Sep 18 / Guest blogger and occupational therapist, Pooja A. Patel, DrOT, OTR/L, BCG, CDP, CFPS, CGCP

Unlocking Smarter OT Practice: How Generative AI Is Shaping the Future of Occupational Therapy

Welcome to guest blogger and OT Pooja A. Patel, DrOT, OTR/L, BCG, CDP, CFPS, CGCP

Our practice, and the world, is evolving. We’ve all felt the tension between rising demands on our time and the drive to deliver thoughtful, client-centered care. That’s why I’m excited to invite you into a frontier many of us are just beginning to explore: Generative AI (GenAI). Many of us have heard about tools like ChatGPT, but what does it actually mean for occupational therapy?
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Why GenAI Matters for OT

Consider this: In a single workday, an OT might juggle notetaking, lesson planning, caregiver communication, and documentation—all under constant time pressure.
Generative AI isn’t here to replace us. It’s here to enhance our practice, freeing us to focus more deeply on the human-centered work that truly matters.
Through carefully crafted prompts and thoughtful application, GenAI can:

• Generate SOAP-note templates, discharge summaries, and lesson outlines—saving time without sacrificing quality
• Support collaborative communication with clients, educators, and families
• Offer creative brainstorming for interventions tailored to individual client interests

Ethical Foundations: The Three Es of Responsible AI Use

Using AI isn’t just about output; it’s about responsibility. That’s why we follow what I call the "3 Es" framework:


What It Means

Why It Matters in OT Practice

Evaluate

Critically review outputs for errors, bias, and accuracy

AI can hallucinate; clinicians must verify clinical language and citations

Educate

Inform clients, students, and peers about AI involvement

Build trust and transparency in your practice

Enhance

Use AI to enrich, not replace, clinical reasoning

Blend efficiency with professional judgment and ethics


These principles are anchored in the AOTA Code of Ethics and empower us to use GenAI both effectively and ethically.

Real-World Applications: From Academia to Documentation

Here’s a snapshot of how GenAI can support your different practice areas:

• In the classroom: Draft discussion prompts, case-study questions, or caregiver handouts
• In clinical settings: Create SOAP-note scaffolds, discharge summaries, or condition-specific worksheets
• In admin tasks: Summarize policy updates, format memos, or streamline procedural outlines
These tools are not "magic," but they are powerful—when used with oversight.

Final Thoughts

Occupational therapy stands on the frontlines of complexity—navigating human lives, systems, and emotions every day. GenAI shouldn't distract us. But when harnessed well, it can help us stay present, intentional, and client-focused, while reclaiming time for deeper engagement.

Guest Writer

Pooja A. Patel, DrOT, OTR/L, BCG, CDP, CFPS, CGCP has nearly a decade of experience working with older adults in a variety of practice settings as an occupational therapist. She is Board Certified in Gerontology with additional specialty certifications in dementia, fall prevention, and geriatric care. After almost six years working inpatient, Dr. Patel left full-time inpatient care to split her time across settings. While she continues to practice inpatient on a per diem basis, she now holds roles in academia as an Adjunct Assistant Professor and guest lecturer, in leadership through various volunteer board positions, and in private practice through her own consulting firm where she educates, coaches, and connects families to caregiver support resources as well as provides holistic retirement planning services. She is also the host of the Aging Together podcast which shares expert insights on aging and lived experiences of caregiving.

Learn more about using AI in your practice

Join Pooja in her course discussing the use of AI in occupational therapy practice, management and academia.


Smarter Practice, Smarter Tools, Generative AI in Occupational Therapy Practice debuts Thursday, September 30 at 8:00pm Eastern Time
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The information contained in this blog is made available by Aspire OT for educational and informational purposes only.  Aspire OT is not a clinical or medical authority and any information  posted should not be intended as a substitute for any occupational therapy professional's clinical judgement. 

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