Issues in Contracting Occupational Therapy Services

Abstract

Although most occupational therapy managers have now mastered the basics of contracting, it is important that their junior staff understand the issues. This article summarises issues in contracting, and also shows how occupational therapists can retain their own management structures by contracting services rather than being managed by directorates or localities. It explains why contracting to becoming more Important for occupational therapy, gives an introduction to the concepts underlying contracts, and shows how managers can prepare and negotiate contracts with internal purchasers (for example, directorates) and external purchasers (for example, general practitioners).

This article to adapted with permission from: Øvretveit J. Physiotherapy service contracts and ‘business autonomy’. Physiotherapy 1994; 80(6): 372–376.