Columbus, Ohio. Attorney David Bressman has been representing car wreck victims since 1990. Based upon his experience, he has begun a series of posts designed to help the brain injury victim achieve the best, most successful recovery from this severe form of injury.
[CONT.]WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST?
The following is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list of the questions or concerns you should have when choosing an occupational therapist nor is the following meant to disqualify any occupational therapist you are considering, these are meant to enable you to begin a discussion with the occupational therapist.
4. Does the therapist specialize. Some occupational therapists may work exclusively with individuals in a particular age group or with a particular disability. In a school setting, a therapist may work with children individually. Some therapists provide early intervention therapy to infants and toddlers who have, or are at risk of having, developmental delays. Some occupational therapists work only with elderly patients.
5. Will the therapist make home visits? It is important, once you begin to re-establish your independence that you take into account the role TBI will play in coping with your daily life. An occupational therapist can make recommendations for adaptive equipment, training to prolong driving independence, assess homes for hazards and identify environmental factors that could contribute to further injury and injury prevention.
6. Will the therapist visit, and assess, your work environment?
* American Occupational Therapy Association, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. Internet: http://www.aota.org
Showing posts with label columbus ohio car accident brain injury occupational therapist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label columbus ohio car accident brain injury occupational therapist. Show all posts
Friday, July 11, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST?
Columbus, Ohio. Attorney David Bressman has been representing car wreck victims since 1990. Based upon his experience, he has begun a series of posts designed to help the brain injury victim achieve the best, most successful recovery from this severe form of injury.
[CONT.]WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST?
The following is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list of the questions or concerns you should have when choosing an occupational therapist nor is the following meant to disqualify any occupational therapist you are considering, these are meant to enable you to begin a discussion with the occupational therapist.
1. Look for licensing as, typically, such therapists must be licensed, requiring a master’s degree in occupational therapy, 6 months of supervised fieldwork, and passing scores on national and State examinations.
2. Do they work full-time in their profession? More than a quarter of occupational therapists work part time.
3. How often will the therapist assess and record your activities? Progress is an important part of an occupational therapist’s job. Accurate records are essential for evaluating clients, for billing, and for reporting to physicians and other health care providers.
NEXT: YET MORE QUESTIONS TO ASK OF AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
[CONT.]WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST?
The following is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list of the questions or concerns you should have when choosing an occupational therapist nor is the following meant to disqualify any occupational therapist you are considering, these are meant to enable you to begin a discussion with the occupational therapist.
1. Look for licensing as, typically, such therapists must be licensed, requiring a master’s degree in occupational therapy, 6 months of supervised fieldwork, and passing scores on national and State examinations.
2. Do they work full-time in their profession? More than a quarter of occupational therapists work part time.
3. How often will the therapist assess and record your activities? Progress is an important part of an occupational therapist’s job. Accurate records are essential for evaluating clients, for billing, and for reporting to physicians and other health care providers.
NEXT: YET MORE QUESTIONS TO ASK OF AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Thursday, July 3, 2008
THE TBI TREATMENT TEAM: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. PT. 2
Columbus, Ohio. Continuing on in Attorney David Bressman's series of articles on brain injuries, those who most successfully recover are the ones who use the best mix of treatment providers. One of the most important is the occupational therapist.
Occupational therapists help clients to perform all types of activities, from using a computer to caring for daily needs such as dressing, cooking, and eating. Physical exercises may be used to increase strength and dexterity, while other activities may be chosen to improve visual acuity or the ability to discern patterns. For example, a client with short-term memory loss might be encouraged to make lists to aid recall, and a person with coordination problems might be assigned exercises to improve hand-eye coordination. Occupational therapists also use computer programs to help clients improve decision-making, abstract-reasoning, problem-solving, and perceptual skills, as well as memory, sequencing, and coordination—all of which are important for independent living.
Other treatments can include the use of adaptive equipment, including wheelchairs, eating aids, dressing aids, design or build special equipment needed at home or at work, including computer-aided adaptive equipment. They teach clients how to use the equipment to improve communication and control various situations in their environment
Occupational therapy is used in treating TBI during many phases of recovery and rehabilitation. Such therapy may be involved in providing sensory, motor, and positioning supports during periods of coma. As the patient improves and re-gains skills, occupational therapy eases the process and re-teaches skills ranging from basic self-care, to complex cognitive skills such as memory and problem solving.
