Journal of Acute Care Occupational Therapy

Editor Overview

Hannah Oldenburg, EdD, OTR/L, BCPR, Jennifer Bergstrom, EdD, OTR/L, BCPR — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

We are delighted to bring you our Summer 2026 issue and announce some exciting news!

The Unique and Evolving Role of Occupational Therapy in Postpartum Acute Care

Paula Rabaey, PhD, MPH, OTR/L, Katelyn Kloubec, OTS — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have been advocating for, and increasing their unique role in maternal health and wellbeing over the past several years. However, practitioners scope of practice, holistic lens, and skill set situates them to increase their presence in acute post-partum settings for birthing individuals.

A National Survey of Trauma-Informed Practices in Acute Care Rehabilitation

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Background: Trauma-informed care (TIC) is increasingly recognized as an essential component of acute care practice; however, little is known about acute care rehabilitation providers’ perception of their ability to apply TIC in practice.

Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive survey study examined acute care rehabilitation providers’ self-reported self-efficacy, practice implementation, and perceived barriers related to providing TIC. A modified Trauma-Informed Care Provider Survey, adapted for electronic administration and revised to assess self-efficacy, was distributed to occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists practicing in inpatient acute care settings across the United States.

Results: 41 rehabilitation providers completed the survey. Respondents reported low rates of self-efficacy in understanding the evidence underlying TIC principles, eliciting trauma-related information without re-traumatization, and assessing patients’ emotional needs following trauma. Commonly reported barriers included time constraints, lack of training, fear of re-traumatizing patients, and limited organizational support. Participants also reported minimal preparedness to provide caregiver/family education about trauma.

Discussion: Findings suggest meaningful gaps in TIC preparedness and implementation among acute care rehabilitation providers. Addressing rehabilitation-specific TIC training and organizational support in acute care settings can potentially enhance rehabilitation effectiveness and improve patient outcomes in acute care.

Defining Entrustable Professional Activities and Mentorship Structures in Acute and Critical Care Occupational Therapy

Mary Sheena Estalilla, OTD, OTR/L CNS — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Background: This research aimed to define entry- and advanced-level Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for occupational therapists (OTs) in acute and critical care. Defining EPAs across practice levels could help establish shared expectations, strengthen mentorship, and promote competency development.

Methodology: A qualitative design, implemented via an online survey, was used to gather insight from 14 acute care OTs with more than three years of experience and rehabilitation leaders recruited via social media and approved recruitment sites. Findings from this survey included both quantitative and qualitative data, analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic coding, respectively.

Results: Entry-level themes included foundational evaluation skills, effective communication, and core patient safety behaviors. Expectations for safety-related EPAs varied, with some viewed as appropriate for new graduates and others for more experienced clinicians. Advanced level expectations centered on leadership, mentorship, and managing complex critical care support systems. Participants also reported inconsistent mentorship structures and varied timelines for progression across practice levels.

Discussion: Although this study did not finalize an EPA set, findings highlight common themes that can guide future EPA development, underscore the need for consistent language, and emphasize mentorship as essential to support safe, progressive skill development in this setting.

Examining provider perspectives on the role of occupational therapy in postpartum care

Alexandrea Guiritan, OTD, OTR/L, Bridget Hahn, OTD, OTR/L, CEAS, CYT — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Background: Postpartum individuals in the United States face substantial risk for morbidity and mortality, indicating a need for increased accessibility to postpartum services. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are uniquely equipped to support this period of occupational transition, through education and retraining of occupations specific to caregiving roles, routine and habit staking, and parent–infant co-occupations, alongside functional recovery and maternal mental health. Researchers examined healthcare provider perspectives on the necessity, barriers, and opportunities for OT in acute postpartum care.

Methodology: Participants included 23 health care providers of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN) and labor and delivery services and allied health professionals at a level I trauma hospital in the Midwest region of the United States. Participants completed an one-time electronic survey examining providers’ perceived importance and confidence in domains related to OT in postpartum care. A follow-up interview was completed with 10 participants to further explore providers’ perspectives regarding occupational therapy related to acute postpartum care.

Results: Findings identified gaps in perceived importance and confidence among healthcare providers specific to acute postpartum care, particularly in the domains of functional recovery and mental health, and Intervention. Barriers to OT implementation in this setting included knowledge of the scope of OT, the referral process, and reimbursement concerns.

Discussion: Researchers identified perceived gaps and practical priorities providing opportunity for occupational therapy referral pathway development and future intervention research in acute postpartum care. Identified opportunities for OT in acute postpartum care include interdisciplinary collaboration, education and training, and optimizing the referral process.