Overview
This video provides a step-by-step guide for occupational therapists on evaluating adult or geriatric patients, building occupational profiles, setting therapy goals, and conducting assessments in clinical settings.
Building the Occupational Profile
- Begin by gathering background information about the patient, such as identity, daily roles, interests, and meaningful activities.
- Review the patient’s chart for medical diagnoses, surgeries, and relevant medical history.
- Ask direct questions about driving, lifestyle, current and past conditions to form a holistic understanding.
- Identify any precautions or special considerations from the patient’s health status.
Identifying the Patient’s Main Challenges
- Ask patients what activities they are struggling with or unable to do now compared to before.
- Use specific follow-up questions to pinpoint the root causes of difficulties (e.g., physical weakness, environmental barriers).
- Clarify if patients are aware of their limitations and whether they perceive them as problems.
Gathering Additional Information
- If patients have cognitive impairments or cannot express their difficulties, consult with caregivers, family members, or power of attorney.
- Contact family to determine the patient’s prior level of function (PLOF) before illness or injury.
Assessment and Functional Evaluation
- Conduct a thorough assessment including biomechanics, strength, range of motion, and functional self-care tasks.
- Observe the patient performing daily activities and transfers to determine safety and ability.
- Assess both physical and cognitive abilities simultaneously to ensure safety and personalized intervention.
Goal Setting with the Patient
- Directly ask patients about their personal therapy goals when possible.
- Incorporate the patient’s desired outcomes into goal creation for therapy.
- If unable to assess certain activities initially, document and plan to address in future sessions.
Recommendations / Advice
- Use all gathered information to tailor interventions and track progress towards returning the patient to desired activities.
- Adjust goals and plans based on ongoing assessments and patient input.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- Consider creating additional content on therapy interventions or addressing specific viewer questions in future videos.
- Solicit feedback and ideas for future topics from viewers.
Action Items
- TBD – Viewers: Provide feedback or questions for future video topics.
- TBD – Therapist: Follow up on unassessed areas in future sessions for a complete evaluation.