Enough is enough: Stop the politicization of the American Occupational Therapy Association

A recent article published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy furthers the politicization of the professional association by issuing another full-throated endorsement of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 'Triple Aim.' Leland et.al. (2015) state that "Failure of the profession to clearly demarcate what constitutes high-quality occupational therapy and demonstrate its contribution to the broader patient outcomes that value-based care will measure may marginalize occupational therapy in the rapidly changing health care environment."Unfortunately, the authors align the concept of 'value' with the IHI 'Triple Aim' that includes "improving the individual experience of care; improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita costs of care for populations." (Berwick, Nolan, and Whittington, 2008).  These objectives sound quite noble, but they break the primary social contract that health care providers have with their patients - namely to provide competent and ethical care that is based on needs and that promotes health.The 'Triple Aim' is a politically oriented initiative that seeks to control the costs of health care as it is being taken over by governmental structures.  It has very little to do with actual care.  Gur-Arie (2013) summarized the proper concern that people should have about 'Triple Aim' best:When you find yourself in a strange room, partially covered by a large paper towel, and otherwise completely naked, conte...
Source: ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog - Category: Occupational Health Tags: health insurance OT practice policy Source Type: blogs