Document Type

Student Research Paper

Date

Spring 2022

Academic Department

Occupational Therapy

Faculty Advisor(s)

Dr. Chris Kimmel

Abstract

The literature suggests that community practice in occupational therapy (OT) is a beneficial and cost-effective way to expand occupational therapy services past traditional practice into emerging practice areas that meet the direct needs of the clients. Through entrepreneurship in the field, occupational therapists can expand the scope of occupational therapy practice. The purpose of this scholarship project is to increase widespread understanding of the benefits, feasibility, and challenges of entrepreneurially establishing community-based occupational therapy practice. Four occupational therapists who practice occupational therapy in a community-based setting whose practice is also entrepreneurial in nature were interviewed, and their responses were assimilated into a SWOT analysis. Based on the information collected in the SWOT analysis, it is clear that occupational therapy has a viable opportunity to expand further into communitybased practice through entrepreneurship to provide meaningful and needed services to individuals and populations. AOTA, OT schools, and other governing bodies need to support both students and practitioners interested in and currently working in entrepreneurial community-based settings to make this expansion.

Notes

Honors Senior Thesis; Honors in the Discipline

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