20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually start by reviewing your schedule and patient notes in the clinic’s EHR (examples: eClinicalWorks, Bizmatics PrognoCIS). Then you travel to patients’ homes to assess physical, psychological, and social functioning and to teach adaptive equipment like grab bars or dressing aids.
Visits include creating or revising measurable treatment plans, documenting progress in the EHR or FileMaker Pro, coordinating with nurses or family, and sometimes doing brief research or writing reports in Microsoft Word or Excel.
Expect to use an electronic health record (EHR) to document visits — common ones here are eClinicalWorks, Bizmatics PrognoCIS, Casamba Smart, or FileMaker Pro databases. You’ll also use Microsoft Word for reports and Excel for tracking outcomes or schedules.
For cognitive work with clients you might use Crick Software Clicker 4 or other therapeutic computer programs. You may also use Facebook or simple messaging for patient reminders or group education, following privacy rules.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports there were 162,450 employed occupational therapists and gives a median pay of $100,330 per year. The lowest 10% earned about $71,690 and the top 10% about $131,950. These are national figures and don’t include local differences or benefits.
Home‑based work can shift pay if you’re per‑visit, travel reimbursed, or working through an agency versus salaried with a health system. Check local job listings for exact offers.
You need a master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy and to pass your state licensure exam. During school seek fieldwork placements in home health or community settings to learn home assessments and adaptive equipment training.
Practice using EHRs (eClinicalWorks, Casamba), learn to write measurable treatment plans and documentation in Word/Excel, and get comfortable with basic assistive tech and cognitive programs like Clicker 4.
Both visit patients and aim to improve function, but occupational therapists focus on daily activities: dressing, cooking, work or school participation, cognitive skills, and social participation. Physical therapists focus more on strength, range of motion, and mobility.
At home you’ll spend more time teaching adaptive equipment, creating occupation‑based treatment plans, and using tools like Clicker 4 for memory or sequencing tasks. Documentation systems overlap (EHRs, Word, Excel), but the goals and interventions differ.
You can use AI to draft notes or summarize sessions, but never rely on it for clinical decisions. Always verify any treatment plan AI suggests against clinical standards, your assessment, and measurable goals before putting it in the record (EHR or FileMaker Pro).
Don’t upload identifiable patient data into public AI tools. If your employer offers an approved, secure AI within the EHR, follow their policies and keep final clinical judgement and documentation under your control.
Practical problem‑solving: you must quickly assess a real home environment and design simple, measurable interventions—like modifying a bathroom or teaching using adaptive equipment—that actually fit the client’s daily life.
You also need clear documentation skills (using eClinicalWorks, Casamba, Word/Excel), basic tech comfort with therapeutic software (Clicker 4) and teamwork—communicating outcomes to nurses, families, and policy makers when needed.