Health Promotion & Occupational Therapy - Knowledge Check

Occupational therapist have an important role when it comes to health promotion and literacy. In terms of health promotion, OT can actually decrease patient re-admission which in return saves the hospital money. According to a study done, occupational therapy was actually the only discipline in an acute care setting that showed a decrease in patient re-admission after receiving services. Occupational therapy also promotes health in the way that it is client-centered and uses occupations. OT has adaptations or alteration of context and maximizes the pursuit of health and quality of life for individuals, families, groups, communities and populations.

Occupational therapist can also use their platform to help implement the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) model in the future. There are three pillars to it, population health, experience of care and per capita cost. By providing services to all populations evenly (including those with difficulty accessing it), making a positive experience on therapy services (building a positive rapport and increasing health literacy) and putting a fee on our value rather than services, OT's can significantly change the way health care is implemented in the healthcare discipline of therapy.