Domain and Process

Outcomes

Outcomes are the results clients achieve through occupational therapy intervention. Outcomes are established using assessment tools and outcome performance measures. The success and effectiveness of occupational therapy services in improving clients' occupational performance and participation are demonstrated through outcomes.

Three older women with arms around each other laughing outside

Outcomes of occupational therapy are:

Occupational performance
Prevention
Health and wellness
Quality of life
Participation
Role competence
Well-being
Occupational justice

Outcomes are the end result of the occupational therapy process; they describe what clients can achieve through occupational therapy intervention. Some outcomes are objective and are used for intervention review and discharge planning. These outcomes reﬂect progress towards and attainment of intervention goals that relate to engagement in occupation.

Other outcomes are experienced by clients after occupational therapy intervention. These are called patient-reported outcomes. Examples of patient-reported outcomes include confidence, self-efficacy, pain reduction, and satisfaction with services.

Integrating outcomes into daily practice

Practitioners should:

Collaborate with the client, family members, and caregivers to establish meaningful outcomes for occupational therapy intervention.
Identify the outcomes that are important to payers and regulatory agencies associated with their practice setting.
Use outcome measures and assessment tools at the beginning of the occupational therapy process to guide decision-making.
Assess outcomes frequently to determine if there is a need to modify the intervention plan based on the client's progress and changing needs.
Use outcomes to make decisions about transition planning, referral, discontinuation of services, and discharge planning.
Document outcomes to demonstrate the effectiveness of occupational therapy services.

Resources

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2), 7412410010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2018). Guidelines for documentation of occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(Suppl. 2), 7212410010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.72S203

AOTA member spotlight: Mary Walsh-Sterup, OTR/L, CHT

April 12, 2024

Mary Walsh-Sterup, OTR/L, CHT, is an Occupational Therapist and Partner at Central Nebraska Rehab Services. She spoke to Jamar Haggans, MS, OTR/L, Director of Quality at AOTA about her current position and how she became interested in quality.

Quality

AOTA member spotlight: Natalie Leland, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, FGSA

April 11, 2024

Natalie Leland, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, FGSA, is a Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh. She spoke to Jamar Haggans, MS, OTR/L, Director of Quality at AOTA about her current position and how she became interested in quality.

Coding and Billing

Remote Therapeutic Monitoring

Kim Karr, OTR/L, CPHQ, RAC-CT May 09, 2023

Educational article describing coding definitions, documentation requirements, and billing considerations for occupational therapy use of RTM codes.