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Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services

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Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy (OT) involves the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) with individuals, groups, communities, and populations to optimize independence, quality of life, and participation in roles in the home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. OT services are provided for habilitation, rehabilitation, and health promotion and wellness by using evidence-based clinical services.
OT via telehealth (OT provider looking at a veterans via a comptuer)
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Occupational Therapists and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) provide state-of-the-art and evidence-based care to Veterans and servicemembers. Occupational Therapy provides services that promote health and wellness to Veterans who have, or are at risk for developing, an injury, illness, disease or condition spanning physical, cognitive, sensory, and psychosocial domains. Occupational Therapy evaluation and treatment supports Veterans' engagement in everyday life activities that affect their physical, and mental health and well-being. Occupational therapy services are provided at:

  • Outpatient clinics
  • Inpatient settings
  • Community Living Centers
  • Veterans' homes and communities
  • Tele-rehabilitation 
Occupational Therapy covers a broad spectrum of neurological, orthopedic, medical, pre/post-surgical, and mental (behavioral) health conditions, as well as health promotion, wellness, and management of chronic conditions. Occupational Therapy specializations include:
  • Return to Independent Living in the Home and Community after illness or injury
  • Return to School and Work
  • Mental Health Promotion, Prevention, and Intervention
  • Home Safety and Accessibility
  • Productive Aging and Aging in Place
  • Independent living to reduce risk of homelessness
  • Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction
  • Driving and Community Mobility
  • Vision Rehabilitation
  • Falls Prevention
  • Assistive Technology
  • Wheelchair Seating and Mobility
  • Ergonomics
  • Health and Wellness
  • Cognitive Rehabilitation
  • Pain Management
  • Women's Health
  • Lymphedema Management
  • Hand Therapy

Occupational Therapy Facts

  • VHA is the single largest employer of occupational therapists, employing more than 1,700 occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistants.
  • Occupational Therapy practitioners provide Veteran-centric, state-of-the-art and evidence-based care (including telehealth) to over 500 VA sites.
  • OT provides value-based and distinct services; no other discipline holistically measures functional, physical, and cognitive skills through occupations. 
  • “Occupational therapy is the only spending category where additional spending has a statistically significant association with lower readmission rates” for the three health conditions studied: heart failure, pneumonia, and acute myocardial infarction. (AOTA, 2016) doi.org/10.1177/1077558716666981  Source: Rogers, A. T., Bai, G., Lavin, R. A., & Anderson, G. F. (2016, September 2).
Occupational Therapist working with a Veteran in a Wheelchair

 

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and VA Fellowship Programs


VA AOTA accredited Fellowship Programs provide training in a specialized area of practice, and include an AOTA approved curriculum, intensive mentoring, and clinical experience in a focused area of practice. VA Fellowship Coordinator point of contact and “Learn More” information included below.

National Occupational Therapy Fellowship Coordinator Point of Contact:
Marcelo Silva, OTD, MA, OTR/L, BCPR

Assistive Technology

CVAMC Occupational Therapy Fellowship in Assistive Technology
Cincinnati VA Medical Center and University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Coordinator: Jamie K. Basch, DHSc, OTR/L
Learn More


JAHVH Assistive Technology Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital
Tampa, FL
Coordinator: Katherine Litman, MOT, OTR/L
Learn More

Gerontology

CVAMC Occupational Therapy Fellowship in Gerontology
Cincinnati VA Medical Center and University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Coordinator: Jamie K. Basch, DHSc, OTR/L
Learn More

Hand Therapy and Upper Extremity

Hand Therapy and Upper Extremity Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program
Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center
Gainesville, FL
Coordinator: Rachelle DeLucas, MOT, OTR/L, CHT
Learn More

Hand Therapy and Upper Extremity Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program
Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Minneapolis, MN
Coordinator: Laurie Humiston, MS, OTR/L, CHT
Learn More

Hand Therapy and Upper Extremity Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program
Richmond VA Medical Center
Richmond, VA
Coordinators: Deborah K. Vanderburg, OTR/L, CHT and Patricia D. Cooper, MSHA, M.ED., OTR/L
Learn More

JAHVH Hand Therapy and Upper Extremity Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital
Tampa, FL
Coordinator: Katherine Litman, MOT, OTR/L
Learn More


Mental Health

Psychosocial Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy (PSR OT) Fellowship Program
Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System
Durham, NC
Coordinator: Allison Taylor, MS, OTR/L, CPRP
Learn More

Geriatric Mental Health Occupational Therapy (GMH OT) Fellowship Program
Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System
Durham, NC
Coordinator: Benjamin Triplett, MDiv, MSOT, OTR/L
Learn More

JAHVH Mental Health Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital
Tampa, FL
Coordinator: Katherine Litman, MOT, OTR/L
Learn More

Mental Health Occupational Therapy Fellowship
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center
Milwaukee, WI
Coordinators: Melissa Ward-Healy, OTR/L and Asha Grisby, MOT, OTR/L
Learn More

Neurorehabilitation

JAHVH Neurorehabilitation Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital
Tampa, FL
Coordinator: Katherine Litman, MOT, OTR/L
Learn More

VA Boston Healthcare System Neurorehabilitation Occupational Therapy Fellowship
Boston, MA
Coordinator: Lindsay Brennan, MSOT, OTR/L
Learn More

Palo Alto VA Health Care System Neurorehabilitation Occupational Therapy Fellowship
Palo Alto, CA
Coordinator: Kathleen Gorman, OTD, OTR/L
Learn More


Physical Rehabilitation

Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program
Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Milwaukee, WI
Coordinator: Asha Grisby, MOTR/L
Learn More

Physical Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program
VA St. Louis Health Care System
St. Louis, MO
Coordinator: Alicia Stone, OTR/L
Learn More


VA Central Office Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services Occupational Therapy Point of Contact:: 

Frederica O'Donnell, OTD, OTR/L


VHA OT Field Advisory Council Chair:

Lindsay Marth, MA, OTR/L, BCPR



Additional Resources

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