Travel workers have long been an essential part of the healthcare system, providing temporary staffing solutions to medical facilities across the country. These professionals include travel nurses, therapists, physicians, and allied health workers, who often travel from city to city or state to state to fill staffing gaps in hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. In many cases, travel workers are called upon to work in areas experiencing a surge in demand for medical services. Many people don’t realize it, but there are also roles for occupational therapists in the travel healthcare world. If you want to learn more, keep reading for a basic guide on travel occupational therapy.
What is travel occupational therapy?
Travel occupational therapy is a specialized field that involves providing rehabilitation services in areas where healthcare workers are needed. Generally, occupational therapists are trained healthcare professionals who work to enable patients to return to performing daily activities following an illness or injury or to help those with disabilities attain or maintain independence in their lives. It’s easier than ever to find travel occupational therapist jobs due to the emergence of staffing and recruitment agencies geared toward healthcare travelers.
The primary duties of travel OTs include evaluating patients’ physical capabilities through assessment tests and developing individualized treatment plans that are tailored specifically to each patient’s needs. They will also provide direct intervention such as therapeutic activities designed to improve the functioning and quality of life for their clients. Furthermore, they may collaborate with physicians or other involved parties like family members or employers to ensure treatments are effective and appropriate based on current best practices standards set forth by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
In order to qualify for these types of positions applicants must possess a master’s degree in occupational therapy along with valid licensure and certification required to be active status in all states where services will be provided. You should also have at least one year of experience post-graduation, but this is not always mandatory.
Why should you consider a career as a travel occupational therapist?
If you’re an occupational therapist looking for new opportunities, you should consider working as a healthcare traveler. As an occupational therapist traveler, you’ll be able to work in a variety of settings while experiencing new places, meeting new people, and expanding your skill set. One of the biggest advantages of working as a healthcare traveler in occupational therapy is the flexibility it offers. You can choose assignments that work around your schedule and preferences, allowing you to maintain a work-life balance while also gaining valuable experience in your field.
Beyond the flexibility and opportunity to gain new skills, working as a healthcare traveler in occupational therapy also provides competitive compensation packages that include housing, travel expenses, healthcare benefits, and retirement plans. You may even be able to make more than an OT in a traditional full-time position. You’ll also have the chance to work with different patient populations and use different techniques, which can help you grow as a therapist and ensure that you have comprehensive and well-rounded experience.
Overall, travel occupational therapy offers a unique opportunity for experienced OTs to expand their skills, explore different places, and gain valuable experience in new settings. It is an excellent way for OTs to develop personally and professionally, while also providing an effective and vital service to patients in need. There are many benefits associated with travel work, from professional advancement to improved work-life balance, which makes these jobs attractive to aspiring and current occupational therapists. If you follow the advice in this article, then you’ll be well on your way to a thriving career as a travel OT.
