WHY SHOULD OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS CONSIDER EMERGING PRACTICE?

Emerging practice is a relatively new development within the profession. Occupational therapists shared belief in the use of occupational engagement to promote health, well-being and full participation in life makes them the perfect candidate for filling many of these emerging roles(Fidler 2000). There are many occupations that a person participates in each day and an occupational therapist is the qualified individual that can analyse these if a person is facing barriers to their participation in the occupations that they find meaningful to them. Other health professions do not have the same occuaptional lens from which to holistically view an individual, in order to consider the many facets and aspects that may be impacting/impeeding their participation in their meaningful occupations. According to Christiansen and Townsend (2010), to take an occupational perspective of life and society, we raise questions and seek answers about occupations. There are many ways that people occupy their time, and many occupations that people participate in on a daily basis and going to work is one them. Occupation is central to occupational therapy. Although occupation is a universal experience, occupational therapists need to consider the risks and opportunities of exploring new roles and maintaining existing services(Letts 2011). Due to the need for increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness, the availability of new information and greater technology, and increased public expectation, there has been a greater emphasis on community- based services and primary health care. So this means that the generic occupational therapy role of being based in a hospital setting will not be as common in the future due to the expectation of people to stay in their own homes instead of hospitals and institions such as resthomes. Due to the advancement of technology the practice of occupational therapy is able to become more mobile and less institutionalized, people have access to more information more easily and occupational therapists need to address how best to adapt their practice in order to adapt for this and meet the needs of the client. Nothing in life is ever static. Things have to change and evolve in order for the world to progress. In the future occupational therapists should not define the need for their services by a persons illness or sickness but instead take occupation-based view of health and well-being that applies to all humans whether living with acute illness, chronic disease, life stresses, or dealing with the challenges of growing or aging. It also challenges occupational therapists to think beyond an individual focus of occupation to community, societal, and environmental aspects. Potential rewards of being part of an emerging practice may include increased understanding of the profession by others and opportunities for new development, providing services to meet underserved or unserved clients, improving clients' quality of life, and acting as change agents in communities and for specific populations (Holmes & Scaffa, 2009). REFERENCES Christiansen, C. A. & Townsend, E. A. (2010). Introduction to Occupation. The Art and Science of Living. United States of America. Pearson. Fidler, G. S. (2000). The issue is: Beyond the therapy model: Building our future. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54(1), 99–101. Holmes, W. M., & Scaffa, M. E. (2009). The nature of emerging practice in occupational therapy: A pilot study. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 23, 189-206. doi:10.1080/07380570902976759 Letts, L. J. (2011). Optimal positioning of occupational therapy. Muriel Driver Memorial Lecture 2011. Canadian Journal Of Occupational Therapy, 78(4), 209-219. doi:10.2182/cjot.2011.78.4.2