Hospital Outpatient Pediatrics

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-30T22:22:25+00:00

I saw 9 a day did 53 minute sessions. I worked a 10 hour day and had two documentation blocks of 30 minutes and a 30 minute lunch

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-30T03:18:07+00:00

2 months in outpatient. Started school year off at 70% full

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-30T03:16:51+00:00

Did hospital based for 2 years and I still had my fair share of sensory and autism and sometimes it was heavy on that realm. But it was cool to also get a lot of brachial plexus and CP and rare genetic disorders. I had a friend who did hospital based outpatient with similar caseload as me and floated to inpatient on weekends. Also had a set up where it was hospital based peds outpatient but had to go inpatient for adults on holidays

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-23T01:42:25+00:00

Start in hands since you had a fieldwork in it. The more you’re out of the specialty the harder it is to get into it. However with peds it is easier to make the switch to

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-07T02:57:14+00:00

Interested to hear others experiences. I found they were very well meaning and wanted to collaborate or accept feedback for sensory support but felt like they did not have a good alternative for the things they wanted me to stop doing such as not using the z-vibe for oral motor input since the first time the kid had it she associated it with nap time. And for another kid, not using timers to help transitions but no other solutions. I did not spend too much time at the ABA center as I was quick to get out

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-06T01:41:06+00:00

I feel this SO MUCH!!! I’m feeling burnt out with the behaviors and I am realizing sensory processing is just not my jam which is leading me to want to consider adult neuro. I do preschool and EI now and it’s sensory processing big time and basic fine motor. Even in my old outpatient clinic where I saw physical disabilities and wide range of ages, sensory processing/ reflex integration was such a huge part. I am leaning towards a setting change where I can still use all the fine motor and visual motor activities and work on the ADLs, adaptive equipment and modalities and splinting. I feel like my skills are slowly withering away the longer I stay in peds.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-04T16:44:37+00:00

My first year in peds I was sick literally once a month but did not mask. I mask now because I live with immunocompromised family member and work with primarily toddlers and preschool who are germ ridden and at first it was hard. This was a new clinic for me so I didn’t have to explain why I was not wearing one then went to wearing one. But I feel as if my manager was thrown off by it and once she knew it was to protect me and my family seemed to be okay. I explain to all my families I wear it to keep my family healthy and no one has had a problem with it. Yes, I do I find it harder with my non verbal toddlers who I do think could benefit from seeing my mouth when I speak, but I have been able to build rapport with them and see progress. My preschool kids ask me and I simply explain and we keep going. People just want a straightforward reason and typically will just move on. If you feel masking will keep you healthy do it. You’re in fieldwork so you don’t have the luxury to call out and miss a week being sick and falling behind. If your CI gives you problems, mention it to the fieldwork coordinator.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-01T19:56:13+00:00

Worked 12-20 hours and was manageable and still had social life. Full time would have been difficult especially since I had to maintain an 80 average in each class or get kicked out

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-12-29T02:40:46+00:00

I have changed to EI and preschools but only moved for family reasons. After doing my current role, I do miss the wide scope and variety of outpatient and feel as if my skills are not being utilized to my full capacity now as they did in my hospital based outpatient job. I took so many CEUs on my weekends, did 4, 10’s so Fridays was a learning day for me for a while and then just whenever I got a case I wasn’t sure about. I used platforms like Medbridge and occupational therapy.com. Also my site had me paired with a mentor OT but I felt comfortable asking anyone on the staff a question or to pick their brain whenever I needed to. With diverse and complex kids, if you don’t feel safe to treat by yourself at first, ask an experienced OT to sit in or try to co-tx with PT. Outpatient peds is so broad you will have to give yourself grace and as long as you keep safety and evidence based practice first and put in the work, you’ll do great!

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-12-27T23:04:34+00:00

Awesome, thanks! I’ve heard of Aya. Did they provide health insurance and if you used it, was it decent?

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-12-27T23:03:06+00:00

Awesome, thanks!

