Occupational therapy intervention for residents in a skilled nursing facility: a focus on atypical patients.
The 1990 implementation of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) has expanded opportunities for occupational therapists to treat individuals with non-traditional illnesses. Therapists working in skilled nursing and long term care can benefit from gaining an understanding of the OBRA guidelines and patient's rights, especially regarding restraint reduction. Occupational therapists possess the necessary skills to assess and treat these individuals to help maximize their functioning as well as improve their quality of life (Moon-Sperling & Pinson, 1991). The premise of this article is to inform therapists about various types of ethical and legal intervention with atypical patients in skilled nursing facilities and to introduce therapists to the laws supporting provision of these services. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: getinfo@haworth.com].
Clinical Specialist in occupational therapy for NovaCare Inc., in Washington, NC. She has over 10 years experience working in long term care settings and 5 years working with non-traditional patients. She is board certified in neurorehabilitation and is certified in seating and positioning.
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