Why Should Occupational Therapists be the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Provider of Choice for In-Home Assessments?

OCT 1131: Occupational Therapy Practice IOctober 14th, 2004

Presented by: Alda Melo, Victoria Prooday, Zahra Jamal, Silvia Bernal, Brenda Dorey & Shira

Tenenbaum

Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) IBC is the national trade association of

non-government property and casualty insurers.

The IBC identifies and monitors key policy issues affecting the general insurance industry, and develops appropriate policy papers and strategies

www.ibc.ca/aboutus.asp

Context For years IBC has funded various

health professionals, both regulated and unregulated, to conduct in-home assessments

Context Under Bill 198 (2003) only regulated health

care professionals are authorized to do home assessments in the automotive sector (Insurance Bureau of Canada, 2003)

Occupational Therapists should be the provider of choice for in-home assessments so there is consistency across assessments and intervention recommendations

Agenda Home Assessment

definition & purpose What do OT’s bring to a home

assessment? How can OT’s benefit the IBC? Summary Q&A

Home Assessment Performed as part of the treatment

plan for an injured client

Analyzes the components of a specific home environment relevant to a particular client

Home Assessment Ergonomic risk factors and the

need for assisting devices are also assessed

Results are used to make recommendations to insurance companies about rehabilitation interventions (IBC, 2004)

What do OT’s Bring to the Home Assessment? Unique theoretical perspective that

recognizes the importance of the interaction between person, occupation and environment (Kennedy, 1997)

Occupational Performance

Law et al, 1996

What do OT’s Bring to the Home Assessment? Client-centered approach that is

holistic in nature

Educated professionals with knowledge of biological, behavioral, social and occupational sciences (Kennedy, 1997)

How Can OT’s Benefit the IBC? Help stabilize costs in the

rehabilitation sector

Effective rehabilitation reduces cost

Continuity between assessment and rehabilitation treatment

How Can OT’s Benefit the IBC? Good value for your money

Education Standardized tools

Westmead Home Safety Assessment (Clemson, 1997)

Reduce future claims Hourly Rate (IBC, 2003)

OT is the Choice Occupational therapy is the ideal

profession to do home assessments: Knowledge Experience Tools And COST EFFECTIVE!

Q & A

Questions & Discussion There is a lack of quantitative

research to show that occupational therapy is cost-effective - Why do you think this is the case?

The End