Use of Cognitive Assessments across the Continuum of Care on a Single Health Care Campus

s Background: This article describes occupational therapists’(OTs) use of cognitive assessments (standardized and nonstandardized) over 6 months on a healthcare campus. Also described are OTs’ use of the results of cognitive assessments to substantiate recommendations such as family education, safety, discharge disposition, and return to driving. Method: An anonymous, 10-question survey was emailed to over 50 occupational therapists on a healthcare campus in three practice settings: acute hospital, neurological rehabilitation, and outpatient. Survey questions included the use of standardized and nonstandardized cognitive assessments and how results influence occupational therapist’s recommendations and clinical decision-making. Results: Over 80% of the reported tests administered over 6 months were nonstandardized or screening assessments versus 14% standardized assessments. Trends for the use of nonstandardized over standardized tests appeared to be related to time constraints and productivity demands, although comments stated that limited inferences could be made from nonstandardized assessments. Additionally, themes emerged regarding the influence that practice setting has on clinical decision-making and the overall use of cognitive assessments. Conclusion: Across practice settings, OT on this healthcare campus use cognitive assessments and results to provide various recommendations that are influenced by the setting. In all practice settings, therapists more often implement nonstandardized versus standardized assessments to access cognition. Running the continuum of care on a healthcare campus Cognitive