Informational Interview of Occupational Therapist Deanna Fishel BY TONI FISHEL

Required Education  Deanna originally obtained a bachelors degree and has been grandfathered into the new regulations  Now you need a bachelors degree and an Entry level masters degree in occupational therapy.  Universities in NC with OT schools : ECU, UNC, Lenoir Rhyne, Winston Salem,

Typical Day at Work  8 am: goes to morning report and discusses how patients are doing with all the disciplines. (nurses, PA, therapists, Dr.s)  Bring the patients in individually to review their treatment plan with the team.  Goes out and assesses and documents all the new patients.  Creates treatment plans for all the new patients.  Does one or two group therapy sessions.

Negative Attributes to Career  Bureaucracy when working with a team of many different disciplines.  Heart breaking stories.  Living in a small city and having people you know or are close with as patients on the unit.  Seeing unsuccessful patients.  Being attacked by patients.

Positive Attributes to Career  Hands on work with patients.  Everyday is different with new people and new problems to solve.  Helping them learn new skills to live a successful life with their condition.  Positive patient outcomes.  Rewarding line of work.