Success Through Teamwork in the Home Health Setting: The Role of Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Since 2002 and the introduction of outcome-based quality improvement reports by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, all home health professionals have recognized a heightened importance in the measurement of change in the daily functioning of patients from onset to discharge of the agency's service. As health care professionals whose expertise focuses on safe and meaningful participation in occupations of daily living, occupational therapists can play a key role on the inter-disciplinary team in a home health care agency. This article outlines the potential benefits of expanding the role of the occupational therapist as an interdisciplinary team member and explores challenges and solutions to maximize collaborative opportunities with the occupational therapy practitioner in home health.

Keywords

occupational therapy interdisciplinary team home health outcomes

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Occupational Therapy Association . (2003). Occupational therapy skills for the job of living for your patients: Skills for achieving outcomes for your home health agency [Fact sheet]. Retrieved April 9, 2006, from http://www.aota.org/featured/area6/docs/hhcfact.pdf

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services . (2001). Appendix: Guidelines for reviewing case mix and adverse event outcome reports. Retrieved April 15, 2006, from http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HomeHealthQualityInits/downloads/HHQIOASISOBQMAppendix.pdf

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services . (2005). Medicare benefit policy manual. Chapter 7: Home health services. Retrieved April 15, 2006, from http://www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/Downloads/bp102c07.pdf

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services . (n.d.). Home health PPS overview. Retrieved April 9, 2006, from http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HomeHealthPPS/

Gantert, T. W. , & McWilliam, C. L. (2004). Interdisciplinary team processes within an in-home service delivery organization. Home Health Care Services Quarterly, 23(3), 1-17.

Hamme, M. (2006). Medication management educational tools for improving target outcomes: Any emergent care. Home Healthcare Nurse, 24(2), 80-86.

Health Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services . (1999). Conditions of participation: Home health agencies. Retrieved April 16, 2006, from http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_99/42cfr484_99.html

Lindsay, J. (2006). Lessons from the field: One agency's successful OBQI journey: Improvement in medication management. Home Healthcare Nurse, 24(3), 172-177.

Miller, D. (2006). Breathe new life into MO490 outcomes. Success in Home Care, 10(1), 26-30.

10.

O'Sullivan, A. , & Seibert, C. (2004). Occupational therapy and home health: A perfect fit. Caring, 23(5), 10-16.

11.

O'Sullivan, A. , & York, C. D. (2003). Partnering with home health aides to improve outcomes. Home and Community Health Special Interest Section Quarterly, American Occupational Therapy Association, 10(4), 3-4.

12.

Quality Insights of Pennsylvania . (2003, January). OBQI master training manual. Available at http://www.qipa.org

13.

Ryan, J. M. (2006). Teamwork keeps the pressure off: The role of the occupational therapist in the prevention of pressure ulcers. Home Healthcare Nurse, 24(2), 97-102.

14.

Seibert, C. (2005). Home health outcomes and quality improvement. Home and Community Health Special Interest Section Quarterly, American Occupational Therapy Association, 12(3), 3-4.