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Appreciating Occupational Therapy's Role in Addressing Driving

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About the Course
Occupational therapists (OTs) support participation in the community, which includes addressing driving and community mobility for individuals of all ages and in all populations.  Driving and community mobility are highly complex instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) that can have a direct impact on engagement in other areas of occupations.  OTs and other Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (e.g. driving instructors with special training, physical therapists, psychiatrists, physicians, etc.) evaluate sensory, cognitive, and motor performance skills and relate findings to performance.  OTs have unique education and training in further evaluating a client’s performance patterns, contexts (including supports and barriers), and the influence driving and community mobility has in daily life and overall well-being.  This transactional perspective is unique to OT and situates our profession in the forefront of addressing this IADL and the issues that may arise if/when this IADL is compromised.  

OTs have an ethical obligation to address the valued task of driving and to assess if OT interventions can promote and/or prolong safe driving. The 2018 ACOTE Standards require entry level OT education programs to ensure students are able to “Evaluate the needs of persons, groups, and populations to design programs that enhance community mobility, and implement transportation transitions, including driver rehabilitation and community access.” However, based upon the geographical area and practice setting, practitioners might not feel comfortable in addressing driving, or assume another provider is addressing. The?strong link between driving, community mobility, and other occupations provides a clear need for all OTs to commit to addressing driving with clients.  OTs have the knowledge necessary to identify those who are medically at risk and to provide necessary resources related to driving and community mobility, although some OTs may leave this to specialists in the field of driver rehabilitation. 

Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

  • Identify the importance of addressing driving in general occupational therapy (OT) practice. 
  • Define the roles of occupational therapy practitioner (OTP) generalists, driver rehabilitation professionals (DRP) and credentialed driver rehabilitation specialists.   
  • Recognize how to develop an occupational profile related to driving and community mobility.  
  • Identify cognitive, visual, physical, and social factors influencing driving and driver safety.   
  • Recognize how clinical conditions, aging, and disease progression may impact driver roles and safety.   
  • Choose assessments that assess cognitive, visual perceptual and physical skills needed for driving across the lifespan 
  • Identify assessment results to determine appropriate recommendations for driving and referrals to DRS or CDRS.   
  • Recall national and state driving resources when making recommendations related to driving.

About the Author/Presenter
Dr. Kandy Salter, OTD, OTR/L is the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program. She has been an occupational therapist for 20?years specializing in neurologic rehabilitation and driver rehabilitation. She has been working at the University of Arkansas since March 2018 and her primary responsibilities currently include development of clinical education, capstone coordination, and developing program policies and procedures. Dr. Salter has been a member of the Association of Driver Rehabilitation Specialists since 2018 and has completed over 150 hours of continuing education specific to driver rehabilitation.  She enjoys coordinating CarFit events and speaking to aging drivers about driver safety.  She has been invited as a guest lecturer to discuss the role OTs have in addressing driving and community mobility with entry level OT students at 4 different Universities in AR, OK, and KS. 

How to Receive Credit 

  • View the entire recording which requires a 2-hour commitment of time.
  • After completion of the course, complete the final examination. A passing grade of 75% is required. Test questions link content to learning outcomes as a method to enhance individualized learning and material retention. 
    Note to Nursing professionals: Depending on your state requirements, you will be asked to either affirm that you have completed the course, or you will be required to complete the Post-test included in the course.
  • Provide required personal information and payment information.
  • Complete the mandatory course evaluation.
  • Print your Certificate of Completion.

Resolution of Conflict of Interest
Colibri Healthcare, LLC implemented mechanisms prior to the planning and implementation of the continuing education activity, to identify and resolve conflicts of interest for all individuals in a position to control content of the course activity.
 

Sponsorship/Commercial Support and Non-Endorsement
It is the policy of Colibri not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
 

Disclaimer
The information provided in this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.
©2023: All Rights Reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without the expressed written permission or consent of Colibri Healthcare, LLC. The materials presented in this course are meant to provide the consumer with general information on the topics covered. The information provided was prepared by professionals with practical knowledge of the areas covered. It is not meant to provide medical, legal, or professional advice. Colibri Healthcare, LLC recommends that you consult a medical, legal, or professional services expert licensed in your state. Colibri Healthcare, LLC has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that all content provided in this course is accurate and up to date at the time of printing but does not represent or warrant that it will apply to your situation nor circumstances and assumes no liability from reliance on these materials. Quotes are collected from customer feedback surveys. The models are intended to be representative and not actual customers.

Accreditations and Approvals

AOTA logoColibri Healthcare, LLC is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# 8476. This Distance Learning-Independent is offered at 0.2 CEUs, Introductory, OT Service Delivery, Professional Issues. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.