April is Occupational Therapy Month!  Occupational Therapy is an integral part of the services provided by Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services.

Occupational Therapy services are provided at Los Angeles General Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, High Desert Regional Center, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center, and Housing for Health.

Occupational Therapists (OTs) work with patients and clients across the lifespan who are experiencing physical and/or mental health conditions. OTs assist their patients to engage in meaningful activities that promote an independent and healthy lifestyle at home, at work, and in their communities.

Our lives are made of up myriad occupations or meaningful activities and everyday roles. These range from our simplest routines such as waking up in the morning, getting dressed, and being ready to start the day, to figuring out a complex problem at work. While completion of these and other routine activities can generally be done without us giving it much thought, it is not uncommon for an accident or medical condition to make it difficult for these and other activities to be done independently and with ease.

Occupational Therapists are specially trained and equipped to assist patients who are experiencing difficulties with everyday activities by completing evaluations, developing individualized treatment plans, and setting goals to help their patients regain function and participation in meaningful occupations.

Please join us in acknowledging and honoring Occupational Therapists this month as OTs continue their commitment to the patients and clients that they serve in this great and diverse County of Los Angeles.

For more information about Occupational Therapy, please visit to the American Occupational Therapy Association website at www.aota.org.