Accurate records are essential for evaluating clients, billing, and reporting to physicians and others. Those in schools may also participate in meetings and other activities, during and after the school day. In large rehabilitation centers, therapists may work in spacious rooms equipped with machines, tools, and other devices generating noise. The job can be tiring, because therapists are on their feet much of the time. Those providing home health care may spend several hours a day driving from appointment to appointment.
Therapists also face hazards, such as backstrain from lifting and moving clients and equipment.
Therapists are increasingly taking on supervisory roles. By having assistants and aides work more closely with clients under the guidance of a therapist, the cost of therapy should be more modest. The largest number of jobs was in hospitals, including many in rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals. Other major employers include offices and clinics of occupational therapists and other health practitioners, school systems, home health care services, nursing homes, community mental health centers, adult day care programs, job training services, and residential care facilities. A small number of occupational therapists are in private practice.