Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS) - Occupational Therapy (OT)

April is Occupational Therapy Month

This  April, the VA proudly celebrates Occupational Therapy Month, recognizing the profound and transformative impact our occupational therapy (OT) providers have on the lives of our esteemed Veterans. In 2024, under the theme "Occupational Therapy: Advancing Health, Well-Being, and Quality of Life," we honor the dedicated professionals who bring hope and possibilities to the forefront of Veterans' lives.  
    - OT fact sheet (PDF).
    - OT Mental Health fact sheet (PDF)

At VA, we recognize the important role of our Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), not just this month, but throughout the year!

Occupational Therapy at VA:

• Offers personalized and client-centered evaluation and treatment to facilitate Veterans' participation in activities that hold personal meaning to them.
• Utilizes the therapeutic power of everyday life activities (occupations) to support engagement in their home, work, school, and community settings.
• Promotes health and wellness for all Veterans and especially those who are navigating life with, or who are at elevated risk for injury, illness, or disease.
• Provides evaluation and treatment through a holistic and uniquely OT lens, to comprehensively and concurrently addressing physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory functioning, and skills that impact everyday participation.

Join us in celebrating Occupational Therapy Month

Connecting Veterans to the Soonest and Best Care.
Occupational therapy is pivotal in connecting our Veterans to the soonest and best care. These skilled professionals ensure that Veterans receive timely and effective rehabilitation, contributing directly to our commitment to prioritizing their well-being.

Occupational Therapy Practitioners are Natural Innovators in VA Health Care.
Several OT practitioners have received Spark Seed Spread innovation investments from the Innovation Ecosystem allowing them the ability to test and pilot their innovative ideas with the goal to spread across VHA to other OT practitioners. OT has been actively involved in the development of virtual reality into the daily practice of OT. VHA Assistive Technology Centers have partnered with Amazon to find ways to bring innovative assistive technologies and rehabilitation technologies solutions to our Veterans both within the medical centers as well as their homes and communities.

Occupational Therapy Practitioners Provide Care to Rural Veterans.  
Funded by the Office of Rural Health, the iTeleOT program is an integrated approach to address the needs of post-hospitalized older adult Veterans. iTeleOT is designed to increase access to OT services for rural Veterans in a timely manner through the use of telehealth to optimize patient-centric, whole health, and aging-at-home alternatives to institutionalized care. 

Gender Affirming Prosthetics Care.
Using a telehealth hybrid model, the Spark Project “Occupational therapy and gender-affirming prosthetics care” is paving the way for OT’s expanding role in providing gender affirming prosthetics care for transgender and gender diverse Veterans. Occupational therapy practitioners use a holistic approach to understanding the medical, physical, environmental, cultural, and psychosocial influencing factors regarding the fitting, issuing, and training of devices. This initiative aims to ensure all transgender and gender diverse Veterans have quality access to medically necessary gender-affirming devices.

Veterans Transitioning from Homelessness.
Integration and Adaptation Occupational Therapy services (IAOT) serves rural Veterans transitioning from homelessness to provide the skills and accessibility to remain safely and successfully housed using an innovative model of both synchronous and asynchronous care and consultation to set these Veterans to thrive rather than just to survive.

Training the Future Cohorts of Advanced Practitioners dedicated to providing Client-Centered and Evidence-Based Services to Veterans and their Caregivers.
In partnership with the Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 19 Occupational Therapy Fellowship Programs (OTFPs) have been developed and implemented throughout the enterprise in the following focused areas of practice: assistive technology, gerontology, hand and upper extremity rehabilitation, lymphedema, mental health, neurorehabilitation, and physical rehabilitation. OTFPs are post-professional training programs providing comprehensive didactic and experiential learning opportunities enabling participants to enhance their knowledge and skills in advanced areas of practice. 

Research in OT. 
In collaboration with clinical teams, OTs are engaged in research by developing and testing novel telehealth evaluations and interventions for Veteran populations such Veterans living with dementia or phantom limb pain. This work positively impacts Veteran care and builds upon evidence-based approaches to be disseminated throughout the VA enterprise.

Supporting Veterans' Whole Health.
The holistic approach of occupational therapy aligns with our mission to support Veterans' whole health, including that of their caregivers and survivors. This month, we underscore our dedication to the overall well-being of the Veterans we serve and those who support them.

Scaling Best Practices and Driving Innovation.
Our OT practitioners continually seek innovative ways to improve rehabilitation and enhance Veterans' lives. This month, we highlight their innovative approaches and commitment to best practices.

Promoting Equity for All Veterans.
Occupational therapy embraces diversity and inclusion, providing personalized care for all Veterans. This month, we emphasize the importance of equitable care for every Veteran, regardless of their background.

Thank you to the occupational therapy professionals who provide outstanding care to Veterans every day!        

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