Practice Settings

Inpatient Acute Care: Therapists in inpatient acute care settings work as part of a multidisciplinary medical team that includes a variety of medical specialties to address the needs of medically unstable clients. Length of stay for clients is typically 1 day to 2 weeks and occupational therapy is generally offered 3 to 7 days per week. Common diagnoses include new medical conditions, post-operative conditions, and exacerbations of old conditions.

Inpatient Rehab: Therapists in inpatient rehab settings work as part of a multidisciplinary team, but the overall team is typically smaller than the team in an inpatient acute care setting because clients must be medically stable. Length of stay for clients is generally weeks with occupational therapy provided daily and the combination of therapy services (OT/PT/SLP) lasting a total of 3 hours per day, meaning that clients must have been actively participating in therapy services in the acute hospital to be eligible for inpatient rehab. Common diagnoses include medically stable new and exacerbated medical conditions and post-operative conditions.

Therapists who work in the school setting participate in Individualized Education Progam teams to address the academically related needs of children within the school setting. Depending on the school district, occupational therapists may cover multiple schools within the district. Diagnoses vary widely.

Subacute Inpatient Rehab: Therapists who work in subacute inpatient rehab work similarly to those in hospital inpatient rehab settings, but the clients generally tolerate less therapy and have longer stays due to increased recovery time. Length of stay for clients is often weeks to months with therapy daily to weekly. Common diagnoses include medically stable new and exacerbated medical conditions and post-operative conditions.

Long Term: Clients who are unable to return home following a subacute inpatient rehab stay often revert to long term care. Therapists who work in this setting typically provide occupational therapy services on a periodic or as needed basis to assist clients in maintaining independence. Length of stay for clients is often months to years. Diagnoses vary widely.

Therapists in outpatient clinics treat clients who are living in the community and able to travel to an outpatient clinic for therapy services. The duration of services is weeks to months with therapy typically provided at least once per week. Diagnoses vary widely.

Therapists in academia use their occupational therapy skills in instructing students rather than in providing occupational therapy services to patients, though some will continue to see patients on the side or as a component of academic instruction to maintain clinical skills. Most schools require that instructors possess at least at master’s decree but preferably a doctorate to be eligible to teach in an occupational therapy program.

Therapists in home health treat community dwelling clients within their own home environment. Clients are typically more independent than those in a hospital inpatient rehab or subacute inpatient rehab setting but are homebound to a degree that precludes them from accessing outpatient therapy services. The duration of services is typically weeks to months, and diagnoses vary widely.

Therapists in early intervention treat young clients from birth to at least 3 years of age, sometimes older. Services are provided by a team of the appropriate early intervention service providers and are outlined in an Individualized Family Services Plan. Common diagnoses are those that have caused or can cause a developmental delay.

Therapists working in mental health can work in a variety of settings from mental hospitals and institutions to community-based settings. Diagnoses can vary widely and occupational therapists working in mental health settings may also be called upon to address the physical, as well as mental health, needs of their clients.