HEALTH POLICY PERSPECTIVES Defining Primary Care: Envisioning the Roles of Occupational Therapy

Lisa A. Lowenthal is an Occupational Therapy Graduate Student, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT. Primary care is a key theme in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; 2010). But what does the term mean? Is there a difference between primary care and primary health care? Does primary care encompass occupational therapy? What are the possible roles for occupational therapy in primary care and in achieving primary health care goals? This column defines the terms, provides questions for occupational therapy professionals to consider in connecting the domain of practice to primary care and primary health care, and suggests some possible connections between the definitions and practice.