The various areas of OT

[JoSub]

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Hi everyone,

I'm trying to learn more about the various areas in which OT's can specialize in. For example, there is low vision therapy and hand therapy. What are some other areas that OT's often work in?

Also, what is a good setting for a new OT to work in? I have heard that nursing homes would not ideal for a first job because patients generally do not make much progress, which can be discouraging to a new OT.

Furthermore, which OT jobs tend to pay the best? I am not asking about the various settings, such as SNFs, but rather specializations, such as hand therapy. Of course, getting a high salary is not my primary objective, but I would like to consider this when deciding which area to specialize in.

I would appreciate your feedback. Thanks! 🙂

 

[gymnastau]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to learn more about the various areas in which OT's can specialize in. For example, there is low vision therapy and hand therapy. What are some other areas that OT's often work in?

Also, what is a good setting for a new OT to work in? I have heard that nursing homes would not ideal for a first job because patients generally do not make much progress, which can be discouraging to a new OT.

Furthermore, which OT jobs tend to pay the best? I am not asking about the various settings, such as SNFs, but rather specializations, such as hand therapy. Of course, getting a high salary is not my primary objective, but I would like to consider this when deciding which area to specialize in.

I would appreciate your feedback. Thanks! 🙂

I do believe to begin specializing in hand therapy you have to have 5 years of OT experience and then go through the criteria to become a hand therapist. They have a pretty good national website.

 

[superCOTA]

As a COTA with 10 years in ...

Nursing homes do not have a very dynamic caseload, however you can still learn a bit if they have a short-term sub-acute unit. But a hosptal would be your best bet.

It is documented that OT's can do low vision, however to make an independent business of it, there will be some competition. Wiki vision therapy and you see how OT's are just one of a lot of professions who stick their fork in this one, and we come up short. But, an OT in a acute unit working w/ a TBI will handle the vision until discharge.
If you like kids, peds is a nice place to start.

As for pay, with a new health care plan coming out, who knows what any of us will be making. I recommend not going into allied health until we find out....but that's me. Good luck.

 

[wave06]

superCOTA,

Can you elaborate on the possible effects of new healthcare plans on allied health, OT in particular? I'm not going into OT to be rich but with the amount of loans I'll have when all is said and done, I don't want to be making what I could have, had I just stuck with my bachelors degree. All I've ever heard and continue to hear is about the "good" decision I made going into OT and the "stability" it will provide. Should I be worried? Thanks!

 

[superCOTA]

If you go to the "ADVANCE for OT" trade magazine news archive.. you will see how some states cut the medicaid rates for OT. NY cut the early intervention rate 10% last year... and there haddnt been a raise in 10 years .... now they want to cut it another 10%... and also in nursing homes ... 20 visits per year max is the proposal that the governor just approved.

So yeah .. it's shaky times for sure. Newsweek keeps printing how OT and PT are hot jobs ... ummm ... it's a techincal degree where there definitely is a ceiling .. and you hit it sooner than later.

It's interesting that business grads are having trouble getting and keeping work, lawyers too... when wall street is booming houses cost a lot and our jobs look weaker. But currently, they are laid off/ in trouble, and we still have our jobs. So if there is advice here ... Buy a house before the market recovers, maybe off a stock broker whose house was forclosed on LOL. It's like the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady.