Job Duties Custom List 29-1125.02 — Music Therapists
- Adapt existing or develop new music therapy assessment instruments or procedures to meet an individual client's needs.
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- Design or use surveillance tools, such as screening, lab reports, and vital records, to identify health risks.
- Direct or manage prevention programs in specialty areas such as aerospace, occupational, infectious disease, and environmental medicine.
- Document or review comprehensive patients' histories with an emphasis on occupation or environmental risks.
- Perform epidemiological investigations of acute and chronic diseases.
- Supervise or coordinate the work of physicians, nurses, statisticians, or other professional staff members.
- Direct public health education programs dealing with topics such as preventable diseases, injuries, nutrition, food service sanitation, water supply safety, sewage and waste disposal, insect control, and immunizations.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed risk reduction measures or other interventions.
- Provide information about potential health hazards and possible interventions to the media, the public, other health care professionals, or local, state, and federal health authorities.
- Teach or train medical staff regarding preventive medicine issues.
- Prepare preventive health reports, including problem descriptions, analyses, alternative solutions, and recommendations.
- Design, implement, or evaluate health service delivery systems to improve the health of targeted populations.
- Develop or implement interventions to address behavioral causes of diseases.
- Deliver presentations to lay or professional audiences.
- Identify groups at risk for specific preventable diseases or injuries.
- Coordinate or integrate the resources of health care institutions, social service agencies, public safety workers, or other organizations to improve community health.
- Design or use surveillance tools, such as screening, lab reports, and vital records, to identify health risks.
- Develop or use special test and communication techniques to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of children or disabled patients.
- Examine patients with problems related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia, or strabismus.
- Evaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or abnormal eye movements.
- Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans.
- Perform diagnostic tests or measurements, such as motor testing, visual acuity testing, lensometry, retinoscopy, and color vision testing.
- Provide nonsurgical interventions, including corrective lenses, patches, drops, fusion exercises, or stereograms, to treat conditions such as strabismus, heterophoria, and convergence insufficiency.
- Develop nonsurgical treatment plans for patients with conditions such as strabismus, nystagmus, and other visual disorders.
- Interpret clinical or diagnostic test results.
- Provide training related to clinical methods or orthoptics to students, resident physicians, or other health professionals.
- Refer patients to ophthalmic surgeons or other physicians.
- Prepare diagnostic or treatment reports for other medical practitioners or therapists.
- Collaborate with ophthalmologists, optometrists, or other specialists in the diagnosis, treatment, or management of conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal diseases.
- Perform vision screening of children in schools or community health centers.
- Present or publish scientific papers.
- Participate in clinical research projects.
- Assist ophthalmologists in diagnostic ophthalmic procedures, such as ultrasonography, fundus photography, and tonometry.
- Develop or use special test and communication techniques to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of children or disabled patients.
- Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.
- Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
- Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.
- Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.
- Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.
- Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.
- Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.
- Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
- Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.
- Manage medical laboratories.
- Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.
- Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.
- Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.
- Diagnose infections, such as Hepatitis B and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), by conducting tests to detect the antibodies that patients' immune systems make to fight such infections.
- Obtain specimens by performing procedures, such as biopsies or fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of superficial nodules.
- Conduct genetic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes to diagnose small biopsies and cell samples.
- Conduct research and present scientific findings.
- Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.
- Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.
- Develop and supervise hearing screening programs.
- Maintain patient records at all stages, including initial and subsequent evaluation and treatment activities.
- Evaluate hearing and balance disorders to determine diagnoses and courses of treatment.
- Fit, dispense, and repair assistive devices, such as hearing aids.
- Administer hearing tests and examine patients to collect information on type and degree of impairment, using specialized instruments and electronic equipment.
- Monitor patients' progress and provide ongoing observation of hearing or balance status.
- Instruct patients, parents, teachers, or employers in communication strategies to maximize effective receptive communication.
- Counsel and instruct patients and their families in techniques to improve hearing and communication related to hearing loss.
- Refer patients to additional medical or educational services, if needed.
- Participate in conferences or training to update or share knowledge of new hearing or balance disorder treatment methods or technologies.
- Examine and clean patients' ear canals.
- Recommend assistive devices according to patients' needs or nature of impairments.
- Advise educators or other medical staff on hearing or balance topics.
- Program and monitor cochlear implants to fit the needs of patients.
- Educate and supervise audiology students and health care personnel.
- Plan and conduct treatment programs for patients' hearing or balance problems, consulting with educators, physicians, nurses, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and other health care personnel, as necessary.
- Work with multidisciplinary teams to assess and rehabilitate recipients of implanted hearing devices through auditory training and counseling.
- Conduct or direct research on hearing or balance topics and report findings to help in the development of procedures, technology, or treatments.
- Perform administrative tasks, such as managing office functions and finances.
- Provide information to the public on hearing or balance topics.
- Engage in marketing activities, such as developing marketing plans, to promote business for private practices.
- Measure noise levels in workplaces and conduct hearing conservation programs in industry, military, schools, and communities.
- Develop and supervise hearing screening programs.
- Design, develop, or employ alternative diagnostic or communication devices or strategies.
- Evaluate hearing or speech and language test results, barium swallow results, or medical or background information to diagnose and plan treatment for speech, language, fluency, voice, or swallowing disorders.
- Write reports and maintain proper documentation of information, such as client Medicaid or billing records or caseload activities, including the initial evaluation, treatment, progress, and discharge of clients.
- Monitor patients' progress and adjust treatments accordingly.
