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Improving the utilization of occupational therapy: a quality assurance study
Summary
A quality assurance study addressed missed occupational therapy referrals for patients with activities of daily living (ADL) deficiency. Improvements reduced missed referrals from 71% to 27%, enhancing patient care and communication.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Occupational Therapy Practice
- Patient Rehabilitation
Background:
- Significant deficits in referrals to occupational therapy (OT) were observed for patients with activities of daily living (ADL) deficiencies.
- This quality assurance study was initiated by the OT department in an acute-care community hospital to address the identified referral gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and improve the referral process for occupational therapy services in an acute-care setting.
- To establish and meet departmental referral standards for patients with ADL deficiencies.
Main Methods:
- Established clear referral standards for occupational therapy, approved by medical staff.
- Conducted initial measurements to quantify the rate of missed referrals.
- Implemented targeted interventions to improve the referral system.
- Re-evaluated referral rates post-intervention.
Main Results:
- Initial assessment revealed that 71% of patients requiring OT referrals did not receive them, far exceeding the 15% staff standard.
- Following the implementation of improvements, the rate of missed referrals decreased by 44 percentage points, from 71% to 27%.
Conclusions:
- The quality improvement initiative significantly reduced missed occupational therapy referrals.
- The study enhanced interdisciplinary communication, improved functional patient assessments, and fostered greater staff engagement in quality assurance.