Citizens attain important milestones with the assistance and dedication of rehabilitation professionals, or so says the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation (http://www.nraf-rehabnet.org/), which is holding the 2008 National Rehabilitation Awareness Celebration on Sept. 21-27, 2008. Organizations, including Allsup, which represents people nationwide for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, are spreading the word about the significant contributions made by rehab professionals.
Rehab workers' value to the American healthcare system is demonstrated in national job projections for the next decade. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/oco/), several rehabilitation fields are experiencing increasing demand through 2016, including:
* Physical therapists, with a 27 percent increase and 220,000 jobs.
* Occupational therapists, with a 23 percent increase and 122,000 jobs.
* Respiratory therapists, with a 19 percent increase and 145,000 jobs.
Professionals working in rehabilitation, including therapists, nurses and physicians, help people with disabilities achieve significant accomplishments in recovery and daily living. The examples are numerous, such as respiratory therapists who help individuals to reach independence from ventilators, and occupational therapists who help stroke patients regain mobility. Estimates show that for every $1 spent on rehab care, $11 in long-term disability costs is saved, according to the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation (NRAF).
More than 6,000 rehabilitation providers and health and human services organizations across the country are helping recognize "the powers of rehabilitation," according to Jim Brogna, NRAF executive director. This year's theme is, "Rehab: The Power to Change Lives."
During rehabilitation awareness week, the foundation, healthcare systems and other groups are expressing support for rehabilitation professionals who provide compassionate support in all areas to help patients improve their quality of life.
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