Primary care
Occupational therapy practitioners can improve patient outcomes through their unique contributions to these integrated, accessible health care services.
What is primary care?
Primary care is the provision of integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 1996).
What is occupational therapy's role in primary care?
Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are a natural fit for primary care teams—meeting the primary health care needs of clients involves addressing both functional and IADL performance.
Comprehensive best practice primary health care requires
- a coordinated team-based approach that promotes collaborative care,
- shared decision making,
- sustained relationships with clients and families, and
- quality improvement activities.
Occupational therapy's role in managing chronic conditions
New primary care delivery models place greater emphasis on managing chronic conditions to reduce costs and improve population health.
OT practitioners make a distinct contribution in primary care in that we understand the significant impact that habits and routines have on individuals’ health and wellness, including barriers and solutions to managing chronic conditions.
Occupational Therapy Contributes to Primary Care
Watch: Why your primary care needs occupational therapy
Benefits of having occupational therapy in your primary care practice
As a primary care provider, you often give your patients important recommendations, like getting more exercise, changing eating habits, or taking a new medication. Imagine if your patients had the proper support to accomplish the changes you’ve suggested. Having occupational therapy practitioners on staff will give your patients access to a skilled provider who can help them implement your recommendations with ease.
Occupational therapy practitioners:
- Understand acute and chronic conditions.
- Are experts in addressing functional deficits, lifestyle factors, self-care activities, and contextual issues.
- Understand the relationships among occupations, functional performance, and health.
- Provide critical information about an individual’s ability to manage routines safely and efficiently, both in the home and the community.
- Improve outcomes by helping individuals overcome or compensate for functional deficits.
- Work with individuals at all developmental stages.
- Help you recognize and address the impact of social determinants of health, like housing, for your patient panel.
An occupational therapist can provide patients with a more complete assessment of potential barriers to their plan of care, and help them develop habits and routines that are compatible with their daily roles and their environment. Occupational therapists will evaluate and address the patient’s top health and occupational priorities by providing them with brief education, training, problem solving, and goal setting.