Community-Based Occupational Therapy

Therapy is governed by state and national practice guidelines that focus on a child's medical/functional needs in home and community settings. Community-based therapy is provided in clinics, hospitals, homes, and community settings.

In community-based therapy, the physician, family and therapist make the decision regarding amount, frequency and duration of therapy recommended. The amount of therapy actually received may be affected by whether or not an insurance company, Medicaid program, or other funding sources reimburse for the recommended services. Denials of payment are often based on perceived duplication of services between community and school providers.

A therapist or therapist assistant typically provides individual treatment. Individualized home programs and ongoing caregiver training are necessary parts of the service to encourage carryover outside of treatment.

Treatment techniques, such as hot/cold, electrical stimulation and biofeedback training may be utilized.

Families have the opportunity to seek out services from a therapist with specialty training in areas such as soft tissue mobilization, post-surgical intervention, sensory integration, aquatic therapy or neurodevelopmental treatment.

Intervention is discontinued when any of the following occurs: functional skills are achieved, a plateau in progress is reached, participation in service is limited because of various circumstances, child is stable with therapy maintenance program, and discharge is requested. At discharge, indicators for potential follow up are identified. There may still be a need for school-based therapy.