Occupational Therapy in Prevention and Wellness: Retaining Relevance in a New Health Care World

Abstract

Health care reform presents opportunities for occupational therapy professionals to play a key role in improving the health of a population through prevention and wellness.

Toward a Broader Role for Occupational Therapy in Supportive Oncology Care

“…Additionally, occupational therapy practitioners are unique in the value they place on the mind-body-spirit connection, thereby viewing their clients as holistic beings with complex functional needs (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2014). The lens of function sets occupational therapy apart as a distinct and valuable service (Hildenbrand & Lamb, 2013) for which a focus on the whole is considered stronger than a focus on isolated parts and that has the potential to positively influence the reported dissatisfaction with the current state of supportive care.…”

A scoping review of time-use research in occupational therapy and occupational science

“…Pierce (144) called for large pattern predictive research on population differences in occupation and occupational patterns across 24-hour cycles, requiring methods and instruments that are better fitted to the study of large samples. Indeed there are increasing calls for the strengthening of population and public health perspectives in occupational therapy and occupational science research, policy, and practice (139,(145)(146)(147)(148)(149). Wilcock (8,(150)(151)(152)(153) and Hocking (4) have been key proponents in this regard.…”

Occupational Therapy and Management of Multiple Chronic Conditions in the Context of Health Care Reform

“…Primary care teams are generally led by family physicians and most commonly include nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and physician assistants and, to a lesser extent, pharmacists, behavioral health specialists, and social workers (Bazemore et al, 2016). Although some approaches facilitate the diversification of disciplines represented in primary care (e.g., pharmacists and behavioral health specialists), occupational therapy practitioners need advocacy and an evidence base to support their claim to a place on the chronic disease management care team in primary care (Hildenbrand & Lamb, 2013; Peikes et al, 2016). …”