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Occupational Therapists
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Occupational Therapists
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Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that help restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to disabled persons.
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Degrees
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Abilities
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Problem Sensitivity| | The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. |
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Inductive Reasoning| | The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). |
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Oral Expression| | The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
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Deductive Reasoning| | The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
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Oral Comprehension| | The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
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Written Comprehension| | The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
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Information Ordering| | The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
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Speech Recognition| | The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
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Written Expression| | The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |
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Near Vision| | The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
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Originality| | The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. |
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Speech Clarity| | The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
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Category Flexibility| | The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. |
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Speed of Closure| | The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns. |
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Fluency of Ideas| | The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity). |
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Flexibility of Closure| | The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. |
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Time Sharing| | The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources). |
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Visualization| | The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged. |
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Far Vision| | The ability to see details at a distance. |
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Selective Attention| | The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. |
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Finger Dexterity| | The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects. |
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Memorization| | The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures. |
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Perceptual Speed| | The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object. |
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Trunk Strength| | The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing. |
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Manual Dexterity| | The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. |
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Arm-Hand Steadiness| | The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. |
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Visual Color Discrimination| | The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness. |
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Multilimb Coordination| | The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion. |
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Mathematical Reasoning| | The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem. |
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Extent Flexibility| | The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs. |
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Hearing Sensitivity| | The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness. |
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Number Facility| | The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly. |
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Auditory Attention| | The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds. |
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Control Precision| | The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. |
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Depth Perception| | The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object. |
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Static Strength| | The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects. |
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Gross Body Coordination| | The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion. |
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Dynamic Strength| | The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue. |
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Stamina| | The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath. |
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Gross Body Equilibrium| | The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position. |
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Spatial Orientation| | The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you. |
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Interests
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Social| | Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others. |
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Realistic| | Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. |
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Investigative| | Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally. |
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Artistic| | Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules. |
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First Interest High-Point| | Primary-Rank Descriptiveness |
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Conventional| | Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow. |
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Enterprising| | Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business. |
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Second Interest High-Point| | Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness |
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Knowledge
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Therapy and Counseling| | Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. |
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Psychology| | Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. |
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Customer and Personal Service| | Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
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Education and Training| | Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
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English Language| | Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
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Medicine and Dentistry| | Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. |
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Computers and Electronics| | Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
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Sociology and Anthropology| | Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins. |
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Sales and Marketing| | Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems. |
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Biology| | Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. |
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Clerical| | Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology. |
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Philosophy and Theology| | Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture. |
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Communications and Media| | Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. |
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Administration and Management| | Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
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Public Safety and Security| | Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. |
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Law and Government| | Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. |
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Mathematics| | Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
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Engineering and Technology| | Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. |
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Physics| | Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes. |
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Personnel and Human Resources| | Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems. |
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Design| | Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. |
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Transportation| | Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits. |
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Chemistry| | Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods. |
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Mechanical| | Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. |
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Production and Processing| | Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
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Foreign Language| | Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation. |
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Telecommunications| | Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems. |
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Geography| | Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life. |
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Building and Construction| | Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads. |
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Economics and Accounting| | Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data. |
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History and Archeology| | Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures. |
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Fine Arts| | Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture. |
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Food Production| | Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques. |
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Wages
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| District of Columbia | $45,470.00 |
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| North Carolina | $58,360.00 |
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| South Carolina | $56,130.00 |
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Related Careers
