Occupational therapy in a private adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU): an experience report

Abstract

Introduction The treatment of critically ill patients has gained prominence in recent years. The health demands of these patients are specific and require hospitalization in intensive care unit (ICU), confirming the need for a specialized, qualified, and multidisciplinary team as recommended by resolution RDC No. 7 of 2010, which addresses the need for the presence of an occupational therapist in ICUs. Objective This study aims to report the experiences of the first year of an occupational therapist in the adult general ICU in a private high-complexity tertiary hospital located in the city of São Paulo, and to reflect on this field of action. Method This is an experience report conducted through the analysis of medical records and occupational therapeutic assessment for later reading of the existing literature. Results The identification of occupational therapeutic interventions involves the use of assistive technology, reception actions, and (re)habilitation of occupations in the ICU environment. Conclusion Occupational therapy has been gaining ground in the context of adult general intensive care unit, where the demonstration of real occupational therapy actions has led to the recognition, by high hospital management, of these approaches with critical patients and the role of this profession in the multiprofessional team.