Making Functional Cognition a Professional Priority.

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Neuroscience
• Healthcare quality improvement

Background:

• Functional cognition is essential for occupational therapy practice.
• Impaired functional cognition is linked to hospital readmissions and adverse health outcomes.
• The healthcare system is increasingly focused on value-based care and quality outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the importance of functional cognition in occupational therapy.
• To advocate for the integration of functional cognition assessment and treatment in practice.
• To highlight the role of occupational therapy in reducing hospital readmissions.

Main Methods:

• Review of evidence linking functional cognition to health outcomes and healthcare costs.
• Analysis of the impact of occupational therapy services on hospital readmission rates.
• Discussion of the necessity for proactive screening, evaluation, and treatment of functional cognition impairments.

Main Results:

• Impaired cognition increases the risk of hospital readmission and negatively affects health outcomes.
• Occupational therapy interventions targeting functional cognition can reduce hospital readmission rates.
• Addressing functional cognition is crucial for achieving quality care and improved client outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapists must consistently screen for, evaluate, and treat functional cognition deficits.
• Integrating functional cognition into discharge planning is vital for client success.
• A coordinated professional effort is needed to establish occupational therapy's role in managing functional cognition.