Occupational Therapy for Functional Impairments Resulting From COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report.

This case report examines the role of occupational therapy in the recovery of a client who became critically ill with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In it, we describe evaluation and treatment methods, functional impairments, and special considerations when working with a client with severe coronavirus disease 2019 infection. The client was a 43-yr-old Hispanic man treated in a long-term acute-care hospital. Client-centered treatment sessions focused on activities of daily living (ADLs), self-feeding, medication management, and leisure and were implemented in 30- to 45-min sessions 3 times per week for 5 wk. The Activity Measure for Post Acute Care Daily Activities Short Form was used to measure basic mobility, daily activities, and applied cognition in the acute setting. A manual dynamometer was used to measure grip strength, and the Nine-Hole Peg Test was used to measure digit dexterity. Both were used in the context of occupational engagement. Data were collected at evaluation, every 2 wk, and at discharge. The client achieved his goals and demonstrated marked improvement in independence with basic ADLs, leisure activities, bilateral grip strength, and manual dexterity.

Occupational Therapy: Essential to Critical Care Rehabilitation.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic reshaped the health care landscape, leading to the reassignment of essential health care workers to critical areas and widespread furloughs of providers deemed nonessential, including occupational therapy practitioners. Although multidisciplinary critical care teams often include occupational therapy practitioners, efforts to define, measure, and disseminate occupational therapy's unique contributions to critical care outcomes have been overlooked. This editorial provides recommendations to improve the occupational therapy profession's readiness to meet society's current and future pandemic needs. We propose a three-pronged strategy to strengthen occupational therapy clinical practice, education, and advocacy to illuminate the distinct value of occupational therapy in critical care.