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Directors, Religious Activities & Education| | Direct and coordinate activities of a denominational group to meet religious needs of students. Plan, direct, or coordinate church school programs designed to promote religious education among church membership. May provide counseling and guidance relative to marital, health, financial, and religious problems. |
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Physical Therapists| | Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and decrease or prevent deformity of patients suffering from disease or injury. |
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Recreational Therapists| | Plan, direct, or coordinate medically-approved recreation programs for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions. Activities include sports, trips, dramatics, social activities, and arts and crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity. |
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Social & Human Service Assistants| | Assist professionals from a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, to provide client services, as well as support for families. May assist clients in identifying available benefits and social and community services and help clients obtain them. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or adult daycare. |
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Skills
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Social Perceptiveness| | Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
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Reading Comprehension| | Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. |
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Service Orientation| | Actively looking for ways to help people. |
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Coordination| | Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
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Active Learning| | Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
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Active Listening| | Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
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Critical Thinking| | Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
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Writing| | Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
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Monitoring| | Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
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Learning Strategies| | Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. |
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Instructing| | Teaching others how to do something. |
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Speaking| | Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
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Time Management| | Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
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Judgment and Decision Making| | Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
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Complex Problem Solving| | Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
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Persuasion| | Persuading others to change their minds or behavior. |
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Science| | Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. |
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Equipment Selection| | Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job. |
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Technology Design| | Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs. |
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Negotiation| | Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences. |
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Mathematics| | Using mathematics to solve problems. |
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Quality Control Analysis| | Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. |
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Systems Evaluation| | Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. |
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Operations Analysis| | Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design. |
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Management of Personnel Resources| | Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. |
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Management of Financial Resources| | Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures. |
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Troubleshooting| | Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it. |
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Management of Material Resources| | Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work. |
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Operation and Control| | Controlling operations of equipment or systems. |
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Equipment Maintenance| | Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed. |
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Repairing| | Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools. |
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Systems Analysis| | Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. |
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Operation Monitoring| | Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
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Installation| | Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications. |
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Programming| | Writing computer programs for various purposes. |
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Tasks
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| Complete and maintain necessary records. |
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| Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress. |
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| Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients. |
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| Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental and physical capabilities. |
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| Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate those impaired because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems. |
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| Recommend changes in patients' work or living environments, consistent with their needs and capabilities. |
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| Consult with rehabilitation team to select activity programs and coordinate occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities. |
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| Help clients improve decision making, abstract reasoning, memory, sequencing, coordination and perceptual skills, using computer programs. |
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| Develop and participate in health promotion programs, group activities, or discussions to promote client health, facilitate social adjustment, alleviate stress, and prevent physical or mental disability. |
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| Provide training and supervision in therapy techniques and objectives for students and nurses and other medical staff. |
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| Design and create, or requisition, special supplies and equipment, such as splints, braces and computer-aided adaptive equipment. |
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| Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work and school skills and adjust to handicaps. |
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| Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions. |
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| Advise on health risks in the workplace and on health-related transition to retirement. |
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| Conduct research in occupational therapy. |
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| Provide patients with assistance in locating and holding jobs. |
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Tools
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| Adaptive communication switches for the physically challenged |
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| Computer switch interfaces |
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| Switch use tools |
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| Wobble switches |
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| Braille devices for the physically challenged |
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| Braille printers |
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| Computer mouse or trackballs |
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| Trackballs |
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| Cutlery or utensils for the physically challenged |
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| Adaptive cutlery |
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| Domestic electric knives |
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| Electric knives |
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| Domestic sewing machines |
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| Sewing machines |
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| Electronic blood pressure units |
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| Files |
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| Gait belts for rehabilitation or therapy |
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| Gait and transfer belts |
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| Game pads or joy sticks |
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| Joysticks |
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| Goniometers |
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| Hand held camcorders or video cameras |
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| Video cameras |
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| Hand looms |
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| Looms |
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| Headpointers or mouthsticks for the physically challenged |
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| Tongue switches |
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| Keyboards |
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| Alternative computer keyboards |
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| Lathes |
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| Mechanical stethoscopes or accessories |
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| Stethoscopes |
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| Mercury blood pressure units |
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| Manual blood pressure cuffs |
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| Notebook computers |
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| Laptop computers |
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| Orthopedic splint systems |
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| Splints |
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| Orthotics or foot care products |
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| Orthotics |
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| Patient care beds or accessories for general use |
