Computers and the private practitioner in occupational therapy.

Computer application to thc area of occupational therapy practice is a relatively recent undertaking. Because of the absence of pertinent literature, suggestions given for potential uses are derived from imagination and from recent experience. As a therapist in private practice, concerned with cost and efficiency as well as quality treatment, the computer is examined as an administrative and research tool. Therapists are given guidelines so as to choose whether and where to initiate computer use. Next, computers and tasks are subjected to activity analysis, suggesting idaptations for use and proposing some treatment applications. Potential hazards and future needs are discussed, including computer literacy in education of therapists, compatibility of hardware/software, and communication between therapists.