Use of Virtual Home Assessments to Develop Occupational Therapy Students' Clinical Skills and Professional Reasoning

Home assessments are within the domain of occupational therapy and therefore, often an assignment with the occupational therapy curriculum. While such assessments are best completed in-person, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions provided an opportunity for the exploration of virtual home assessments. As an experiential learning experience, 29 s-year occupational therapy students completed home assessments both in-person and virtually using telehealth technology. Reflective worksheets and small group discussions provided the students with opportunities to share their perceptions of the skills obtained through the experience, including professional reasoning, telehealth assessment, and rapport building. Virtual home assessments support skill development in home assessments and telehealth.