Rehabilitation technology, or rehab tech, is an ever-evolving field that offers a variety of career paths for those who are looking to expand their knowledge and skills in the rehabilitative sciences. As technology continues to improve, so does the range of opportunities for those wanting to specialize in rehab tech. Rehab tech careers are becoming increasingly important in the healthcare field as the need for specialized professionals with an understanding of the medical, physical and psychological aspects of rehab continues to grow.
The rehabilitation technology field is a blend of traditional medical sciences, cutting-edge technology, and a compassionate understanding of the people they serve. Professionals in the field might provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and other rehabilitation services, in addition to utilizing a variety of technologies to address the needs of their clients. Rehab tech professionals not only provide clinical services, but also take on the challenge of designing and implementing new treatments and devices. This blog post will discuss the field of rehab tech,
What does a rehab tech do?
A rehabilitation technician assists physical therapists and patients by carrying out a wide range of tasks. Here are the important tasks they perform regularly:
Provide support to physical therapists
Physical therapists are assisted in treating patients by rehabilitation technologists. They usually perform the following tasks:
Perform administrative tasks
To ensure a successful rehabilitation process, rehabilitation technicians carry out the following clerical and administrative duties:
Maintain medical equipment
The following responsibilities are carried out by rehabilitation technicians to ensure safety and sanitization:
Perform patient care tasks
Additionally, rehab technicians assist patients in maintaining their health and regaining their independence. They perform the following patient care tasks:
What is a rehab tech?
Those with physical disabilities are treated by nurses and physical therapists with the assistance of rehab technicians. Through cutting-edge therapies and well-coordinated treatment plans, they strive to increase the patients’ functional capacity. Under the direction of doctors and certified rehabilitation specialists, rehab technicians typically work in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. They frequently work together with other nursing team members to assist patients in their healing.
Rehab tech skills
Rehabilitation technicians can effectively manage patient care and advance in their careers by possessing the necessary skills. The most important skills required for this profession include:
Physical therapy skills
Physical therapy is a crucial component of a rehab tech’s job. You must be skilled in a variety of physical therapy techniques, including joint mobilization, massage, and electrical stimulation. Understanding human anatomy and bodily functions is crucial because you might treat different body systems.
When providing rehabilitation services, having a solid grasp of human psychology, behavior, and lifespan development can be crucial. Employers may occasionally request that you specialize in certain fields, such as wound management, post-surgical therapies, sports injury management, and prosthetics and orthotics rehabilitation therapy.
First aid and emergency care skills
Rehabilitation technicians might need to carry out or support first aid and lifesaving procedures. For instance, when caring for a patient who has been injured, you might need to clean and bandage the wound or apply ice to reduce swelling. Similar to this, you might need to perform CPR on patients who are unconscious or have breathing problems. These types of first aid and emergency management abilities can help you save lives and deal with emergencies.
Patient care skills
Rehab techs provide care and support services to patients. They frequently offer advice and motivation to patients to speed up the healing process. This requires them to be compassionate and helpful. They must be able to relate to the patient’s situation and support them emotionally.
Administrative skills
Rehab technicians carry out a variety of administrative duties, such as organizing patient mobility within the facility and creating medical reports. Administrative skills, such as phone etiquette, relationship management, collaboration, organization, and planning, are crucial for them to have. They must be able to use a computer, especially for billing, keeping track of things, and producing reports.
Physical stamina
Rehab techs are often on their feet. They frequently walk, stand, stoop, and bend over to perform their duties. They may demonstrate exercises to patients. Physical therapy administration may entail massaging, stretching, and assisting patients with movement of various body parts. Physically taxing tasks include setting up medical equipment and managing patients’ mobility with wheelchairs and other assistive devices. Rehab technicians must therefore be physically fit and have sufficient strength and stamina to carry out their daily tasks.
Rehab tech salary and job outlook
Here are some typical queries about being a rehab tech and their responses:
What are the educational requirements to become a rehab tech?
To work as a rehab technician, you need a high school diploma or its equivalent. You might require medical licenses and familiarity with how an electronic medical record (EMR) application functions. Some employers might demand a physical therapy associate degree.
Whats the difference between a rehab tech and a nurse assistant?
Nurse assistants usually work in nursing homes. They carry out duties like bathing, dressing, serving meals, taking vital signs, and keeping an eye on the health of patients who are residents. Rehab technicians typically work in rehabilitation facilities and specialize in physical rehabilitation. They focus their patient care duties on achieving therapeutic goals.
What are the alternative career paths to rehab tech?
Occupational therapy assistant and psychiatric assistant are two popular alternatives to rehabilitation technology. The duties of an occupational therapy assistant are focused on assisting patients in maintaining their independence. A psychiatric aide works toward the mental rehabilitation of patients.
Sheryl’s Career as a Rehab Tech
FAQ
Is a rehab tech the same as a PT Tech?
Rehab technicians provide assistance to physical therapists. They gather patient data, manage patient transportation, and carry out physical therapy under supervision. They might be employed by hospitals, rehab centers, and other healthcare facilities.
Do rehab techs wear scrubs?
Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) and rehabilitation technicians both perform similar duties. Working with physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and other therapists involved in patient rehabilitation is possible as a “rehab tech,” which is a more general term.
What is the role of the rehabilitation therapy technician in cardiovascular rehabilitation treatments?
Physical Therapy Technicians typically dress in scrubs, just like the majority of medical and healthcare professionals. Scrubs are comfortable, loose-fitting cotton shirts and pants that are frequently provided by the technician’s workplace.
