Occupational Therapy Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Document Type
Dissertation - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Dr.OT)
Copyright Statement
All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.
First Advisor
Heather Knoeferl
Date of original Performance / Presentation
January 2023
Publication Date / Copyright Date
1-1-2023
NSUWorks Citation
Stephanie Vanegas. 2023. The Use of CARF to Facilitate a Quality Improvement Project in an Outpatient Neuro Program: An Occupational Therapy Approach. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (120)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_ot_student_dissertations/120.
Abstract
Individuals who are affected by neurological disorders such as brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke require ongoing care following their initial hospital stays. They may seek specialty care in outpatient clinics as part of their recovery. Access to high-quality outpatient care services facilitates independence, healing, and quality of life. A quality improvement study provided the subject organization with the tools to assure the quality of the services delivered. The subject organization selected for this capstone has a neuro outpatient program that delivers comprehensive care, including occupational, physical, and speech therapy services. The program's quality, efficiency, and effectiveness have never been formally assessed. This doctoral capstone project evaluated the outpatient program mission and vision using the provider, administrative, and care recipient lens in conjunction with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) standards. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was completed and determined which CARF standards could be remediated using occupational therapy. A literature review was completed to support further the need to remediate those practice scholarship standards for the outpatient program. A quality improvement methodology was conducted. Data collected from the literature review was analyzed using the Kawa River Model for each stakeholder. The Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) served as a framework for improving patient outcomes, increasing clinician productivity, and maintaining access to specialty care. This capstone laid the groundwork for potential CARF accreditation for the subject organization.
Disciplines
Occupational Therapy
Keywords
accredidation; occupational therapy; quality improvement; theory