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Research Article  |   February 1991
Occupational Therapy Work-Hardening Programs: A Demographic Study
Joane M. Wyrick; Linda Ogden Niemeyer; Melanie Ellexson; Karen Jacobs; Sallie Taylor
Author Affiliations
  • Joane M. Wyrick, MA, OTR, FAOTA, is Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy Education, School of Allied Health, The University of Kansas Medical Center, 4013 Hinch Hall, 39th and Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, Kansas 66103
  • Linda Ogden Niemeyer, OTR, CVT, is a Consultant in Industrial Rehabilitation, Lake Matthews, California
  • Melanie Ellexson, OTR, MBA, is Director of Industrial Rehabilitation, Schwab Rehabilitation Center, Chicago, Illinois
  • Karen Jacobs, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, Sargent College of Allied Health Professions, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Sallie Taylor, MEd, OTR, is Director of Industrial Rehabilitation, Health Line Corporate Health Services, St. Louis, Missouri
Article Information
Work and Industry / Research
Research Article   |   February 1991
Occupational Therapy Work-Hardening Programs: A Demographic Study
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, February 1991, Vol. 45, 109-112. doi:10.5014/ajot.45.2.109
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, February 1991, Vol. 45, 109-112. doi:10.5014/ajot.45.2.109
Abstract

A survey was conducted of 192 work-hardening and work-adjustment programs to gain an overview of practice patterns. The questionnaire covered program affiliation, services offered, staffing, program scheduling, average length of treatment per client, equipment used, physical settings, program status, number of clients seen each week, and types of functional outcome studies and research. The results demonstrate the tremendous growth of the involvement of occupational therapy in work hardening. This demographic study provides baseline information that can assist in the examination of trends and the development of new programs.