Abstract
This study demystifies the general medicine unit by analyzing 250 patient records and identifying patient characteristics and OT services. Findings reveal the complexities, emphasizing the need for diverse skills, cultural humility, and ongoing education.
Primary Author and Speaker: Rebecca Ozelie
Additional Authors and Speakers: Nora Harvel, Sara Brett, Logann Stierle, Kelly Dunlay
Occupational therapists play a crucial role in acute care settings, with 30% of OTs employed in hospitals (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022). Their contributions include alleviating hospital-related conditions, facilitating community reintegration, and reducing length of stay (Pritchard et al., 2019). However, research on OT roles in general medicine remains sparse, creating a gap in understanding their impact. This study aimed to clarify characteristics of general medicine patients and the associated OT services to enhance OT practice. This research retrospectively analyzed 250 patient records from a general medicine unit. Seventeen data points were extracted from each record, including patient demographics and eleven items related to hospital course and OT services. These items included diagnosis, admission date, discharge date, length of stay, discharge disposition, OT discharge recommendation, CPT billing codes, number of OT encounters, and whether the patient received SLP or PT. Findings revealed 192 individual diagnoses in 18 categories, primarily respiratory, neurological, and infectious conditions. The average length of stay was 8.55 days, with an average of 3.14 OT encounters. Services mainly focused on self-care and therapeutic activities, reflecting the holistic approach of OT. The study highlighted the complexity of patient needs in general medicine, emphasizing that OTs must possess a broad skill set and knowledge base. Key competencies included cultural humility, effective time management, and comprehensive training. This presentation aims to disseminate the study findings and stimulate discussion on the complexities of OT practice within general medicine units. By leveraging these insights to enhance clinical pathways and programming, OTs can better address patients’ needs, ultimately improving patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.
*Reference 1: Pritchard, K. T., Fisher, G., Rudnitsky, K. M., & Ramirez, R. D. (2019). Policy and payment changes create new opportunities for occupational therapy in acute care. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(2), 7302109010p1–7302109010p8. https://doi-org.ezproxy.rush.edu/10.5014/ajot.2018.732002
*Reference 2: U.S. Department of Labor. (2022, September). Occupational outlook handbook: Occupational therapists. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm