Enhancing the value of integrated primary care: The role of occupational therapy.

Abstract

Primary care practice transformation is a priority in our rapidly evolving and complex health care system. Medical practices must maximize the use of staff to develop effective and efficient interprofessional care teams to optimize patient care delivery and improve outcomes and access with less cost. Occupational therapists have training and expertise that can provide valuable contributions to integrated primary care teams. In this article, we review the educational background and core competencies of this group of professionals and compare them to the core competencies of integrated behavioral health in primary care. Additionally, we explore the potential financial benefits of including occupational therapists as a member of the interprofessional team. With a comprehensive background addressing physical health, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and habilitation, occupational therapists complement the interprofessional team by dealing with the issues that affect function and quality of life. We recommend that primary care practices include occupational therapists as an essential member of the integrated primary care team. (PsycINFO Database Record

Interprofessional Primary Care: The Value of Occupational Therapy

“…Including occupational therapists on the interprofessional PC team improves quality of care and efficiency in PC settings and specialty practice screening, intervention, and productivity (Dahl-Popolizio et al, 2016;Hart, Elizabeth, & Parsons, 2015;Macdonald, 2006;Metzler et al, 2012;Rexe et al, 2013;Waite, 2014).…”

“…The role of occupational therapy (OT) in PC is not yet well defined and is dependent on such factors as the business model of the setting, the requirements of the interprofessional team, the patients' needs, and the awareness that the other team members have the skill set that OT contributes to the interprofessional PC team (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2013;Donnelly, Brenchley, Crawford, & Letts, 2013). However, because the role of OT is frequently misunderstood, occupational therapists are often overlooked and underused as members of the interprofessional PC team (AOTA, 2013;Dahl-Popolizio, Manson, Muir, & Rogers, 2016;Donnelly et al, 2013;Donnelly, Brenchley, Crawford, & Letts, 2014). Table 1 counter anti-inflammatory medication, but with no real relief.…”

“…Occupational therapists on the interprofessional PC team immediately address these issues. This results in increased access to care and facilitates cost containment, as the referral to an outside provider may not be necessary and more patient needs can be immediately and collaboratively addressed in house (Dahl-Popolizio et al, 2016).…”

“…With health care reform moving toward reimbursement for quality care and outcomes rather than fee-for-service, occupational therapists, as part of the interprofessional PC team, are strategically positioned to be part of the solution in addressing the health care system's greatest needs. Through leveraging the roles and responsibilities of occupational therapists on interprofessional PC teams, occupational therapists improve current team functioning and the delivery of PC services (Dahl-Popolizio, Manson, Muir, & Rogers, 2016;Muir, 2012;Tracy et al, 2013).…”

“…Occupational therapists identify barriers, both internal and external, to optimal function(Metzler et al, 2012), which equates to identification of barriers to optimal health. Occupational therapists' training and philosophy enables them to provide clinical services to improve self-management of health conditions and independence with activities of daily living, including those activities that affect health and adherence to medical instruction(Dahl-Popolizio et al, 2016).…”