Quality

AOTA member spotlight: Sabrena McCarley, MBA-SL, OTR/L, CLIPP, RAC-CT, QCP, FAOTA

02/03/2021

Sabrena McCarley, MBA-SL, OTR/L, CLIPP, RAC-CT, QCP, FAOTA, is currently a Director of Quality at Select Rehabilitation. She spoke to the AOTA Director of Quality, Julie Malloy, MOT, OTR/L, PMP, CPHQ, about her interest in quality throughout her career.

image of Sabrena McCarley

Julie:How did you become interested in healthcare quality?

Sabrena: I started my occupational therapy career with a fieldwork placement working with the incarcerated population. I was fascinated by the high number of mental health conditions in these individuals. I wanted to look at reducing the recidivism rate, so I focused on looking at quality and data during my capstone project. I’ve always really been drawn to data and analysis and looking at regulatory and compliance issues. My interest in quality continued to progress throughout my career and led to me getting an MBA in Strategic Leadership.

Julie: What is your role in quality now?

Sabrena: Currently I am a Director of Quality for Select Rehabilitation, an agency that provides therapy service providers to clients across the country. I love my position here! Every day is different - I get to use all of my skills and work on data analysis, training, and program development, among many other things. I get to help practitioners have high-quality outcomes and have a positive impact on the lives of their patients.

Julie: How do you recommend occupational therapy practitioners ensure they are incorporating quality principles into practice?

Sabrena: Take pride in what you do, including in your documentation and your patient outcomes. Right now is a difficult time for everyone because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But occupational therapy practitioners, with our background in both physical and psychosocial functioning, have the skills to address the needs of patients. Our facilities need us, but sometimes don’t understand what we do. Advocating for our patients is key. Share results from the occupational profiles you complete and look at care plans to ensure patient needs are being addressed. In addition, look at the data from your facility and see where we can help partner on outcomes and clinical programming. I’ve always believed that good clinical programs will lead to good clinical outcomes.

Julie: What do you recommend to other occupational therapists who are interested in healthcare quality?

Sabrena: Be willing to get involved. Occupational therapy practitioners need to be involved and have a seat at the table for conversations about quality. If we aren’t there with a voice, then someone else is. I take every opportunity I can to be involved in advocating for the profession. If I’m asked to participate in a committee or speak at an event, I take that opportunity to represent the profession and our patients. You never know what those opportunities might lead to.

For any comments or questions, or to share more stories about quality, please contact quality@aota.org.

Posted: February 3, 2021

Quality

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Quality

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Quality

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