title: Developing occupational therapy best practice guidelines for acute medical services.
abstract: Occupational Therapists began exploring their role in Acute Medicine in the late 1990's.1 A decade later the presence of Occupational Therapists in accident & emergency departments and acute medical units is seen as routine. The literature and evidence base to support this, however, has not progressed as rapidly. With few guidelines to support practice the authors produced a document locally to promote standardisation of good practice and equity of treatment within all relevant NHS Lothian and NHS Borders sites. A table illustrates the specialist skills necessary for Occupational Therapy in Acute Medicine and appendices outline components of various assessments. It is hoped that as therapists progress through the flow chart they can utilise further sections of the guidelines related to specific assessments. This article will introduce the reader to the occupational therapy process in acute medicine and describe the guidelines that are currently in use.
authors: Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, Little France, Edinburgh EH16 4SA.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Mearns
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Millar
authors: Fiona
authors: F
authors: Murray
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Fraser