What Occupational Therapy Month Can Teach Imaging Leaders About Patient-Centered Care

By Dr. Nicole Dhanraj

April marks Occupational Therapy (OT) Month. While you might not think of occupational therapists as closely tied to the work of radiology, they’re some of the best, patient-centered problem solvers in healthcare. This month is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and ask: What can we learn from OT?

What OT Really Means: Beyond the Stereotypes

When most people hear occupational therapy, they picture someone helping a patient button their shirt after surgery or use a grabber to pick something up. While that’s part of it, OT is about much more than tools and tasks.

Occupational therapists help people do the things that give patients’ life meaning, whether it’s making a cup of coffee, going to work, or playing with their grandkids. Occupational therapists work with kids, adults, and older folks navigating all kinds of challenges, from mobility issues, to cognitive decline, mental health hurdles, sensory sensitivities, and more. They don’t just treat the injury or condition. They treat the whole person.

How OT Helps Radiology More Than You Know

Radiology is fast-paced. Patients come in, scans go out. But in that rush, we often forget that many people, especially those with complex medical or neurological conditions, are overwhelmed, uncomfortable, or downright scared. That’s where OT comes in.

Take this example: A patient recovering from a stroke comes in for a CT scan. The occupational therapist already knows they struggle with spatial awareness and can’t lie flat for long. If your team knows this ahead of time, you can adjust the setup, position them more comfortably, and communicate more clearly. That one heads-up might save you from a retake and give the patient a much better experience.
Or think of a child with autism who’s scheduled for an MRI. Loud sounds, confined spaces, and bright lights? That’s a recipe for a meltdown. But the OT has strategies: bring in noise-canceling headphones, prep them with visuals, or dim the lights. Suddenly, it’s not just a scan — it’s a success story.

Real Ways Radiology Managers Can Partner with OT

You don’t need a system overhaul to better care for patients navigating these challenges. Taking these small steps can make a big difference:

• Team up with OT for case reviews. Let them walk your team through common challenges and quick adjustments that can make imaging smoother.
• Share OT insights before complex scans. Even a simple note in a patient’s chart, such as, “Patient gets disoriented when rushed,” can be a game changer.
• Build a cheat sheet. Think: “If patient has X, try Y.” From positioning, to communication, and sensory tips, we can learn a lot from the OT playbook.

Why It Matters

Imaging isn’t just about getting a clear scan. It’s about helping people get answers. The more comfortable, safe, and seen your patients feel, the better your outcomes, and the better your staff feels. Occupational therapists have been doing this kind of whole-person care for decades. They know what it takes to meet people where they are and help them through tough challenges.

This OT Month, let’s take a page from their book — not just to celebrate their work, but to carry it forward in ours. Because behind every scan is a story, and OT helps us read it a little better.

April marks Occupational Therapy (OT) Month. While you might not think of occupational therapists as closely tied to the work of radiology, they’re some of the best, patient-centered problem solvers in healthcare. This month is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and ask: What can we learn from OT?

What OT Really Means: Beyond the Stereotypes

When most people hear occupational therapy, they picture someone helping a patient button their shirt after surgery or use a grabber to pick something up. While that’s part of it, OT is about much more than tools and tasks.

Occupational therapists help people do the things that give patients’ life meaning, whether it’s making a cup of coffee, going to work, or playing with their grandkids. Occupational therapists work with kids, adults, and older folks navigating all kinds of challenges, from mobility issues, to cognitive decline, mental health hurdles, sensory sensitivities, and more. They don’t just treat the injury or condition. They treat the whole person.

How OT Helps Radiology More Than You Know

Radiology is fast-paced. Patients come in, scans go out. But in that rush, we often forget that many people, especially those with complex medical or neurological conditions, are overwhelmed, uncomfortable, or downright scared. That’s where OT comes in.

