Recently, Mike B. wrote about occupation based practice (OBP). He raised several good questions and concerns. Chuck W. provided the list with a couple references that address two of Mike's questions. The quoted text is taken from AOTA's on-line document titled: "Ad hoc Workgroup on Implementing Occupation based Practice" and is available on-line at: http://www.aota.org/members/area6/2005-bod/5.pdf
1. "Is Occupation based tx just a broken system in todays healthcare environment?" > OBP is inherently client centered allowing choice, influence and power > to be shared in the intervention process. Occupation is explained to > the client and then used in assessment and intervention to clearly > address the clients life, goals and roles in both their current and > historical contexts. OBP begins with understanding the clients valued > occupations, ends with getting them back into those life activities > and infuses occupation into the intervention phase through activity > selection, analysis and modification. The therapists activity > analysis and environmental/activity modification skills are critical > to the linkage process described above and are key factors in using > occupation in an integrated approach to intervention. OBP culminates > with documentation that illustrates the client's status or progress in > his/her ability to actively and meaningfully participate in the > activities of his/her life 2. "I really wonder at times if it makes sense to have and occupation based practice (vs an exercise or activity based tx)?" > The barriers to implementing OBP are related to factors internal to > the therapist and profession as well as to issues in our external > environments. Internally, two of the most significant barriers relate > to the interrelationship of the therapists value system and habit > structure. Many therapists do not have the language or the actions to > explain and enact OBP; they rely on existing habits to guide and > describe intervention and often act and speak in ways that are > inconsistent with the core values of the profession. Externally, there > are innumerable setting and system issues that inhibit OBP. These > include the expected factors of questions about reimbursement, limited > time and resources, productivity expectations, population specifics > such as length of stay or acuity and treatment environments that > promote reductionism and are impoverished occupationally. Two > additional external barriers that should be highlighted are the > expectations of the client and the preconceived notions of > interdisciplinary colleagues. In both instances, clients and > colleagues have perceptions about what constitutes occupational > therapy that are based on the medical model and result in questioning > if OBP is really therapy. > We want to be sure to note that these barriers are not insurmountable. > We read about and talked with therapists who have either not > experienced these barriers or have countered them. -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED]
