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AFSC 42T4 Staff
AFSC 42T3 Qualified
AFSC 42T1 Entry

Specialty Summary. Analyzes, plans, determines, and provides for individual client referred, therapeutic activities directed toward prevention of disability, promotion and maintenance of health, or for habitation and rehabilitation of physical or psychosocial dysfunction. Manages administrative, educational, and research functions in support of this program. Related DoD Occupational Group: 6H.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Manages occupational therapy. Formulates and implements policies and procedures for occupational therapy programs. Implements and provides the most effective occupational therapy programs for the type of referrals received and patient population needs. Performs evaluation procedures, gives therapeutic guidance and instruction, and reports patient responses and progress. Implements clinical research activities. Determines requirements for occupational therapy personnel, equipment, and supplies. Prepares records and reports, and performs record audits. Confers with medical staff and hospital administrative personnel on occupational therapy matters. Maintains liaison with allied civilian professional agencies.

Determines type and extent, and provides occupational therapy. Using information from referrals of medical officers and medical records, conducts patient interviews. Evaluates the specific activity needs of the patient through clinical observation and performance tests to determine current physical and behavioral status. Establishes realistic goals of time, method of performance, skill level, and duration of treatment. Directs patient into a specific creative opportunity, challenging task, work related activity, or competitive outlet. Establishes the appropriate relationship to provide best therapeutic environment to motivate the patient into more normal thought patterns, behavior, and performance. Gives therapeutic guidance and instruction. Adapts instructional methods appropriate to the maturation, physical condition, behavioral responses, and intellectual capabilities of the individual patient. Designs, constructs, and provides temporary or permanent adapted equipment or orthotic device needed to elicit best functional patterns of motion or to substitute for patient’s incapacity. Instructs the patient in functional techniques and use of this equipment. Monitors, controls, and guides the patient into graded activities according to patient’s changing abilities and disabilities. Extends these programs into the patient’s home when appropriate and instructs the spouse and other appropriate individuals in the patient’s assets for social and economic independence and supporting community resources. Observes the patient’s physical performance, behavioral responses, and emotional attitude. Reports to referring physician during specialty clinics, rounds, and team meetings any significant information that would aid in diagnostic, therapeutic, or prognostic determination.

Reports and documents findings. Observes the patient’s physical performance, behavioral responses, and emotional attitude relative to the goals of treatment. Reports to the referring agent and documents in the medical record all significant information that would contribute to diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic determinations. Assures documentation is consistent with accepted standards of occupational therapy practice.

Serves in a teaching and advisory capacity. Provides continuing education and technical training for occupational therapy personnel. Orients physician staff members and other associated health care professionals to the patient services provided through the specialty of occupational therapy. Promotes the profession of occupational therapy in cooperation with other allied health specialties, the local community, and educational and professional institutions. Evaluates effectiveness of the occupational therapy program and the technical proficiency of assigned personnel; implements changes to improve services. Advises the local commander and the associate chief of the Biomedical Science Corps on long range planning and needs for program development in support of occupational therapy services.

Specialty Qualifications:

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: occupational therapy standards of practice, applied therapeutic modalities, and program management.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of an accredited course in occupational therapy acceptable to the Surgeon General, HQ USAF, is mandatory.

Training. None.

Experience. For award of AFSC 42T3, a minimum of 24 months of supervised clinical experience in an occupational therapy assignment is mandatory.

Other. None.

Specialty Shredouts:

None

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Above Information Derived from AFMAN 36-2105