Occupational therapists are professionals who work with a wide range of clients to help them fully participate in everyday activities. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapists rely on strategic interventions to help clients accomplish their goals, which may include participating more fully in daily life, obtaining a skilled job, volunteering with an organization, or attending school.
The intense demand for occupational therapy services has led to significant growth in this field, and those interested in pursuing a career in occupational therapy will want to monitor the future trends that will shape the occupational therapy field.
Trends in Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy focuses primarily on helping all individuals—regardless of age, background, or ability—live a meaningful and productive life. The goal of occupational therapy treatment services is to allow an individual to achieve a healthy lifestyle and enjoy activities that support their physical and emotional well-being.
Societal changes, technological advancements, and healthcare policies continue to shape the occupational therapy treatment services that are offered and the availability of those services. By staying aware of emerging trends in occupational therapy, you can develop the future-forward skills required to succeed in this growing field.
Current Trends in Occupational Therapy
Below are the trends that define modern occupational therapy practice:
- Telehealth Care Services and Remote Monitoring – Technological advances have increased the availability of telehealth care services, which has allowed more patients than ever to access occupational therapy treatment services. Through telehealth services, occupational therapists are able to provide a wide range of services, such as personalized home exercise routines or home safety evaluations. Ultimately, telehealth services have streamlined communication between the therapist and patient, allowing both to connect more easily and frequently than through regular, in-person visits.
- Personalized Care – Rather than trying to implement a one-size-fits-all approach to occupational therapy, today’s therapists are working to create customized plans based on the patient’s individual needs and preferences. Most occupational therapists take a collaborative approach, in which they engage the patient and seek their feedback as they create a treatment plan.
- Wearable Tech – Wearable technology, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, were once trendy fashion items. Today, however, they play a critical role in the field of occupational therapy, as these devices allow occupational therapists to collect pivotal data from their clients and create customized treatment plans. These devices can be used to monitor key health indicators like blood pressure, heart rate, or sleep quality. By providing occupational therapists with accurate and actionable data, occupational therapists are able to rely on accurate metrics in order to implement personalized and timely interventions.
- Nanotechnology – Nanotechnology has the power to track micro-movements in the human body, such as brain function and eye movement. This data is incredibly important for occupational therapists, and this technology can help streamline the evaluation process and aid in the development of comprehensive, personalized treatment plans.
- Covering New Territories – While once considered a niche field, occupational therapy is expanding into new territories. In addition to helping patients working to live healthy, fulfilling, and productive lives, occupational therapists are working with clients who have been diagnosed with diabetes, chronic illnesses, childhood obesity, and more. This broad scope of practice emphasizes the importance of the occupational therapy field in the modern world.
Emerging Trends in Occupational Therapy
Along with current trends shaping the occupational therapy landscape, these emerging trends are changing daily life in this field:
- Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) – Virtual and augmented reality technologies are taking nearly every industry by storm, as advances in this technology have made it more accessible and useful in daily life. Within the field of occupational therapy, VR and AR technology are proving to be incredibly powerful. Some occupational therapists are leveraging this technology to work with children with ASD learning how to navigate social situations and improve their communication skills, while others use it to help stroke survivors rehabilitate and learn to complete daily tasks once again. Simulated therapy sessions can be created thanks to the immersive and interactive environments VR and AR technology facilitate.
- Sensory Integration – Sensory integration is an occupational approach gaining traction due to its unique ability to improve motor development, movement skills, and attention spans in children with cerebral palsy.
- Interprofessional Collaborative Practice – Occupational therapists are beginning to see the benefits of collaborative practice. By partnering with other healthcare professionals who are part of the patient’s overall care team, occupational therapists can play an active role in a patient’s life and ensure they receive the comprehensive, holistic treatment they deserve.
Future AI Trends in Occupational Therapy
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is perhaps the most significant new technology of the modern era, and it’s undoubtedly going to influence the field of occupational therapy. AI integration is showing promise when it comes to improving patient care and overall outcomes:
- Enhanced Patient Assessments with Predictive Analytics – Patient evaluations and assessments are sometimes the most exhausting and cumbersome tasks for occupational therapists, as they require more time completing paperwork than working directly with clients. Thanks to advancements in AI technology, algorithms can help streamline the process while simultaneously improving the precision of evaluations and assessments. AI algorithms can analyze patient data to predict outcomes, identify patterns, or identify risk factors—which can help occupational therapists intervene as swiftly as possible.
- Personalized Therapeutic Interventions – AI technology can also help occupational therapists create more personalized therapeutic interventions. For example, AI algorithms can analyze data to create a customized rehabilitation plan for an individual patient based on their specific circumstances.
- AI-Powered Rehabilitation Devices – The future has truly arrived with the introduction of robotics devices equipped with AI and capable of assisting patients who need help with daily tasks. Many of these intuitive robots can adapt to the needs of the individual patient, offering the assistance they need to live as independently as possible.
- Cognitive Training Tools – AI-powered cognitive training tools provide patients with cognitive exercises based on their personal needs that can help them improve memory, increase attention span, or enhance their executive function.
- Accessibility and Assistive Technologies – AI technology is continually improving many of the smart devices and technologies occupational therapy patients use each day, such as voice-activated systems or adaptive equipment.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Documentation – Advancements in AI are improving tools such as Natural Language Processing (NLP), which allows occupational therapists to improve documentation and transcription of spoken conversations to increase their overall efficiency at work each day.
The Future of the OT Workforce
While AI technology is rapidly changing the landscape of the occupational therapy field, occupational therapists do not have to worry that they will be replaced by intuitive robots anytime soon. However, this technology will continue to transform the OT workforce in various ways:
- Collaboration with AI Systems – Occupational therapists have long been accustomed to working with the latest technology in order to improve their practice and provide patients with the best results. The same will be true with AI systems, as OT professionals will need to learn to integrate these technologies into their practice. By utilizing AI-generated insights, occupational therapists will be able to create personalized and precise treatment plans as well as analyze results in real time.
- New Roles and Responsibilities – As the world begins adapting to the AI era, occupational therapists may find that new roles will emerge within the industry, such as management positions that oversee AI systems or training positions that help occupational therapists learn how to leverage AI technology within their practice.
- Ethical Considerations – While AI technology is clearly capable of redefining a number of the most mundane tasks within the occupational therapy field, it’s crucial to keep ethical considerations in mind, such as data privacy and algorithm bias. Ultimately, occupational therapists must learn how to operate this technology in a way that prioritizes patient safety and well-being without compromising the integrity of their relationships with patients.
Future Opportunities for Inclusion of AI in OT Education
It is evident that AI technology is here to stay; as a result, occupational therapy degree programs will be modified to include AI-related subjects. By covering topics related to AI and providing students with the training they need to use the most powerful AI assessment tools effectively, colleges and universities can prepare their students for the changing dynamics of this field. Additionally, these future-forward curriculum programs can help graduates remain competitive in a field comprising many qualified candidates.
Earn Your Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy at Baker
Focusing on targeted, future-forward skills in occupational therapy, the master’s degree in occupational therapy offered at Baker College uniquely prepares students for this dynamic, growing field. One of the most common questions we receive is, “How long is the occupational therapy program?” Our occupational therapy degree is a full-time program that is typically completed within two years.Request more information about our occupational therapy degree today.