Occupational therapy benchmarks within orthopedic (hip) critical pathways

Objective. This study examined patient performance benchmarks for occupatio nal therapy within orthopedic (hip) critical pathways. Method. Eight orthopedic (hip) critical pathways gathered from occupational therapy practitioners working in hospital and rehabilitation settings were examined to determine commonalities and differences of occupational therap y benchmarks, disciplines involved and identified allowable variances. A co mparison and contrast matrix was developed to provide a visual means of rev iewing the data. Results. Nursing, physical therapy and occupational therapy were discipline s consistently involved in the pathways. Activities of daily living related to self-care were the most consistently used occupational therapy benchmar k within the sample pathways, and functional transfers were the second most -used benchmark. The remaining occupational therapy benchmarks varied and l ittle commonality was found in their use. Frequency of use also varied amon g the eight pathways. Five of eight pathways specifically coded variances, with the remaining three providing space far explanation of the variance. Conclusion. Although these eight orthopedic (hip) critical pathways include d occupational therapy benchmarks, further development and definition of th e role of occupational therapy within subsequent orthopedic (hip) critical pathways is needed.