Occupational therapy works with individuals no matter their age. In addition to traditional medical settings, occupational therapists and see people recovering from TBI in birth-to-three early intervention programs, in public school settings, as job coaches, and as part of community mental health.
Occupational therapists are highly educated. A master’s degree, or higher, in occupational therapy is the minimum requirement for entry into the field. Coursework in occupational therapy programs include the physical, biological, and behavioral sciences as well as the application of occupational therapy theory and skills. Programs also require the completion of 6 months of supervised fieldwork.
PT. 3: WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST?
Occupational therapists help clients to perform all types of activities, from using a computer to caring for daily needs such as dressing, cooking, and eating. Physical exercises may be used to increase strength and dexterity, while other activities may be chosen to improve visual acuity or the ability to discern patterns. For example, a client with short-term memory loss might be encouraged to make lists to aid recall, and a person with coordination problems might be assigned exercises to improve hand-eye coordination. Occupational therapists also use computer programs to help clients improve decision-making, abstract-reasoning, problem-solving, and perceptual skills, as well as memory, sequencing, and coordination—all of which are important for independent living.
Other treatments can include the use of adaptive equipment, including wheelchairs, eating aids, dressing aids, design or build special equipment needed at home or at work, including computer-aided adaptive equipment. They teach clients how to use the equipment to improve communication and control various situations in their environment
Occupational therapy is used in treating TBI during many phases of recovery and rehabilitation. Such therapy may be involved in providing sensory, motor, and positioning supports during periods of coma. As the patient improves and re-gains skills, occupational therapy eases the process and re-teaches skills ranging from basic self-care, to complex cognitive skills such as memory and problem solving.
Occupational therapy works with individuals no matter their age. In addition to traditional medical settings, occupational therapists and see people recovering from TBI in birth-to-three early intervention programs, in public school settings, as job coaches, and as part of community mental health.
Occupational therapists are highly educated. A master’s degree, or higher, in occupational therapy is the minimum requirement for entry into the field. Coursework in occupational therapy programs include the physical, biological, and behavioral sciences as well as the application of occupational therapy theory and skills. Programs also require the completion of 6 months of supervised fieldwork.
PT. 3: WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST?
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
THE TBI TREATMENT TEAM: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS
Columbus, Ohio. Continuing on in a series of posts dealing with brain injuries arising from car accidents, Attorney David A. Bressman discusses yet another member of the treatment team. The best, most successful, results in brain injury cases arise when a multitude of medical care providers are involved.
One member of your treatment team will likely be an occupational therapist. Occupational therapy focuses on enabling people to do the activities of daily life [ADL]. An occupational therapist is health professional trained to help people who are ill or disabled learn to manage their daily activities. This type of therapist evaluates the self-care, work and leisure skills of a person and plans and implements social and interpersonal activities to develop, restore, and/or maintain the person's ability to accomplish ADL (eating, dressing, bathing) and necessary occupational tasks. According to Ohio State University, “Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that uses "occupation," or purposeful activity, to help persons with physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities lead independent, productive, and satisfying lives.”
Occupational therapists help patients improve their ability to perform tasks in living and working environments. They work with individuals who suffer from a mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling condition. The therapist helps to improve basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also to compensate for permanent loss of function. The ultimate goal is to help clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives.
PT. 2: More on Occupational Therapists
One member of your treatment team will likely be an occupational therapist. Occupational therapy focuses on enabling people to do the activities of daily life [ADL]. An occupational therapist is health professional trained to help people who are ill or disabled learn to manage their daily activities. This type of therapist evaluates the self-care, work and leisure skills of a person and plans and implements social and interpersonal activities to develop, restore, and/or maintain the person's ability to accomplish ADL (eating, dressing, bathing) and necessary occupational tasks. According to Ohio State University, “Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that uses "occupation," or purposeful activity, to help persons with physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities lead independent, productive, and satisfying lives.”
Occupational therapists help patients improve their ability to perform tasks in living and working environments. They work with individuals who suffer from a mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling condition. The therapist helps to improve basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also to compensate for permanent loss of function. The ultimate goal is to help clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives.
PT. 2: More on Occupational Therapists
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