Take this example: A patient recovering from a stroke comes in for a CT scan. The occupational therapist already knows they struggle with spatial awareness and can’t lie flat for long. If your team knows this ahead of time, you can adjust the setup, position them more comfortably, and communicate more clearly. That one heads-up might save you from a retake and give the patient a much better experience.
Or think of a child with autism who’s scheduled for an MRI. Loud sounds, confined spaces, and bright lights? That’s a recipe for a meltdown. But the OT has strategies: bring in noise-canceling headphones, prep them with visuals, or dim the lights. Suddenly, it’s not just a scan — it’s a success story.

Real Ways Radiology Managers Can Partner with OT

You don’t need a system overhaul to better care for patients navigating these challenges. Taking these small steps can make a big difference:

• Team up with OT for case reviews. Let them walk your team through common challenges and quick adjustments that can make imaging smoother.
• Share OT insights before complex scans. Even a simple note in a patient’s chart, such as, “Patient gets disoriented when rushed,” can be a game changer.
• Build a cheat sheet. Think: “If patient has X, try Y.” From positioning, to communication, and sensory tips, we can learn a lot from the OT playbook.

Why It Matters

Imaging isn’t just about getting a clear scan. It’s about helping people get answers. The more comfortable, safe, and seen your patients feel, the better your outcomes, and the better your staff feels. Occupational therapists have been doing this kind of whole-person care for decades. They know what it takes to meet people where they are and help them through tough challenges.

This OT Month, let’s take a page from their book — not just to celebrate their work, but to carry it forward in ours. Because behind every scan is a story, and OT helps us read it a little better.

April marks Occupational Therapy (OT) Month. While you might not think of occupational therapists as closely tied to the work of radiology, they’re some of the best, patient-centered problem solvers in healthcare. This month is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and ask: What can we learn from OT?

What OT Really Means: Beyond the Stereotypes

When most people hear occupational therapy, they picture someone helping a patient button their shirt after surgery or use a grabber to pick something up. While that’s part of it, OT is about much more than tools and tasks.

Occupational therapists help people do the things that give patients’ life meaning, whether it’s making a cup of coffee, going to work, or playing with their grandkids. Occupational therapists work with kids, adults, and older folks navigating all kinds of challenges, from mobility issues, to cognitive decline, mental health hurdles, sensory sensitivities, and more. They don’t just treat the injury or condition. They treat the whole person.

How OT Helps Radiology More Than You Know

Radiology is fast-paced. Patients come in, scans go out. But in that rush, we often forget that many people, especially those with complex medical or neurological conditions, are overwhelmed, uncomfortable, or downright scared. That’s where OT comes in.

Take this example: A patient recovering from a stroke comes in for a CT scan. The occupational therapist already knows they struggle with spatial awareness and can’t lie flat for long. If your team knows this ahead of time, you can adjust the setup, position them more comfortably, and communicate more clearly. That one heads-up might save you from a retake and give the patient a much better experience.
Or think of a child with autism who’s scheduled for an MRI. Loud sounds, confined spaces, and bright lights? That’s a recipe for a meltdown. But the OT has strategies: bring in noise-canceling headphones, prep them with visuals, or dim the lights. Suddenly, it’s not just a scan — it’s a success story.

Real Ways Radiology Managers Can Partner with OT

You don’t need a system overhaul to better care for patients navigating these challenges. Taking these small steps can make a big difference:

• Team up with OT for case reviews. Let them walk your team through common challenges and quick adjustments that can make imaging smoother.
• Share OT insights before complex scans. Even a simple note in a patient’s chart, such as, “Patient gets disoriented when rushed,” can be a game changer.
• Build a cheat sheet. Think: “If patient has X, try Y.” From positioning, to communication, and sensory tips, we can learn a lot from the OT playbook.

Why It Matters

Imaging isn’t just about getting a clear scan. It’s about helping people get answers. The more comfortable, safe, and seen your patients feel, the better your outcomes, and the better your staff feels. Occupational therapists have been doing this kind of whole-person care for decades. They know what it takes to meet people where they are and help them through tough challenges.

This OT Month, let’s take a page from their book — not just to celebrate their work, but to carry it forward in ours. Because behind every scan is a story, and OT helps us read it a little better.