Planning Grant Collective 2020: Stimulating Research to Advance Evidence-Based Applications of Telehealth in Occupational Therapy

October 5-7, 2020

On October 5-7, 2020, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation held its annual Planning Grant Collective, a workshop that brought together over 35 stakeholders from many disciplines to plan future studies in the field of occupational therapy. This year’s collaboration was a three-day virtual event on the timely topic Stimulating Research to Advance Evidence-Based Applications of Telehealth in Occupational Therapy. The workshop benefited greatly with the diversity of specialties including not only OT research and telehealth, but nursing, veteran healthcare affairs, mechanical/bioengineering, physical therapy, speech therapy, ophthalmology, geriatrics, neurology, acute care, rehabilitation, kinesiology, diversity and coding & billing. AOTA leadership was also represented since the clinician-researcher collaboration is key to moving the profession forward.

After a brief history on telehealth and COVID-19, practice and policy, and access and technology, the group generated and prioritized novel research areas of need: Re-envisioning Assessment and Intervention in the Natural Context with Technology, Uniform Data Collection, Involvement of Caregivers, and Improving Telehealth Delivery. The participants then broke out into four initial workgroups to address each topic area and began to strategize a plan towards competitive grant submissions. The workgroups will reconvene with the planning committee to finalize short- and long-term plans for working with community partners in securing extramural funding to build the evidence base to advance the applications of telehealth in occupational therapy.

As telehealth is at the forefront of healthcare now more than ever, the planning grant committee will fast-track the process of releasing a white paper and a call-to-action for researchers, practitioners, students, consumers, and funding agencies. Reach out and share your experience and ideas for moving the field of OT and telehealth forward. What are the innovative technologies and approaches you have seen? How have you used telehealth personally or professionally? Email research@aotf.org.

This is such a timely meeting with heavy implications for policy, practice and research. Thank you for bringing all of these voices together! - Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, USC 

View OTJR article for summary of the key concepts and recommendations: Stimulating Research to Advance Evidence-Based Applications of Telehealth in Occupational Therapy
International Journal of Telerehabilitation Keeping PACE With 21st Century Healthcare: A Framework for Telehealth Research, Practice, and Program Evaluation in Occupational Therapy
Pace Framework Advancing telehealth outcome and process measurement for occupational therapy

Planning Grant Committee
Chair: Rachel Proffitt, OTD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor Department of Occupational Therapy University of Missouri
Scott Campbell, PhD, Chief Executive Officer American Occupational Therapy Foundation
Jana Cason, DHSc, OTR/L, FAOTA, Professor, Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy, Spalding University
Mary Lawlor, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA, AOTF Board of Trustees Chair, Assoc. Chair of Research, Joint Appointment with the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Dept. of Pediatrics, Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California
Lauren Little, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Rush University 
Kristen Pickett, PhD, Occupational Therapy Program, Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Education.

Participants
Peter Adamczyk, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison 
Ava Bittner, OD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles 
Susan Cahill, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA) 
Felicia Chew, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, Genesis Rehab Services 
Evan Dean, PH.D., OTR/L, University of Kansas 
Karen Duddy, OTD, OT, OTR, Boston University 
Winnie Dunn, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, University of Missouri 
Kimberly Erler, PhD, OTR/L, MGH Institute of Health Professionals 
Megan Gately, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, Tufts University 
Andrea Gilmore Bykovskyi, PhD, RN, University of Wisconsin-Madison 
Debi Hinerfeld, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Adjunct Clinical Professor 
Dwight Irvin, PhD, Juniper Gardens Children’s Project 
Douglene Jackson, PhD, OTR/L, LMT, ATP, BCTS, Global Interventions for Therapy Services/GIFTS Institute, LLC 
Karen Jacobs, EdD, OT, OTR, CPE, FAOTA, Boston University 
Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, USC 
Teresa J. Kimberley, PhD, PT, MGH Institute of Health Professionals 
Andrew Persch, PhD, OTR/L, Colorado State University 
Tammy Richmond, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, Go2Care 
Jan Rowe, Dr. OT, OTR/L, FAOTA, Park Place of Children's 
Roger Smith, PhD, OT, FAOTA, RESNA fellow, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 
Steven J. Taylor, OTD, OTR/L, Rush University Medical Center
Evelyn Terrell, Nicklaus Children's Hospital 
Anna Wallisch, PhD, OTR/L, Post Doc Juniper Gardens Children's Project 
Grace Wilske, OT, VA Health System 
Monica Wright, MHA, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA) 

Partners and Special Guests
Andrew Murtishaw, PhD, Alzheimer’s Association 
Ellie Daniels, MD, MPH, American Cancer Society, Inc.
Mary Rooney, PhD, ABPP, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Theresa Cruz, PhD, National Center for Medical Rehabilitation (NCMRR)
David Banks, PhD, MPH, RN, National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR),
Lyndon Joseph, PhD, Institute of Aging, (NIA)
Roxanne Jensen, PhD, National Cancer Institute (NCI)