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Essential job functions are the fundamental duties of a position: the things a person holding the job absolutely must be able to do. This helps to determine whether or not a person is being discriminated against when trying to get a job. If they can not perform the essential job functions, they are not qualified for the job.

This is an Essential Functions Guide done by Washington State Human Resources. It gives questions to ask to see when essential functions should be identified, what they are, what determines them and who is responsible to demonstrate that a function is essential.

The objectives of rehabilitation after an individual has sustained an acute spinal cord injury (SCI) include maximizing the patient's medical, functional, and psychosocial outcomes. Functional outcomes are strongly associated with the neurological level of the individual's SCI.

Carolyn Baum OT Assessments - Executive Function Performance Test; Complex Task Performance Assessment (divided attention/sequencing)

This is a handy-dandy chart of a variety of assessments that OTs can use to help determine a patient's functional limitations and how those limitations may change over time. According to fairly new rules related to Medicare, OTs and other therapists must now include a G-code which helps documents changes in patients and gives Medicare decision making abilities about the patient's future services. Originally I was looking for the use of the Barthel Index in OT settings when I found this chart and recognized some of the other assessments as well. If you are especially interested in working with older patients, this chart could be helpful.

I really like charts. I just posted one above. Thank you!

Very handy! I had thought about posting a small chart and think I will now! Thanks Beth

This is a youtube video on how to make a resting hand splint for an intrinsic plus and a functional splint. It gives step by step instructions on how to make these two splints, supplies and a visual of how to make them.

Print out our checklist to use with your patients to help them develop individual stress management strategies. Click here to print now! Stress is a commonly under-recognized, untreated dimension of recovery, rehabilitation and medical intervention. While all patients seeking medical care experience stress, for individuals with disabilities the dynamics are not the same.

The checklist Richard mentioned is a great resource! Thanks Richard. I plan on using this in the future. :)

Great article about how to help our patients with chronic conditions manage stress that impacts their daily activities.  Personal stories of stress management coping skills and how to help our clients identify their personal triggers. This article has some great questions for patients to ask themselves when identifying their personal stress management techniques.

This article list ergonomic risk factors of cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs). As occupational therapy practitioners we should focus on the following areas: highly repetitive tasks, static exertion, forceful exertions, localized mechanical stress, awkward postures, temperature exposure, and vibration (article has description of all of these). Prevention and early management are key to avoiding CTDs.

This is a link to an awesome website for The Fontana Center.  The Fontana Center is a center for work rehabilitation.  It is owned and run by an OTR and also hires COTAs, massage therapy, and fitness experts.  This place is very holistic.  It offers seminars and workshops on ergonomics and preventing work place injury.  It also prescreens employees for companies to make sure their candidate can handle the physical aspects of the job that they are applying for…this saves the company lots of money in the long run.  The facility offers functional capacity evaluations and work hardening programs.  It also has fitness classes including water aerobics/therapy, yoga, and even classes for seniors.  This is great for fall prevention! I love this place…I wonder how many places like this exist in the US?

This video is of the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function test. It includes all subtest.

This is a study of the effect of therapeutic exercise on function in stroke patients. It is about just exercise, without meaningful activity, but they used OT as well as PT therapists. It shows a significant gain in function for the patients who received ther-ex.

This quick guide provides not only the instructions but the scoring sheet as well.

Discussion on sexual function for people with a spinal cord injury. The amount of feeling and function can vary drastically depending on the level and severity of the injury to the spinal cord

Simply the highest quality, most functional patient handling equipment in the industry.

Adaptive Equipment For Dementia Patients. Adaptive equipment designed to help individuals with decreased mobility, balance, motor control or vision loss often helps the dementia patient. Other types of adaptive equipment are specially designed for patients with memory loss. Equipment may function as warning devices, such as alarms that sound when the door is opened, or promote safety, such...

Occupational therapy practitioners have the knowledge and expertise to modify activities and environments to allow individuals to do the things they want and need to do to maintain quality of life. The role of occupational therapy in oncology is to facilitate and enable an individual patient to achieve maximum functional performance, both physically and psychologically, in everyday living skills regardless of his or her life expectancy.

What is Mindfulness Meditation? Mindfulness is a type of meditation that essentially involves focusing on your mind on the present. To be mindful is to be aware of your thoughts and actions in the present, without judging yourself. Research suggests that mindfulness meditation may improve mood, decrease stress, and boost immune function.

The role of occupational therapy in oncology is "to facilitate and enable an individual patient to achieve maximum functional performance, both physically and psychologically, in everyday living skills regardless of his or her life expectancy" (p. 75).2