This article provides personal experiences of two clinicians on the topic of occupational therapy in the primary health care clinic. Lydia Royeen is a full time clinician in acute care and psychiatry and Jeanne Eichler is Assistant Professor and founder of the OTonCampus program at Saint Louis University. (PsycINFO Database Record

Few studies have outlined the processes and structures needed to develop and integrate occupational therapy into a primary care provider's office setting. This paper focuses on implementation of the clinic model of occupational therapy in primary care and is intended to address the deficiencies in current literature, including detailed program development steps. Barriers identified in the 8-week pilot program and the successful development of a reimbursable occupational therapy service in primary care will be discussed. The results of the implementation of occupational therapy in primary care are positive. The providers have accepted and embraced the distinct value of occupational therapy in this setting. Occupational therapy in the primary care setting is an emerging area of practice and further research is needed to measure the impact of interventions in this setting and the relationship to outcomes.

Dr. Lori Reynolds has an interest in therapeutic gardens and the creation of living spaces that promote well-being for older adults. Dr. Reynolds educates various stakeholders on the benefits of occupational therapy, including landscape architects and senior living administrators. Her advocacy to expand occupational therapy beyond its mainstream roles is infectious. She speaks passionately about her work in helping to create therapeutic gardens and how her role as an occupational therapist offers great perspective in this process. She appreciates the environmental impact on an individual's health and wellbeing and practices from a person-environment-occupation theory.

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