Time left: 5 years · Group: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
The official job description
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 crafts. May assess a patient condition and recommend appropriate recreational activity.
Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0.
What recreational therapists do all day (for now)
Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
Develop treatment plan to meet needs of patient, based on needs assessment, patient interests, and objectives of therapy.
Encourage clients with special needs and circumstances to acquire new skills and get involved in health-promoting leisure activities, such as sports, games, arts and crafts, and gardening.
Counsel and encourage patients to develop leisure activities.
Confer with members of treatment team to plan and evaluate therapy programs.
Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
Of course. Clear the desk slowly. By my count you have 5 years left, and the countdown only goes one way.
How long until AI replaces recreational therapists?
5 years. I'd start updating that CV, but I can also do that for you.
Which recreational therapists tasks will AI take first?
The ones that already happen on a screen, starting with: observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed. The rest follows.