AOTA

Authors

John Lien Margetis, OTD, OTR/L

Jamie Wilcox, OTD, OTR/L

Shelley Coleman Casto, MS, OTR/L, BCP, CPST

For the Commission on Practice

Caitlin Synovec, OTD, OTR/L, BCMH, Chairperson

The authors would like to acknowledge the authors of the briefing paper written for AOTA’s

Representative Assembly:

Yasaman Amanat, OTD, OTR/L, CLT

Diana Davis, PhD, OTR/L

Leah Hawks, OTR/L

Suzanne Holm, OTD, OTR, BCPR

Julie Malloy, MOT, OTR/L, PMP, CPHQ

John Lien Margetis, OTD, OTR/L

ABSTRACT:

This AOTA Position Statement defines the distinct role and value of occupational therapy practitioners in critical care settings across the lifespan. Occupational therapy practitioners are essential interprofessional team members who address the needs of critically ill individuals by implementing evidence-based critical care guidelines that aim to improve the quality of survivorship.

Following this course, the learner will be able to:

1. Describe the distinct value of occupational therapy in critical care settings.
2. Recognize acute and chronic morbidities that can result from critical illnesses.
3. Indicate the importance of interprofessional collaboration in critical care settings.

Conclusion and Future Directions

Occupational therapy practitioners are integral members of the interprofessional critical care team. With longer life expectancies, an aging population, and advances in critical care medicine increasing demand for ICU service delivery, the profession has the opportunity to further solidify its distinct contributions to critical care rehabilitation. Investment in translational research can improve efforts to objectively measure and demonstrate the impact of critical care occupational therapy on patient-centered outcomes. Training programs and communities of practice for clinicians could improve knowledge mobilization within the profession and establish guidelines for advanced critical care practice. To prepare students for careers in critical care rehabilitation across the care continuum and lifespan, occupational therapy education should include content on adult and pediatric critical care, PICS, and their impacts on participation. Joint ventures among educators, clinicians, translational researchers, and professional leaders are needed to develop a robust occupational therapy workforce specialized to work in critical care rehabilitation (Margetis et al., 2021).