No abstract

Occupational therapy practitioners are essential members of the home health rehabilitation team to support patients transitioning from acute care to home. However, home health occupational therapy services have been underutilized, in part, due to limited understanding of services that the profession provides. Improving this understanding is necessary to help patients receive timely services. The purpose of the study was to describe the current practice patterns in home health occupational therapy. Fifty home health occupational therapy practitioners from 27 states completed an electronic survey between May and June 2021. The survey consisted of questions about assessment and treatment, communication with physical therapy colleagues, and the impact of the Patient-Driven Grouping Model and the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on service delivery. Results showed that occupational therapy assessments focused on personal care activities, mobility and balance, and cognition. The treatment content usually included training in activities of daily living, functional mobility, the application of compensatory strategies (e.g., home adaptations), and fall prevention strategies. Most respondents communicated with their physical therapy colleagues at least once a week on topics related to scheduling, changes in a patient’s condition, and falls and safety concerns. Seventy percent of respondents experienced a reduction of home visits during the recent Medicare payment reform and the pandemic. These practitioners felt that some patients might be discharged prematurely because of this reduction. The survey results highlight the pertinence of occupational therapy services to support patients’ independence and safety at home and the need to increase these services for home health patients.