Occupational Therapy Aide - Career Information

Occupational Therapy Aide - Career InformationOccupational Therapy Aide - Career InformationAn occupational therapy aide (OT Aide) prepares materials and equipment for occupational therapists(OTs) and assistants(OTAs). He or she also helps patients get to and from treatment rooms. Occupational therapy involves rehabilitating individuals who havelost their ability to perform activities of daily livingdue to an illness, injury, or disability. An OT aide may also perform clerical duties such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and filing patient records. Unlike an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant, an OT aide does elend provide direct patient care, but he or she helps facilitate treatment by providing support for those who do. Quick Facts About Occupational Therapy Aides They earned amedian annual salary of $28,330 or $13.62 per hour in 2016.In 2014, approximately 9,000people were employed in this occupation.Most worked in occupational therapists offices, nursing care facilities, and hospitals.Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2024. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has declared occupational therapy assistant a Bright Outlook career because of itsexcellentjob outlook. How to Become an Occupational Therapy Aide To get an entry-level position, you will need just a high school or equivalency diploma. Your employer will provide on-the-job training that will last from a few days to a few weeks. You will learn how to set up equipment and keep treatment rooms germ-free. WhatSoft SkillsDo You Need to Succeed in This Career? These are some of the soft skills OT aides need to succeed in this field Active Listening Strong listening skills will allow you to understand, and therefore, follow instructions from occupational therapists and assistants. It will also help you care for your patients.Verbal Communication You must be able to clearly convey information to your colleag ues and patients.Interpersonal Skills In addition to excellent listening and speaking skills, you must be able to understand non-verbal cues, coordinate your actions with others, and show empathy and sympathy.Service Orientation You must have adesire to help people. Detail Oriented Attention to detail is imperative, especially when it comes to following therapists instructions, keeping treatment rooms clean and tidy, and helping patients complete forms. Roles and Responsibilities Job announcements on Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com show that Occupational Therapy Aides perform the following tasks Assiststaff occupational therapists in their treatment of assigned patientsPrepare the treatment area, patient,and equipment for treatmentMaintaina safe, clean environmentPerformongoing inventory of equipment and materials to ensure adequate supply. Notifies department manager of ordering needsParticipates in all infection control, departmental equipment training, organizational safety, a nd fire safety programs Differences Between an Occupational Therapy Aide and an Occupational Therapist Assistant OT aides and assistants differ from one another significantly regarding their educational requirements and job duties. OT aides need only a high school or equivalency diplomawhile OT assistants must earn an associate degree from an accredited training program. Assistants must be licensed or registered by the state in which they want to work. There is no such requirement for aides. Occupational therapist assistants help patients do therapeutic activities under an occupational therapists supervision. OT aides are responsible only for tasks that are indirectly related to patient care. What Will Employers Expect From You? Here are some requirements from actual job announcements found onIndeed.comand SimplyHired Must maintain confidentiality of all proprietary and/or confidential informationAble to lift, transfer, and guard patients safely with appropriate assistance w ithout likelihood of injury to the patient or oneselfExcellent communication (both oral and written) skillsMust have basic computer and office equipment experienceCapable of following standard procedures and detailed instructionsKnowledge of basic medical terminology desirable Is This Occupation a Good Fit for You? Holland Code SRC (Social, Realistic, Conventional)MBTI PersonalityTypes ISFJ, ESFJ,ESFP, ISFP Take thisquizto find out if you should become an occupational therapy aide. Related Occupations OccupationDescriptionMedian Annual Wage (2016)Minimum Required Education/TrainingPhysical Therapy AidesPrepares and cleans treatment rooms, maintains equipment and supplies, and performs clerical tasks for physical therapists$25,680HS or Equivalency Diploma + on-the-job trainingPharmacy TechnicianHelps pharmacists fill prescriptions$30,920HS or Equivalency Diploma + on-the-job training or postsecondary training programPsychiatric AideMonitors patients in a psychiatric facility and helps them with tasks of daily living$30,970HS or Equivalency DiplomaMedical AssistantTends to administrative and clinical tasks in a doctors office$31,540HS or Equivalency Diploma + postsecondary training SourcesBureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 (visited September 11, 2017).Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor,O*NET zugreifbar(visited September 11, 2017).