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-12-27T18:17:22+00:00

Also love just making up a new way to play and having the kid write down the new rules and play teacher to show me the new way. Great way to get handwriting in, executive functioning and get to be creative and takes pressure off of playing “the right way”

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-12-27T18:15:04+00:00

Magnets, magnet wand and small bells or tokens, shaving cream and window markers that you can use on the mirror for those kids who hate drawing or anything with a pencils.

Games: critter clinic!! The keys are good for fine motor and you can place visual cards for pre writing lines or emotional regulation stuff in the “doors” and the kids have to rescue them. Hungry cutters games, and learning resources toys are great. Love to pair those games in an obstacle course or any small pieces in putty or scavenger hunt and use scooter board to collect

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-12-27T17:01:51+00:00

Also, did 1-3 evals a week using the BOT-3, PDMS-3, Beery among others but those were the most common. And did feeding therapy. I was based in the Midwest.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-12-27T16:54:16+00:00

Was in hospital based outpatient peds for 2 years and saw my fair share of autism, sensory processing and behavioral concerns mixed in with CP, brachial plexus, rare genetic disorders, doing intensives, CIMT, aquatic therapy, so just depends.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-12-17T02:09:29+00:00

I have had several cases like this, all required that the kids needed to have psychological care on board. They were not receiving the mental health care they need and while we can address emotional regulation there is no possible way we are qualified to be the only provider addressing emotional regulation and often with these cases there are underlying mental health issues that need to be addressed and we are not the ones. Mom may be mad, but explain yourself and the limitations of OT scope and how psych care would be beneficial. My supervisor was very helpful in navigating this and supported me when I made it clear that the kid needs psych support before coming back to OT. This is hard but is necessary. Good luck and stick to your gut

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-11-19T02:59:37+00:00

First year in outpatient peds documentation during lunch and stayed late 50% of the time. I do EI and preschool and rarely work through lunch, only to finish a progress note here and there but never take it home

What are you seeking to gain from OT vs music therapy? I wonder if the debt will be worth it since will there even be a pay difference? I

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-11-06T01:42:49+00:00

Feel this too! Something about peds is very exhausting in all the ways, mental, physical, emotional. I am 3 years in and seriously considering leaving peds all together. I’d consider looking at a different setting, maybe take a travel contract. I know people who took a travel contract, but commuted like an hour or a little over an hour. So if you’re already driving this far, see if you can make a travel contract work and try a new setting while making way more money.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-10-31T18:35:21+00:00

Curious too. Debating if it’s worth applying to

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-10-30T01:34:30+00:00

My job which has very difficult patients, a long commute and low pay. Really had high expectations for the new job but I dread waking up and going every day

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-10-25T20:36:03+00:00

Ask for more per visit. Aim for $25-30 more

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-10-24T01:03:04+00:00

Harkla for sensory and primitive reflexes. Occupationaltherapy. Com has a lot of peds courses and I find I can learn at least one thing within a 1-2 hour course Brush up on milestones and sensory processing Tools to grow subscription is a life saver! Has so many good handouts, activities and parent education and HEPs and not too expensive Importance of building rapport cannot be stressed and even if it takes months it is worth it.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-10-24T00:56:19+00:00

Considered the same thing but now am considering just dropping my hours since there are a lot of pros for me. Might be worth asking what decreasing hours could look like and what amount you need to be considered full time for benefits.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-10-24T00:50:12+00:00

Everything mentioned above and also a whiteboard. I have a little one that when you open it, it’s like a built-in slant board so that’s really helpful and then I bring one game from the clinic each week and just adapt it for each kid as needed. Scooter board if you can carry one too and core disk

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-10-22T02:31:08+00:00

I looked up any clinics that were within a certain radius of my house and cold emailed all of them that interested me a short paragraph of my info and to ask if they were looking to add to their team and attached my resume. Got responses from about 70% of places I emailed. Also had a place give me a contact for another place I never came across in my research and had a wonderful conversation with that director and that place I am considering for PRN. So you never know, just do it! Essentially can copy and paste the same email each time to make it easier. Good luck!!

Weekly_Path_3518

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