5 Implementation of AI in OT Practice
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Understand ways that AI is being used to improve healthcare delivery
- Apply different AI tools to occupational therapy practice
- Analyze the current state of AI within occupational therapy
Overview of AI in Healthcare
AI is being rapidly integrated into all aspects of health care. Click through the image below to learn about some of the most common ways AI is being utilized to improve accuracy, efficiency & access to care:
Chapter 3: How AI Could Improve Occupational Therapy Practice
Artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually becoming a part of everyday healthcare. While occupational therapy is a hands-on, relational profession grounded in clinical reasoning and human interaction, AI can serve as a supportive tool that enhances how services are delivered. In this chapter, we’ll explore several ways AI could be used to improve occupational therapy (OT) practice—now and in the future.
1. Streamlining Documentation and Administrative Tasks
Documentation is an essential part of OT practice, but it often takes up a significant amount of time. AI tools, such as speech-to-text systems and digital scribes, can support therapists by transcribing notes or drafting initial documentation based on session recordings. Other tools assist with scheduling, billing, and task management.
2. Enhancing Assessment and Evaluation
AI can contribute to clinical assessments by identifying subtle changes in client behavior or performance. For example, motion sensors and video analysis may track fine motor movements or gait patterns, offering objective data that complements traditional observational assessments.
3. Supporting Clinical Decision-Making
AI systems that analyze data and assist the OT to select or modify interventions or adaptive equipment.
4. Personalizing Interventions Using Data Trends
AI can analyze trends in client data to help therapists tailor interventions. For instance, tracking a client’s engagement, progress, or outcomes over time could help identify which approaches are most effective for a specific individual or group.
5. Expanding Access Through Remote Monitoring and Telehealth
Wearable devices, mobile apps, and home-based monitoring tools can collect data on activity, heart rate, sleep, or participation in daily tasks. AI systems can process this data to support remote care planning, especially in rural or underserved areas. Combined with telehealth, this can increase access to services.
6. Facilitating Interprofessional Collaboration
AI tools that integrate data across disciplines may help improve communication between providers. For example, shared dashboards powered by AI can identify overlapping goals or highlight changes in client status relevant to all team members.
Considerations for Ethical Use
While AI offers potential benefits, it is important to recognize its limitations. Algorithms may reflect bias if trained on non-representative data. Some clients may face barriers to accessing or using AI-enabled tools due to socioeconomic, cognitive, or technological factors. As occupational therapy practitioners, it is essential to evaluate AI tools critically and apply them in ways that are ethical, inclusive, and consistent with the values of the profession.
What OT’s Are Saying:
Everyday Evidence: Implications of Artificial Intelligence in OT Practice
OT Unleashed: How AI is changing Clinical Practice for OT Practitioners
Resources
Artificial Intelligence’s Role in Occupational Therapy – The Innovation and Instability
References
Kang, H. & Exworthy, M. (2022). Wearing the future – wearables to empower users to take greater responsibility for their health and care: Scoping Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 10(7), e35684. https://www.doi.org/10.2196/35684