fill a permanent position. In the interim, a traveling  OT can fill the gap.  OT travel jobs are available throughout the country to fill these openings.

Without occupational therapists, patients would need more care later in life and greater levels of support in the future.  Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language therapists can truly make a difference people’s lives, and they are in high demand.  To find more about how you can pursue a career in travel occupational therapy, visit http://www.alliedtravelcareers.com/occupationaltherapyjobs.php or fill out our brief application.

Erica Ronchetti is Account Manager for Travel Nurse Source, a recruiting company for traveling nurses.  Travel Nurse Source is affiliated with Allied Travel Careers, a recruiting company for traveling physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists.  For more information on what we do, please visit our websites.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, OT Travel, Occupational Therapy | No Comments »

Travel Therapy : What Recent PT and OT Graduates Can Expect

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

By Erica Ronchetti

If you are a student studying to become a physical therapist or occupational therapist, a travel therapy job might be an excellent opportunity for you upon graduation.  The following information should dispel common myths about travel therapy jobs and provide you with information on the benefits associated with traveling physical therapy jobs and traveling occupational therapy jobs.  Many students have heard of travel therapy career options, but do not know enough to consider it as a viable career choice.

Occasionally professors may tell students of bad experiences associated with travel therapy jobs, though certainly the majority of traveling therapists (traveling physical therapists, traveling occupational therapists) have amazing experiences while on assignment.

Even if you’re a student still in school and studying to be a physical therapist or occupational therapist, you can begin your application process and land a physical therapy travel job shortly after graduation.  Typically, an internship is the only experience you need to qualify for a travel assignment.

When you first find a travel therapy agency that you want to work with, you will have to fill out an application.  Be ready to answer a lot of questions, because your travel therapy agency will want to understand your status and know exactly what you’re looking for in a physical therapy travel job or a traveling occupational therapy job.  Once they have an idea of what type of assignments you’re looking for, they’ll send jobs to you that match your interests.  Remember that it’s up to you to accept which jobs you do or do not want – you control your destiny.

There is a huge demand for traveling physical therapists and traveling occupational therapists.  PT travel jobs and occupational therapy travel jobs have competitive salaries, travel reimbursements, home accommodations, and other benefits.  Don’t hesitate to find out more information on travel therapy and learn which travel rehab jobs are right for you!

Erica Ronchetti is Account Manager for Travel Nurse Source, a recruiting company for traveling nurses.  Travel Nurse Source is affiliated with Allied Travel Careers, a recruiting company for traveling physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists.  For more information on what we do, please visit our websites.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, OT Travel, Occupational Therapy, PT Blogs, Physical Therapy | 3 Comments »

Occupational Therapists Needed More Than Ever

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Occupational therapists promote health and teach people how to stay well and injury-free during their daily lives, from home to work and even during favorite leisure activities. They have the power to bring their patients back into present time, become mindful of their physical movements and use awareness as a tool to prevent injury. Similar to other rehabilitation therapy professions like physical therapy and speech language pathology, occupational therapists turn over a great deal of power to their patients. Under the tutelage of their expert guidance, troubleshooting and coaxing, occupational therapists and traveling occupational therapy professionals traveling the country, make sure that their clients are in the best possible position to live their best possible lives without getting hurt in the process.

At one point in the history of this and other rehab therapy professions, therapists were focused mostly on clients with disabilities and maintaining function in the elderly. Now, occupational therapy jobs, travel therapy jobs, and traveling occupational therapy jobs require therapists to work with children. Obesity in children is leading to conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome and asthma, as the children’s bodies attempt to manage the excess weight.  Occupational therapists play an important role in keeping these young bodies moving and teaching them to live with the daily adjustments needed to accommodate for these conditions.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists occupational therapy as a profession expected to grow rapidly, with the number of working therapists to advance by 23% between 2006 and 2016. Occupational therapists (veterans and new grads alike) with an urge to see America may find a  traveling occupational therapy job to be the perfect escape, especially during the summertime when most destinations seem more vacation than work.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, OT Travel, Occupational Therapy | 1 Comment »

Early Physical Therapy Helps ICU Patients

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Physical therapists are needed across a range of specialty areas and departments in hospitals. Intensive care units (ICU’s) are one of the places where PT’s and traveling physical therapists on physical therapy travel job assignment are needed the most. Research and studies are now showing the benefit of early physical therapy in the rehabilitation of critically ill patients in the ICU.

A University of Chicago study showed that patients who underwent physical and occupational regimens of exercise and mobilization within 72 hours of being placed on a ventilator, experienced improved levels of independent function by time they were discharged from the hospital. Patients receiving physical therapy interventions also experienced more days off of ventilators. ICU patients frequently experience long term complications after surviving a life threatening illness, such as weakness and neuropsychiatric diseases. Rehabilitation therapy interventions can help prevent these complications. The interventions in the study included passive range of motion exercises in the extremities of unresponsive patients and in alert patients, assisted range of motion exercises while still in bed. The physical and occupational therapy interventions then progressed to sitting up in bed and performing balance activities, activities of daily living, sitting and standing transfers and eventually ambulation.

