Role And Responsibilities Of An Occupational Therapist Essay

An Occupational Therapist has many responsibilities in their field; responsibilities such as the progression and safety of their client. It is our job as therapists to be proactive and competent for the sake of the patient. If one would not be able to perform their duties it could be detrimental to the employers, the therapist and most importantly the client. There are five areas in which professionalism is necessary: education, responsibilities, evaluations, the intervention process and the discharge process (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2015, pg 1), as well as how they handle themselves and the client in everyday sessions. Working together, the occupational therapist practitioner and assistant can work in tandem with professionalism …show more content…
This goes hand in hand with education. A therapist has a duty to do these four things: give correct information, respect and advocate for the client, follow the rules of ethics and be accountable for the safety of the patient (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2015, pg 3). To give the correct information one must be educated and updated on what is new in the field as well as an understanding of the profession as a whole. A therapist must also be well versed in the code of ethics. In the Code, it discusses the importance of respecting your client and their wishes even if you do not agree (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2015, pg 3). A therapist must also always have consent from the patient. You, as the therapist, are responsible for your client’s comfort and progression (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2015, pg …show more content…
It is important for both the therapists to compare notes on the patient and their progress and to assess the necessities of what has to come next (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2015, pg 5). They have to join forces to think up new and creative ways of how to get the patient ready to go home or to make their life more comfortable. This could mean focusing on learning how to pivot around furniture or bake cookies again. Once the therapist and assistant both feel the patient is ready to be complete with their plan, then the final paperwork will be completed by both (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2015, pg 5).
The skill of collaboration, of the therapist and the assistant, is a skill I possess and am deeply fond of. I love knowing other people’s ideas on subjects; it opens my mind to ways maybe I didn’t see before. I am also a very creative person and try to come up with inventive solutions to problems, so working with others on a project is always a great experience for me. I always learn a new way of looking at something and can then apply that to another obstacle in the road later in my life. It truly fascinates me working with others and understanding another view