Why Should Occupational Therapists be the Insurance Bureau of Canada

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

• OCT 1131 Occupational Therapy Practice I
• October 14th, 2004
• Presented by Alda Melo, Victoria Prooday, Zahra
  Jamal, Silvia Bernal, Brenda Dorey Shira
  Tenenbaum

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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

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Context

• For years IBC has funded various health
  professionals, both regulated and unregulated, to
  conduct in-home assessments

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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

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Agenda

• Home Assessment
• definition purpose
• What do OTs bring to a home assessment?
• How can OTs benefit the IBC?
• Summary
• QA

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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

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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)

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What do OTs 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
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What do OTs 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)

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How Can OTs Benefit the IBC?

• Help stabilize costs in the rehabilitation sector
• Effective rehabilitation reduces cost
• Continuity between assessment and rehabilitation
  treatment

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How Can OTs Benefit the IBC?

• Good value for your money
• Education
• Standardized tools
• Westmead Home Safety Assessment (Clemson, 1997)
• Reduce future claims
• Hourly Rate (IBC, 2003)

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OT is the Choice

• Occupational therapy is the ideal profession to
  do home assessments
• Knowledge
• Experience
• Tools
• And COST EFFECTIVE!

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Q A
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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?

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The End
Thank-you!