The study revealed that there are benefits to incorporating physical and occupational therapy in the treatment of ICU patients. Therapy interventions help to reorient patients who have been sedated on a ventilator. Assisting patients to ambulate early in the ICU led to a decrease in muscle atrophy and an increase in independent function. Traveling physical therapists and travel occupational therapy job seekers with an interest in assisting ICU patients should contact a travel recruiter today to check on the availability of assignments in this area.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, Occupational Therapy, PT Blogs, Physical Therapy | No Comments »

Role of Rehab Therapy in Preventative Medicine

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

If an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure than physical therapists, occupational therapists and traveling rehab therapists in these fields have many reasons to be optimistic. It is important for rehab therapists including traveling physical therapists and travel occupational therapists to remind the public that it’s not necessary to wait until something is broken, pulled, strained, dislocated or twisted before seeking the services of a therapist.  Here are some specific patient demographics for traveling therapists with a passion for patient preventative education to target for assessments and consultations.

Elderly Patients: Fall prevention, balance and core stability are key preventative measures for this age group. Traveling occupational therapists can also focus on risks that elderly patients encounter in their activities of daily living.

Weekend Warriors: Teach these ambitious folks to seek out therapy before they find themselves sprawled on the basketball floor or at the bottom of a ski slope. They can benefit from ROM assessments, teaching about proper warm up and stretching techniques and an assessment to determine their health level for desired sports and activities along with recommendations for maximum exertion levels.

Office Workers: Therapists are a valuable source of info for employees at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive use injury and other ergonomic issues.

Child Athletes: Physical therapists are an excellent resource for young athletes and their parents to learn about how to prevent injuries and assessments for any movement, alignment or balance issues that place the child at a higher risk for problems.

All of the Above: All individuals suffering the regular aches and pains of life can benefit from a therapy assessment to learn how a more conservative therapy approach may benefit them more than their medications or other forms of current relief.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, OT Travel, Occupational Therapy, PT Blogs, Physical Therapy | No Comments »

Occupational Therapists Teach Handwriting

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

A friend of mine was proudly telling me about her daughter’s beautiful penmanship today. It took me a few seconds to realize that she meant handwriting. Was she referring to the same carefully drawn cursive letters that we all learned in grammar school? I will admit that my ability to pen an old-fashioned, handwritten letter has gone the way of my algebra and geometry skills over the years. I don’t feel too bad about that since ergonomic computer keyboards, cell phone texting, and other handheld ways of communicating seem to have replaced the lost art of handwriting.

Fortunately, occupational therapists and traveling occupational therapists are continuing to teach children this important life skill. Occupational therapy is especially valuable for children who are having trouble learning proper handwriting through their traditional childhood education. Occupational therapists can pick up where teachers leave off, using a variety of creative, sensory, gross and fine motor brain activities to retrain the child’s brain.

Handwriting ability derives from the speech center in the parietal lobe of the brain (mostly the left side). This means that for individuals who have suffered a stroke or other brain injury affecting speech, the ability to write also suffers. In fact, many occupational therapists and other caregivers are able to detect deteriorating mental functions based on changes in an individual’s handwriting.

As much as I joke about handwriting being a “lost art” I am well aware that it is a significant form of communication and a telling reflection of the mental and psychological happenings within the brain. Occupational therapists and traveling occupational therapists are lucky to have the opportunity to work with children who need a little help opening this window into their mind.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Occupational Therapy | No Comments »

Occupational Therapy Used in Treatment for Addiction

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

We continue to celebrate Occupational Therapy Month and honor occupational therapists and travel occupational therapists for their work in maximizing life’s daily potential for all types of patients. To accomplish this, occupational therapists address all aspects of the individual – physical, psychological, emotional and social. Therefore, OT services are particularly valuable to individuals being treated for addiction.

Creative but extremely effective therapeutic occupational therapy approaches such as art therapy are frequently used with patients in treatment for addiction. One of the goals of art therapy for these individuals is, through targeted arts and crafts and creative writing activities, to assist the occupational therapist in understanding some of the deeper motivations, psychology and history behind the addictive behaviors. A project by occupational therapy students in Scotland, also found success treating individuals experiencing addition by teaching them the skills needed to adapt and cope with daily life.

The path to, effects of and recovery from addiction is deeply personal and unique to each individual who experiences it. Occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals who choose to work in this area of rehabilitation are often personally motivated by the stories of recovering addicts or in some cases the stories of family members, friends or even their own personal success stories.

