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Description
This Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone was completed at The Medical Center–Franklin, a rural critical access hospital offering outpatient, acute, and post-acute rehabilitation services. The project aligned with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) focus areas of Leadership, Education, and Advocacy through the development of a Resource Toolkit to support caregivers, clients, and rehabilitation specialists during hospitalization and discharge planning.Through discussions with stakeholders regarding social determinants of health and occupational justice, a need for improved access to community resources was identified. In response, a comprehensive toolkit was developed containing more than 60 resources focused on client education, caregiver support, community services, discharge planning, and home safety. The toolkit was compiled into both a physical binder and a shared Google Drive to provide rehabilitation professionals with a centralized, sustainable resource.
This project demonstrated leadership through interdisciplinary collaboration, incorporation of stakeholder feedback, and independent resource development. It also fostered professional growth by expanding understanding of occupational justice, social determinants of health, and the essential role of advocacy in occupational therapy practice. The capstone addressed needs identified through the literature review and needs assessment by increasing access to educational and community resources that support occupational participation and reduce barriers following discharge. Ultimately, the Resource Toolkit provides rehabilitation professionals with an accessible means of connecting clients to services that promote health equity, community reintegration, and occupational engagement, bridging the gap between hospitalization and long-term health outcomes.
Graduation Date
2026
Disciplines
Occupational Therapy
Degree Type
Book
Site Mentor
Kimberly Thompson
Comments
Link to Poster: https://youtu.be/L9DB4P0jQaY