Study by OT and PT faculty predicts shortages of professionals in both fields

Gail Fisher and Mary Keehn, clinical associate professors in occupational therapy and physical therapy, respectively, have concluded an important research study (.pdf) examining recent employment trends and the future job outlook for occupational and physical therapists. Their critical finding is that increased demand and a reduced number of new graduates in the fields have resulted in shortages in all geographic regions and practice settings. They also found that future opportunities for OTs and PTs will be focused on older adults, children/youth, and prevention and wellness.

American Occupational Therapy Association lobbyists cited the study extensively in recent testimony to Congress on future healthcare workforce needs.

“We are looking everywhere for new practitioners to help us keep up with demand,” says Penny Moyers Cleveland, president of the AOTA.

With this study as an informative first step, Fisher notes, “More research is needed to learn about how the shortage affects patient/client outcomes, why some job areas are growing and others are shrinking, and how to expand the number of qualified practitioners.”

Fisher and Keehn designed and implemented the study as faculty in the Midwest Center for Health Workforce Studies, a grant-funded center (with additional funding from Dean Toby Tate) aiming to improve health workforce policy and planning in the region.

The study was highlighted in a news story distributed by PR Newswire and run by Reuters, Yahoo! News and Forbes.com, among other outlets.