Are you an occupational therapist who wants to enjoy the excitement and challenges of a travel health career while specializing in addiction therapy? Visit our “apply now” page and speak with a recruiter about assignments in addiction medicine. Addiction is a steadily growing area of healthcare with a big demand for treatments that work. Occupational therapists and travel occupational therapists are needed more and more to meet this demand.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, Occupational Therapy | No Comments »

Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides Face Bright Futures

Monday, April 6th, 2009

Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

The American Occupational Therapy Association has designated April as Occupational Therapy month, so it seems only fitting to honor the occupational therapy assistants and the traveling occupational therapy assistants who are a big reason that occupational therapy works. In return, the occupational therapy assistant with aspirations to become a therapist is in a beneficial position to learn the profession from the ground up.

FAQ:

Q: How long do I have to go to school to become an occupational therapy assistant?
 A: You can earn an Occupational Therapy Assistant Associated of Applied Science in a 2 year program found at community colleges and technical schools. Another option is earning a 1-year certificate from an accredited academic institution. Both programs have required, supervised work in the field and must pass a licensing exam prior to practicing.

Q: What is the basic job description?
A: You will work with developmentally and physically challenged patients under the supervision of the OT, on exercises such as muscle strengthening, work and societal skills and chart patient progress.

Q: Where will I work?
A: OT assistant opportunities are pretty evenly divided between hospital, OT office, residential care and other settings such as the workplace and long term care facilities.

Q: How much can I expect to make?
A: The current average salary for an OT assistant is $51,000.

Q: What are the career opportunities like?
A: Excellent! Better than in most other fields, actually. Employment opportunities are projected to increase by a whopping 25 percent by 2016.

If this sounds like the career opportunity you’ve been looking for, start calling your local schools or research programs online. Add a love of seeing the country and gaining experience in a variety of clinical settings, and perhaps a career as a traveling occupational therapy assistant is what you’ve been searching for. The sky’s the limit!

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Mentoring A Next Generation of Therapists

Monday, March 30th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

The demand for traveling rehabilitation therapists – in physical, occupational and speech therapy – has not been even remotely hampered by these challenging economic times. Travel professionals in these fields have more career choices than ever. Healthcare providers in these vital and rewarding fields have earned opportunities through extensive education, dedication to their patients and a commitment to gaining continuous experience rehabilitation patients and improving their quality of life. Therefore, rehabilitation therapists might enjoy considering passing along some of their knowledge and passion for their profession, to the next generation.

Whether they choose to personally mentor a physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology assistant or student in training or participate in a high school career day, acting as a professional role model for aspiring therapists can be a mutually rewarding endeavor. For the traveling rehabilitation therapist, mentoring can be an excellent way to pass the time between assignments while investing in the physical, occupational or speech therapy profession and giving back.

Volunteer Ideas:

  • Contact your local school system and get their schedule of upcoming career day events; volunteer to participate!
  • Contact the Career Services department of local colleges and universities and do the same. I can attest from personal experience that folks at Career services love to involve professionals from the community in fun career oriented student outreach events!
  • Look up any local job skill training and development programs and do the same
  • Contact any physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy schools in your area and volunteer your services as an in class guest speaker (as needed of course)

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech/Language Pathology | No Comments »

Rehab Therapy at Work

Monday, March 30th, 2009

By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

Physical and occupational therapy in the workplace can prevent further physical pain and trauma for employees and legal headaches for employers. Occupational rehab therapists play a valuable role in teaching healthy, uninjured employees how to stay that way, promote workplace ergonomics, and conduct OSHA training among their many other teaching, training and therapeutic tasks. They also screen at-risk employees for high blood pressure and other potentially dangerous and medically liable conditions while assisting injured patients return to work.

In order to perform these vital functions in the workplace, occupational and physical therapists must have the traditional Master’s degree from an accredited program required for work as an OT or PT, as well as having passed the national licensure exam. The rehab therapist working in occupational health may also be required to obtain continuing education in workplace specific areas such as ergonomics and OSHA, depending on the employer or agency.

Or, in the case of one Ohio man the certification list could include “none of the above.” Earlier this year, Michael Stinson, accused of performing physical therapy on occupational health clients without a license, was convicted and sentenced to 37 months in federal prison. His sentence also included repaying over 2 million dollars to the Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation and the IRS.

Fortunately for legitimate rehabilitation therapists and travel therapists working in physical and occupational therapy, there is plenty of legal money to be earned in an occupational health career or travel assignment in this area. Worker’s compensation claims and in the worst cases, lawsuits, can be traumatic for both employer and employee alike. Occupational and physical therapists have the expertise, skills and special gift for employee training, that can help employer’s meet the universal goal of reducing illness and injury in the workplace.

Traveling physical therapists and traveling occupational therapists with a special passion for teaching and safety training should mention their interest in a workplace occupational health assignment to their travel agency recruiter.

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.

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Posted in Allied Travel Jobs, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy | No Comments »

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