- Develop or implement treatment plans for problems such as stuttering, delayed language, swallowing disorders, or inappropriate pitch or harsh voice problems, based on own assessments and recommendations of physicians, psychologists, or social workers.
- Administer hearing or speech and language evaluations, tests, or examinations to patients to collect information on type and degree of impairments, using written or oral tests or special instruments.
- Educate patients and family members about various topics, such as communication techniques or strategies to cope with or to avoid personal misunderstandings.
- Supervise or collaborate with therapy team.
- Participate in and write reports for meetings regarding patients' progress, such as individualized educational planning (IEP) meetings, in-service meetings, or intervention assistance team meetings.
- Teach clients to control or strengthen tongue, jaw, face muscles, or breathing mechanisms.
- Instruct clients in techniques for more effective communication, such as sign language, lip reading, or voice improvement.
- Consult with and advise educators or medical staff on speech or hearing topics, such as communication strategies or speech and language stimulation.
- Develop speech exercise programs to reduce disabilities.
- Complete administrative responsibilities, such as coordinating paperwork, scheduling case management activities, or writing lesson plans.
- Consult with and refer clients to additional medical or educational services.
- Participate in conferences, training, continuing education courses, or publish research results to share knowledge of new hearing or speech disorder treatment methods or technologies.
- Develop individual or group activities or programs in schools to deal with behavior, speech, language, or swallowing problems.
- Conduct lessons or direct educational or therapeutic games to assist teachers dealing with speech problems.
- Supervise students or assistants.
- Evaluate oral motor function in infants.
- Conduct or direct research on speech or hearing topics and report findings for use in developing procedures, technologies, or treatments.
- Use computer applications to identify or assist with communication disabilities.
- Provide communication instruction to dialect speakers or students with limited English proficiency.
- Communicate with non-speaking students, using sign language or computer technology.
- Design, develop, or employ alternative diagnostic or communication devices or strategies.
- Collaborate with mental health professionals and other staff members to perform clinical assessments or develop treatment plans.
- Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
- Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.
- Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
- Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems.
- Perform crisis interventions to help ensure the safety of the patients and others.
- Perform crisis interventions with clients.
- Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
- Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge.
- Collect information about clients through interviews, observation, or tests.
- Discuss with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy.
- Modify treatment activities or approaches as needed to comply with changes in clients' status.
- Evaluate clients' physical or mental condition, based on review of client information.
- Monitor clients' use of medications.
- Act as client advocates to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs on clients' progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives.
- Plan, organize, or lead structured programs of counseling, work, study, recreation, or social activities for clients.
- Refer patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary.
- Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, or supporting clients or patients.
- Learn about new developments in counseling by reading professional literature, attending courses and seminars, or establishing and maintaining contact with other social service agencies.
- Meet with families, probation officers, police, or other interested parties to exchange necessary information during the treatment process.
- Gather information about community mental health needs or resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy.
- Supervise other counselors, social service staff, assistants, or graduate students.
- Plan or conduct programs to prevent substance abuse or improve community health or counseling services.
- Coordinate or direct employee workshops, courses, or training about mental health issues.
- Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
- Assess patients for risk of suicide attempts.
- Collaborate with mental health professionals and other staff members to perform clinical assessments or develop treatment plans.
- Adapt existing or develop new music therapy assessment instruments or procedures to meet an individual client's needs.
- Design or provide music therapy experiences to address client needs, such as using music for self-care, adjusting to life changes, improving cognitive functioning, raising self-esteem, communicating, or controlling impulses.
- Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet client's goals or objectives.
- Communicate with clients to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to musical experiences.
- Customize treatment programs for specific areas of music therapy, such as intellectual or developmental disabilities, educational settings, geriatrics, medical settings, mental health, physical disabilities, or wellness.
- Establish client goals or objectives for music therapy treatment, considering client needs, capabilities, interests, overall therapeutic program, coordination of treatment, or length of treatment.
- Document evaluations, treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups.
- Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities.
- Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to music therapy.
- Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client's therapeutic needs.
- Gather diagnostic data from sources such as case documentation, observations of clients, or interviews with clients or family members.
- Plan or structure music therapy sessions to achieve appropriate transitions, pacing, sequencing, energy level, or intensity in accordance with treatment plans.
- Engage clients in music experiences to identify client responses to different styles of music, types of musical experiences, such as improvising or listening, or elements of music, such as tempo or harmony.
- Participate in continuing education.
- Communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms.
- Integrate behavioral, developmental, improvisational, medical, or neurological approaches into music therapy treatments.
- Confer with professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.
- Select or adapt musical instruments, musical equipment, or non-musical materials, such as adaptive devices or visual aids, to meet treatment objectives.
- Compose, arrange, or adapt music for music therapy treatments.
- Identify and respond to emergency physical or mental health situations.
- Analyze or synthesize client data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for therapy.
- Collaborate with others to design or implement interdisciplinary treatment programs.
- Conduct information sharing sessions, such as in-service workshops for other professionals, potential client groups, or the general community.
- Apply selected research findings to practice.
- Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of specific treatments or therapy approaches.
- Supervise staff, volunteers, practicum students, or interns engaged in music therapy activities.
- Assess the risks and benefits of treatment termination for clients.
- Apply current technology to music therapy practices.
- Conduct, or assist in the conduct of, music therapy research.
- Sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments.
- Adapt existing or develop new music therapy assessment instruments or procedures to meet an individual client's needs.
