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Occupational therapy, an allied healthcare profession, utilizes creative activity in the treatment and rehabilitation of physically or emotionally disabled patients. Occupational therapists help people recover from their disabilities and return to a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Occupational therapists are an unavoidable part of any rehabilitation center or healthcare service center, and are in great demand in the US medical arena. Occupational therapists specialize in the study of the growth and development of humans, focusing on the emotional, cognitive, psychological, physical, and socio-cultural components of illness and injury. Occupational therapy professionals can effectively assist the patients in recovering from their disabilities and maximizing their skills and abilities. They have job opportunities in a wide variety of environments including hospitals, educational systems, healthcare service providers, offices of other health practitioners and nursing care facilities. Currently, the minimum educational qualification for a rewarding career in occupational therapy is a Masters (M.A., M.S or MOT) degree in occupational therapy, or a professional Doctoral degree (OTD). To obtain certification, the healthcare professionals must have completed at least two supervised clinical internships in pediatrics, mental health or physical disabilities. Responsibilities of an Occupational Therapist . assist patients in performing their daily activities . give the patients physical exercises to increase strength and dexterity . help patients improve their decision-making, abstract-reasoning, problem-solving, memory, sequencing, coordination and perceptual skills. Job opportunities for occupational therapists are expected to increase exponentially in the next 10 years. Occupational therapists will have to work with healthcare professionals of other disciplines in deciding the treatment methods. The occupational therapy job is a challenging one and the occupational therapists will have to work with particular populations like children and the elderly, and in specialized work settings such as mental health centers and rehabilitation centers for mentally retarded patients. Occupational therapists draw salaries based on their academic qualification, experience and specialization in the related discipline. Occupational therapy jobs offer enormous opportunities for exciting career development in the US.
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