Promote the OT profession as a travel occupational therapist

Since April is Occupational Therapy month, travel therapy professionals have a great opportunity to share what their jobs mean to them and their patients. You are the engine in your job each day – what you do is important, the people you serve are important, so it’s high time to let people know about it. During this month, those in travel therapy jobs can act as ambassadors of their position.

The OT profession helps patients recover from major surgery, health problems – from lower pain back to tendonitis – and perform daily tasks in their lives. The message? Share with others how occupational therapy helps people live life to the fullest. You should be proud of what you do. Bear in mind that within our profession there are variations in how people define what we do, so you can refer to a list to help consolidate your information. When speaking with other professionals, the American Occupational Therapy Association recommends reminding them that OT serves many purposes:

  • It’s a science-driven, evidence-based profession.
  • Therapy helps people to get back to full health and functioning at their highest level.
  • The profession is customized to each patient, allowing a personable, hands-on and effective approach.
  • Travel careers are expected to grow during the coming years.

Getting back on your feet is what this job is all about. On a daily basis, healthcare staffing professionals interact with patients of all ages, problems and situations.

Here are four ways to promote your OT profession:

  1. Highlight some of your patients’ past successes and accomplishments. Everybody loves a come back story, and rehabilitating patients have them. So, with their permission, share the ups and downs of a couple of your patients who have made a full recovery. It’s inspirational and shows that the work you do really does matter.
  2. Hang posters in your office, clinic or hospital. Put these up in a high-traffic area, where patients and employees will see them, such as the foyer. The AOTA “Brand Toolbox” provides logos and suggestions for things you can do to boost awareness. Help spread the message!
  3. Share your expertise at local gatherings. If you have any group meetings or are attending a professional conference, tell your peers what occupational therapy is all about. Chances are they know someone who has needed physical rehabilitation – they might even have had it themselves.
  4. Let your friends on social media know. If you have an account, Facebook and Twitter can reach hundreds of people each day. Post statuses and links to interesting stories showing how OT helps professional athletes recover. In general, people gravitate to celebrity postings or compelling facts.

More than anything, occupational therapy focuses on goals. Making sure your patients understand what exercises to do, how often to do them and when to ask for assistance are all key steps in aiding him and her back to 100 percent. For many people, maintaining or rebuilding independence in some shape or form lies at the core of their rehabilitation.