AOTA

Authors:

Kathryn Drumheller, MS, OTR/L, is Staff Therapist, Legacy Healthcare Services, Orange City, FL, and PRN Occupational Therapist, Encompass Health, Altamonte Springs, FL. Drumheller was Research Assistant, Department of Occupational Therapy, AdventHealth University, Orlando, FL, at the time this research was completed.

Milly Rodriguez, OTR/L, is Clinical Faculty, Department of Occupational Therapy, and Director, HOPE Clinic, AdventHealth University, Orlando, FL.

CE Credit: .1 CEU (1 credit hour/1.25 PDU)

ABSTRACT:

Importance: Routine measurements used in clinical settings can foster evidence-based interventions and show the treatment effectiveness.

Objective: To examine the efficacy of occupational therapy services for health outcomes, as determined by modified self-care and mobility items of the Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation Tool, also known as Section GG.

Design: Retrospective and longitudinal. Data were obtained from medical records at four time points over 1 yr. Setting: The study took place at a pro bono, faculty-led clinic. Participants: Ninety-one client charts were reviewed; 64 (70%) clients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled.

Interventions: Interventions were provided by registered occupational therapists and entry-level occupational therapy students under supervision.

Outcomes and Measures: Self-care and mobility function were measured using modified GG0130 and GG0170 items from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Quality Reporting Program; three additional functional items were added. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Version 2® (SF–36v2) was used to evaluate clients’ quality of life at intake.

Results: Self-care and mobility composites significantly improved throughout the 1-yr intervention period. The additional functional composite significantly improved during the first 6 mo. Clients’ scores on the physical function subdomain of the SF–36v2 were significantly related to their self-care, mobility, and additional functional items.

Conclusions and Relevance: Faculty-led clinics can improve the occupational performance of clients in need of occupational therapy services, particularly in the areas of self-care and mobility, which have previously been identified as top priorities for clients.

What This Article Adds: This study addressed health disparities in unique and effective ways. By using objective measures of functional mobility and self-care, the study provides robust evidence of the faculty-led clinic’s impact in providing underserved and uninsured communities with effective client-centered occupational therapy services.