Follow-Up: Bridging the Gap Between Discharge and Home

Abstract

This article reports the results of a survey conducted in order to find out how occupational therapists aid their clients in transition back into the community. A brief description of the current follow-up practices of occupational therapists in the state of Michigan is provided and a discussion regarding the value of follow-up as perceived by these therapists is described. Occupational therapists were asked to identify which discipline they felt would best deliver follow-up services in their facilities. The results of this study showed that 17% of occupational therapists in Michigan followed-up with all of their clients. Results showed that among the OT practitioners who follow-up their clients post discharge, only 38% did so since follow-up and continuation of care was standard in their work sites. However, all therapists surveyed valued follow-up as a critical final step to client care. These therapists expressed the need for follow-up especially in certain percentage of their clients who are in critical need for follow-up in order to monitor their continued functional independence. Some solutions to the lack of follow-up service delivery are offered.

KEYWORDS:

• Patient discharge
• follow-up care
• transition to community