Educational Opportunities
Because hospitalists look at the bigger picture of what is going on with patients, they generally consult occupational therapy early enough so that therapists can educate hospitalists, patients, and families at Morales’ institution. This also helps prevent patients’ further deconditioning, and helps them to arrive at a discharge disposition earlier.
Dr. Rajput, who is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, (Brunswick) New Jersey–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, thinks it would benefit those involved in medical education and hospital medicine “to see that there is sufficient formal training for the residency level or hospitalist level to understand the component [of occupational therapy] and the indication for occupational therapy, and occupational therapy versus physical therapy, as practice.”
Conclusion
Hospitalists can help their occupational therapist colleagues by recognizing the distinction between occupational therapy and physical therapy, making timely and appropriate referrals, writing consults in an open-ended manner to allow occupational therapists to do “whole-person” assessments, and making sure to educate themselves and their hospitalist colleagues on the services and needs of occupational therapists. TH
Andrea Sattinger regularly writes the “Alliances” department.