Bridging Tech and Care: The Exciting Role of OTs in Digital Health

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Occupational therapists (OTs) are like chameleons. We’re adaptable, baby!

We have defined scopes of practice but can and will adapt to different roles, settings, and opportunities, all in the pursuit of helping people live their lives to the fullest.

OTs (in my opinion and from experience) have classically been left behind or left out of innovations in healthcare. Well, that is not going to work for us anymore.?

As an OT with 10+ years of clinical and corporate experience, I am fortunate to be a contributor to the digital health revolution. This revolution isn’t just about gadgets and algorithms—it’s about putting people at the center of technology.

OTs bring an exquisite lens to this space, combining clinical expertise with a focus on function and patient engagement.?

I’m sharing three ways OTs make waves in digital health, giving examples for each and explaining why it matters. Let’s go ??

1. Designing Evidence-Based Education

Applied knowledge is the building block of what keeps our world running—especially in healthcare. Patients must clearly understand what you’re teaching them, why it matters, and what to do with that knowledge.

So many times, healthcare providers can get in their own way (this topic could have its own newsletter issue) when delivering efficient, clear, and actionable education that helps patients change their behaviors, such as medication and exercise adherence.

OTs can contribute their expertise to developing digitally accessible, patient-first education and therapeutic protocols that help patients take charge of their health. We approach our patients' worlds through a person-first, occupation-based lens.?

In other words, our superpower is connecting patients to their why, which promotes adherence and drives outcomes. ??

OTs can strategically serve in digital healthcare on many fronts. For example, my work over the past few years (and more recently in the past year) has involved developing evidence-driven care programs with exercises, education, patient-reported outcomes, outreach, and more in close partnership with our Product and Business teams.?

My favorite project at work thus far has been creating a holistic Fall Prevention program in collaboration with physical therapists Mike Studer and Marina Wingood (GOATS!), experts in the geriatric physical rehabilitation space.

• Example: Developing a video course on sensory processing disorders with hands-on strategies for therapists and families.
• Why It Matters: These resources empower clinicians to stay up-to-date and patients to feel confident in their care, making a difference on both sides of the therapy relationship.

2. Building Virtual Therapy Tools

Regarding therapy tools, one-size-fits-all is out; one-size-fits-one is in. But how do you make that scalable?

That’s where OTs step in, leveraging their expertise to design digital platforms and programs that meet patients' diverse needs. Whether it’s gamified rehab exercises or progress-monitoring apps, OTs ensure these tools are clinically effective, engaging, and tailored to real-life functionality.

You’ve probably heard phrases like: “OTs put the fun in function.” They don’t say that for nothing.

By collaborating with developers, we help create tools that feel personal and intuitive.

• Example: Shaping a digital rehab program for pelvic floor dysfunction with progressive exercises and real-time progress data.?
• Why It Matters: Patients stay motivated with fun, engaging tools while clinicians get the data they need to monitor their patients and continue providing the right level of care to their patients.

3. Driving Value-Based Care with Patient-Centered Solutions

Value-based care focuses on improving patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. Dana Strauss, a contributor to the OT Potential, describes value-based care as “quality over quantity.”

This is a big deal.?

The U.S. is a world outlier regarding healthcare spending and pays more for its care than any other country. Therefore, it’s about time value-based care paves the way to better care.

OTs are beautifully positioned to design programs and digital tools that support this shift in healthcare by emphasizing function, quality of life, and prevention.?

Patient empowerment is the cherry on the ice cream cake in value-based care. OTs are skilled educators and can create user-friendly apps, video tutorials, or online modules to help patients manage chronic conditions or implement home modifications.?

By combining their understanding of behavioral change with tech tools, OTs ensure that patients get the most out of their care.?

• Example: Creating a digital platform to track a patient’s ability to complete activities of daily living (ADLs) or implementing personalized care plans for post-surgical recovery.
• Why It Matters: As healthcare continues shifting toward value-based models, OTs’ can leverage their holistic, client-centered approach to help digital health companies deliver measurable outcomes, reduce costs, and improve patient satisfaction.

Next up is my checklist for creating programs and tools that align with value-based care principles.

By following this checklist, OTs can confidently design digital health tools and programs that meet value-based care standards and make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.

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