What is occupational medicine?
Occupational medicine is a type of medicine that deals with the prevention, treatment, and resolution of injuries and illnesses that are job or workplace related. Physicians trained in occupational medicine can be more skilled than regular physicians in this area as they are knowledgeable and up to date on current workforce safety guidelines like Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) and can make the best treatment plans accordingly. These physicians often work in concert with employers to keep employees safe and healthy.
What is a pediatric occupational therapist?
A pediatric occupational therapist deals primarily with children. They provide therapies to children who may have a variety of needs , including learning disabilities, sensory issues, physical trauma or disabilities, difficulty with fine-motor skills, and social issues. They help the child by treating their limitations or disability, while fostering increased self-esteem through treatments leading to growth and development. Some pediatric OTs work within school districts, and their costs are usually covered through the district.
How much does it cost to see an occupational therapist?
The cost to see an occupational therapist (OT) will depend on several factors. Since most bill on an hourly basis, an initial consultation can run you from $100 to $250. Once you begin seeing an OT, you will be billed based on that hourly rate. The types of service needed, and things like travel and other specialty services can factor into costs. Insurance can offset a lot of these costs, so consult your policy or insurance provider for specifics on your coverage range and out-of-pocket costs.
What types of conditions do occupational therapists treat?
Occupational therapists work with people who have a variety of conditions, including work-related injuries, amputees and people with prosthetics, stroke and heart attack victims, head injury victims, burns and spinal cord trauma. They can treat most major physical trauma victims (note - they are not physical therapists) and those with permanent disabilities. They also work with people with mental health issues. It is not just for adults, but also for kids needing to improve their cognitive, physical, sensory, and/or fine motor skills. It is a common therapy to elevate and improve self-esteem for many kids who have these issues.
What is an occupational therapist?
An occupational therapist works with individuals of all ages who require specialized assistance in order to lead productive and satisfying lives. These individuals might suffer from emotional, physical, social, or developmental issues.
Do medical centers provide specialty care?
Academic medical centers provide the widest range of specialty care treatments, including the latest technological advances, clinical trials, and surgical techniques. In general, an academic medical center is a better choice than a community hospital for complicated treatments or rare diseases. Pediatric intensive care, especially, is usually performed at academic medical centers.
What are the types of specialists found at academic medical centers?
Academic medical centers offer a broad range of specialized services, from allergists to urologists. Some of the larger medical centers have entire hospitals or clinics focused on a particular medical service, such as cancer treatment, though specialties vary among the centers. Patients whose community hospital or local doctors do not have the facilities or expertise to address complex medical conditions can be referred by their primary care physician or local specialist to a major medical center (there are more than a dozen in the United States).
Do medical centers offer outpatient services?
Yes. In addition to their inpatient hospital services, medical centers can offer a wide variety of outpatient services, such as pain clinics, rehabilitation centers, surgery, imaging and laboratory, mental health treatment, and outpatient cancer treatment. Medical groups – doctors in private practice but affiliated with the medical center--will also have offices within the medical center.
What types of medical professionals usually staff a medical center?
Physicians, nurses, physician’s assistants, residents, and attending physicians makeup the clinical staff of an academic medical center.
Do medical centers need accreditation?
Medical center accreditation is not required, but most centers work voluntarily toward accreditation because it represents higher standards of healthcare quality and patient safety.