School-based OT Workload Trends

The change from “caseload” to “workload” may not seem that dramatic, but make no mistake it is a quiet revolution that is happening in school-based OT.

It fundamentally shifts how we deliver care.

The article we are discussing on the podcast encourages a shifting away from an individualist, medical model “caseload” based approach. And, encourages us to embrace a “workload” approach, which hypothetically yields opportunities to focus more on population health.

This shift has been underway for a while now, and the research we are looking at gives us an update on how this change is playing out on the front lines.

After our article review, I’m so excited to talk about this with Jayson Davies of the OT School House! Jayson has experienced this shift in his own practice, and has a wealth of experience supporting school-based OTs.

1. You will be able to recognize how a workload approach could benefit your students.

2. You will be able to identify barriers to implementing a workload approach.

• Intro

• Breakdown and analysis of journal article

  • Intro to caseload versus workload

  • What research and writing has been done on the workload paradigm?

  • Let’s get real: Barriers to switching to a workload paradigm

  • What was the purpose of this paper?

  • What were the methods?

  • What were the results?

  • Conclusions and discussion

  • Implications for OT practitioners

  • Takeaways for OT practitioners

• Discussion on practical implications for OTs (with Jayson Davies)

  1. Jayson, can you tell us how you found OT?

  2. What drew you to school-based OT?

  3. From your vantage point, how much of the conversation about caseload versus workload is happening in academia versus on the frontlines?

  4. How do we meet the needs of individual IEP goals with a workload paradigm?

  5. How are school OTs’ positions funded, and what are the forces that dictate your time?

  6. What are the challenges to push-in therapy, and how can we get better at it?

  7. Do you know of any success stories where OTs have transitioned to a workload paradigm?

  8. How have you adjusted your personal practice based on research like this?

  9. I think the push toward population health in the school setting is a bellwether for the rest of OT. Do you agree, and how do we continue to make this shift?

Primary

• Caseload and workload: Current trends in school-based practice across the United States

Additional

• Occupational therapy role in school-based practice: Perspectives from teachers and OTs

• Revitalizing the OT role in school-based practice: Promoting success for all students

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OT Potential's interest in this topic: We have no financial stake in this topic and no financial connection to our speaker's courses.

Speaker interests: Jayson Davies sells online courses for school-based OT practitioners through OT Schoolhouse. They were not promoted during this course, though his podcast, website, and courses are linked in his bio on this page.