COVID-19 FAQ

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has guidelines and recommendations for health care workers specifically related to coronavirus. They have also developed public-facing recommendations at www.coronavirus.gov.

 Many organizations and OT practitioners are struggling with this question. AOTA considers occupational therapy services as essential, and a March 19, 2020, memorandum from the Department of Homeland Security states that OT practitioners are critical health care workers.

All practitioners should comply with guidance from CDC, CMS, their state governor, state health departments as well as individual facility decisions that determine who is an essential health care worker. As this is a fluid situation and occupational therapy practitioners work in a variety of settings and treat populations that each present unique challenges, practitioners should consider the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and exercise clinical judgment and leadership in navigating each unique setting.

Your engagement in decision-making with your care teams is of vital importance to the health of the community and country at large. 

One of the things that have to be considered during a medical disaster is the efficient use of resources. Due to a lack of time and resources, it would be appropriate for OT practitioners to accommodate changes in usual standards of care that may be necessary within their facilities.

Precaution should be taken that practitioners demonstrate the competence to provide such care. If completing tasks never done before (e.g., screenings, taking temperatures), one must be trained and demonstrate competency. Documentation must be done with veracity, and it must follow Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) billing guidelines. If someone is not receiving skilled therapy, it should not be billed for. Extending the standard of care due to the COVID-19 disruption demonstrates a team approach in the interest of beneficent care to clients (see the AOTA Code of Ethics). Also, see the American Health Care Association (AHCA) guidance regarding appropriate responses to staffing levels.

Providing quality OT services continues to be of vital importance during the coronavirus pandemic. There may be additional precautions in place or the location of care may change, but the elements of quality OT continue to be the same:

• Ensure patient and provider safety at all times.
• Engage patients and families in goal setting and treatment.
• Use evidence-based practices.
• Ensure your interventions are occupation-based and address functional needs.
• Document your services accurately and timely, and focus on the skilled interventions provided.
• Be aware of process and outcome measures that are monitored in your practice area, and work to integrate these into clinical practice.
• Keep informed about facility, payer, and state and federal requirements. These are changing frequently, and AOTA is working to communicate these to members as rules and requirements are updated.
• Bring concerns (related to coronavirus or otherwise), to your supervisor, or to your quality or compliance department as they arise. They may have resources that can help you with decision-making and focus on quality.
• Remember to incorporate self-care and rest into your routine, so you can continue to care for others.

The American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT) published a Special Issue on Occupational Therapy's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

There are also 3 Everyday Evidence podcasts about different practice settings:

Link: Covid-19 Pediatric Care Case Application | July 2021

Link: Covid-19 Outpatient Care Case Application | July 2021

Link: Covid-19 Critical Care Case Application | July 2021

States regulate the provision of OT services via telehealth individually, so specific requirements will vary. AOTA has compiled a state-by-state chart of occupational therapy statutes, regulations, and position statements adopted by state occupational therapy licensing boards. Additionally, telehealth may not be the best way to provide services to some clients based on the needs of your client. For these reasons, contact your state OT licensing authority before providing services via telehealth.

Visit COVID-19 state updates: State-by-State Summary of Telehealth and Licensure Developments

Yes! Visit AOTA's Telehealth Advocacy page to learn about how AOTA is working to ensure that the expansion of OT telehealth services becomes permanent and keep up to date on news.

A series of COVID-19 webinars on various subjects, including telehealth, is available through AOTA at no cost to members.

Link: Visit AOTA's On-Demand Conference Sessions on COVID-19