Basic Principles of Acute Care for OT

Issued by American Occupational Therapy Association

Earners of this badge have demonstrated knowledge and skills regarding the basic principles of OT practice and their impact on occupational performance within acute care. Earners have completed assessments to confirm their knowledge of the basic principles that inform acute care OT practice and decision making. OT practitioners are team members who addresses the physical, psychosocial and cognitive/motivational aspects of the patient during their time of hospitalization and beyond.

Type Learning
Level Foundational
Time Weeks
Cost Paid

Skills

Acute care setting
Hospital setting competence
Motivational Skills
Occupational Therapy
Role of OT
Swallowing Disorders

Earning Criteria

Addressing Meaningful Occupations in the Hospital Clients in acute care face occupational deprivation that takes a toll on physical and mental health. At the same time, the U.S. healthcare system is placing greater value on patient-centered, functional outcomes. This online course provides helpful information on how to “focus on function” in acute care occupational therapy practice. This course is appropriate for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants and students.
Documentation of OT Services in Acute Care Gain the knowledge needed to excel in documentation within the acute care setting. Cover critical background information about the importance of documentation, the history of electronic documentation, and laws and legislation that has impacted it in recent decades. Delve into the importance of documentation in acute care, tips for popular EMR systems, goal writing, and strategies for justifying OT services while tracking patient progress.
Acute Care Basics This course provides an overview of the acute care setting, including essential medical, environmental, and cultural considerations. Pertinent information and resources are provided that support acquisition of knowledge and skills in delivering occupational therapy services in this fast-paced, high stakes, and complex setting.
Preventing Aspiration: Basics of Dysphagia in Acute Care The holistic lens of occupational therapy is not complete without considering how feeding, eating, and swallowing impact the lives of our clients. Difficulty swallowing or eating affects nutrition, recovery, medical course, medical management, financial status, personal management of meal preparation, quality of life, social interaction, participation in cultural events, and mental health.
Discharge planning is a complex process that is one of the primary responsibilities of the acute care OT practitioner. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require that hospitals include patient's anticipated needs, identification of risk factors, and identification of successful patient outcomes as 3 priorities for the discharge planning process.