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| Adjustable beds |
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| Patient ceiling hoists |
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| Hoists |
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| Patient lifts or accessories |
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| Lift chairs |
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| Patient scooters |
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| Scooters |
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| Personal computers |
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| Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers |
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| Personal digital assistant PDAs |
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| Power drills |
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| Drills |
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| Power sanders |
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| Sanders |
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| Pulleys or accessories for rehabilitation or therapy |
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| Pulleys |
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| Resistive exercise bands or putty or tubing or accessories for rehabilitation or therapy |
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| Therabands |
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| Saws |
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| Scanners |
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| Portable notetaking devices/scanning pens |
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| Soldering irons or guns |
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| Soldering irons |
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| Therapeutic balls or accessories |
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| Exercise balls |
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| Touch pads |
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| Trackpads |
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| Vascular or compression apparel or supports |
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| Pressure care garments |
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| Visual presenters |
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| Video magnifiers |
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| Voice synthesizers for the physically challenged |
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| Voice output communication aids |
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| Walkers or rollators |
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| Wheeled walkers |
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| Weights or sets or accessories for rehabilitation or therapy |
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| Weights |
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| Wheelchairs |
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| Electric wheelchairs |
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| Workshop presses |
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| Drill presses |
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Technology
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| Accounting software |
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| BillingTracker software |
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| Computer based training software |
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| Language arts educational software |
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| Math educational software |
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| Physical education educational software |
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| Science educational software |
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| Social studies educational software |
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| Special education educational software |
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| Data base user interface and query software |
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| FileMaker Pro |
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| Lexrotech LxPediatric |
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| Rehab Documentation Company ReDoc |
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| Device drivers or system software |
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| Screen magnification software |
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| Screen reader software |
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| Electronic mail software |
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| Graphics or photo imaging software |
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| Boardmaker Software |
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| Computer drawing software |
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| Internet browser software |
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| Synapse Adaptive Connect Outloud |
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| Music or sound editing software |
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| Music software |
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| Optical character reader OCR or scanning software |
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| Duxbury Braille Translator |
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| Text scanning software |
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| Pattern design software |
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| Tactile graphic production kits software |
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| Spreadsheet software |
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| Voice recognition software |
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| Speech recognition software |
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| Word processing software |
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| Crick Software Clicker 4 |
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| OpenOffice WRITER |
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Career Activities
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| Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge |
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| follow dental or medical office procedures |
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| follow patient care procedures |
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| use clinical problem solving techniques |
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| use interpersonal communication techniques |
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| use knowledge of medical terminology |
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| use sanitation practices in health care settings |
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| Assisting and Caring for Others |
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| evaluate patient's skills or capacities |
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| position patient for therapy |
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| work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses |
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| Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events |
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| identify body response variations |
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| Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings |
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| observe patient condition |
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| Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work |
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| plan therapy treatment program |
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| Getting Information |
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| collect clinical data |
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| obtain information from clients, customers, or patients |
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| Training and Teaching Others |
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| instruct patient in home programs or basic living skills |
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| teach individuals work-related techniques or skills |
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| Performing General Physical Activities |
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| apply appropriate physical restraint |
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| Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People |
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| assess therapy needs of patients |
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| conduct patient assessments |
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| Coaching and Developing Others |
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| assist patient to improve or develop work skills |
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| Analyzing Data or Information |
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| analyze medical data |
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| analyze patient activity |
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| evaluate patient response to therapy |
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| Communicating with Persons Outside Organization |
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| communicate technical information |
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| make presentations on health or medical issues |
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| Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others |
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| coordinate patient activities with rehabilitation team |
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| direct and coordinate treatment program activities |
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| Performing Administrative Activities |
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| maintain records, reports, or files |
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Career Context
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| Contact With Others |
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| Face-to-Face Discussions |
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| Physical Proximity |
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| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled |
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| Structured versus Unstructured Work |
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| Freedom to Make Decisions |
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| Frequency of Decision Making |
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| Work With Work Group or Team |
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| Telephone |
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| Exposed to Disease or Infections |
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| Deal With External Customers |
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| Letters and Memos |
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| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate |
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| Time Pressure |
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| Coordinate or Lead Others |
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