Health Services Research and Occupational Therapy: Ensuring Quality and Cost-Effectiveness

Abstract

Health services research focuses on access, quality, and cost-effectiveness of care. As a result of increasing emphasis on value-based reimbursement models, conducting health services research to demonstrate the value of occupational therapy is timely. This special issue serves to highlight health services research relevant to occupational therapy practice. Articles included in this special issue describe (1) clients' access to and use of occupational therapy, (2) the effects of occupational therapy on important quality-of-care indicators and client outcomes, and (3) the value of occupational therapy services through the lens of cost-effectiveness. This special issue illustrates the state of health services research in the field of occupational therapy and reveals key insights to advance occupational therapy practice using health services research.