Primary Care: A New Context for the Scholarship of Practice Model

Interest in the emerging role for occupational therapy in the primary care practice setting has increased due to implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which intends to expand health care coverage to uninsured Americans while improving coordination of care, health outcomes, and cost savings. Expanding occupational therapy to encompass promotion of wellness and prevention in a primary care context provides an opportunity for occupational therapy. The purpose of this article is to describe the role of occupational therapy in primary care and how the Scholarship of Practice model can guide the development of occupation-based and evidence-based best practice in primary care.