Hands On!

There are many different jobs in the field of Health care. Within the health care field are physical therapy jobs. One of the more specialized jobs is being a Hand Therapist. A Hand Therapist rehabilitates a patient’s upper extremities that have become impaired. This can happen through an injury or a physical disability. Some of the injuries or chronic problems that are treated by a hand Therapist are the following:

*Arthritis

*Carpal Tunnel syndrome and other nerve compressions

*Fractures or dislocations

*Ligament injuries or repairs

*Sprains and strains

*Tendon injuries, repairs or grafts

*Tendon transfers

*Traumatic injuries

A Hand Therapist would do a typical evaluation that would be an assessment of range of motion, coordination, strength, edema, skin/wound conditions, sensation and functions in daily living activities such as work, self care and leisure activities. The treatment for such conditions and injuries could be any or all of the following: exercise, therapeutic treatments (heat, ultrasound, etc), customized splinting, adaptive techniques and devices and/or management of pain and swelling.

So what type of training requirements would you need for this type of job? Well, a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy is the minimum requirement but a master’s is preferred. Most employers would want at least one year of experience, a valid driver’s license, and CPR certification. If you have experience with hand, splinting and wound care experience that would put you higher on the employment scale. Occupational and physical therapists, including hand therapist, must earn state licensure. Employers also look for job candidates that have worked in schools, hospitals, or private physical therapy practices. Some hospitals and medical centers also offer postgraduate fellowship in hand therapy. To remain competitive in this field, a hand therapist may consider specializing in pediatrics, mental health or gerontology.

What about certification? Educational programs for hand therapist are available as fellowships that can be finished within one year. You do have to be a graduate of an accredited physical or occupational therapy program and be licensed to practice in your state. The purpose of the fellowship program is to help occupational or physical therapist specialize in rehabilitation of the upper quarter of the arm. Through a fellowship, your education will be divided between patient care and academic experience. Specific coursework in treatment planning, upper extremity disorders, surgical; recovery, biomechanics and splinting are usually covered. You may also participate in surgical observations and could be expected to complete projects or presentations on special topics in hand therapy. In order to become certified through the Hand Therapist certification Commission, you need 5 years of on-the-job hand therapy experience. You will also need 4,000 documented hours of on the job hand therapy. Cerification is valid for 5 years and requires continuing education courses to recertify.

So if this is a field you’re interested in or you’re already an occupational or physical therapist, the jobs are out there. It will give you a true hands on experience.

By Linda Lee Ruzicka

Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 8 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She also does freelances work for Beyond and Healthcarejobsite. You can read more of her blogs on Healthcarejobsite blog.