Residency perspectives and evidence to inform primary care occupational therapy practice

In my residency work at Kaiser Permanente Internal Medicine department, services were provided for the support of lifestyle habit and routine development and implementation around concerns such as stress, anxiety, chronic disease management, and preventive care. Throughout my residency, I have received a broad range of referrals primarily from stress and trauma arising in domestic abuse situations, and other conditions such as a new cancer diagnosis, sensory sensitivities while navigating a public high school, elevated A1C levels, or weight management in the wake of a jam-packed life schedule. My role was to support clients in reaching their lifestyle goals and demonstrate the effectiveness of occupational therapy within a comprehensive care model in improving their life satisfaction, quality, and overall health and well-being. Throughout the year, I researched literature to provide evidence-based interventions, designed materials to educate clients, and compiled community resources to support clients’ goals. These tasks were undertaken in order to conduct an analysis of outcome measures and program evaluation dedicated to demonstrating the impact of occupational therapy within a primary care setting. This article provides perspectives from the primary care practice setting with mind-body interventions focused on nervous system regulation for trauma and stress, with an emphasis on clients with domestic abuse.