Referral of Adult Patients from Inpatient Care and Home Hospitalization to Occupational Therapy in a High Complexity Chilean Public Hospital

Introduction. Hospitalisation affects the functionality of patients. Occupational therapists play an essential role in the rehabilitation process. In Chile, home hospitalisation does not ensure access to comprehensive occupational therapy. Access to outpatient care is not always guaranteed after discharge. Objective. To characterise the flow of adult patients referred from inpatient care and home hospitalisation to occupational therapy at the Rehabilitation Service of the San Juan de Dios Hospital during the year 2023. Method. An observational, descriptive, retrospective study with ethical approval was conducted, adhering to ethical standards and Chilean regulations. Results. The sample consisted of 3,338 subjects, 46% female and 54% male. The median age was 69 years, with an average of three therapy sessions. Nearly 75% were over 60 years old, with females being older than males (p< .001). Among diagnoses, 26.9% corresponded to circulatory system diseases, followed by nervous system (11.1%) and respiratory (10.5%) diseases. Of the total, 17.5% (n = 584) of the sample were referred to home hospitalisation. Only 3.2% (n = 107) were referred from inpatient care to outpatient rehabilitation, with a higher proportion of females, while 1.9% (n = 65) were referred from home hospitalization to outpatient care. Conclusion. The lower number of referrals from home hospitalization may reflect the lack of continuity in occupational therapy and a lack of awareness of the therapist's role. Integration of occupational therapy in this modality is recommended to ensure patient care.