"Occupational therapy is an allied health profession with an underlying belief that engaging in occupations promotes both health and wellness. While working in a hospital setting, which operates predominantly in a hierarchical and paternalistic medical model, occupational therapy professionals can find it difficult to reconcile the realities of this environment with their core professional values. The challenge of acute care practice is looking beyond a specific medical condition and seeing the whole person. Working within a medical setting also requires an understanding of medical conditions and how illness affects occupational performance. What sets occupational therapy apart from other professions is an understanding of the totality of a patient's occupational profile and the importance of helping patients reclaim important roles and routines"--Publisher's description