Occupational therapists help people do the things that matter to them — dress themselves after a stroke, return to work after an injury, participate in school despite a sensory processing disorder, live safely at home after a fall. The clinical work is deeply human.
The documentation is anything but. OTs write evaluation reports, functional goals, progress notes, home modification recommendations, adaptive equipment justifications, school-based IEP contributions, and discharge summaries — all while managing a full caseload across settings that range from acute care to outpatient to home health to school systems.
ChatGPT won't perform a functional assessment or recommend an adaptive device. What it does is eliminate the blank page so you're not writing from scratch at the end of a long clinical day. These 35 prompts are for OTs across all settings: acute care, inpatient rehab, outpatient, home health, pediatrics, school-based, and hand therapy.
Privacy note: Never enter identifying patient information into AI tools. Use de-identified profiles and placeholders throughout.
Evaluation and Assessment
Prompt 1 — Write an occupational profile narrative
Write an occupational profile narrative for a patient with the following background. Setting: [acute care / inpatient rehab / outpatient / home health / school-based]. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis, referral reason]. Occupational history: [prior level of function, roles they value — worker, caregiver, hobbyist, etc.]. Current concerns: [what they can't do that they want to do]. Client's stated priorities: [what matters most to them]. Contexts and environments: [home setting, work/school setting, community access]. Format as a professional occupational profile section for an OT evaluation.
Prompt 2 — Write an ADL/IADL evaluation summary
Write a functional evaluation summary for a patient's activities of daily living. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis]. ADL performance: [describe findings — bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transfers, feeding — note level of assistance required for each using FIM or supervision/min/mod/max assist language]. IADL performance: [meal prep, medication management, home management, community mobility, financial management — describe]. Assistive devices in use: [list]. Environmental barriers observed: [describe]. Clinical interpretation: [what the findings mean for this patient's discharge or care plan]. Format for the evaluation report.
Prompt 3 — Write a cognitive assessment documentation narrative
Write a cognitive function documentation narrative for an OT evaluation. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis — stroke, TBI, dementia, etc.]. Tests administered: [MMSE, MoCA, KELS, AMPS, Allen Cognitive Level Screen — list what was used]. Results: [scores and percentiles where applicable]. Observed cognitive deficits: [attention, memory, executive function, processing speed, safety awareness — describe specific observations]. Impact on occupational performance: [how cognitive status affects ability to perform ADLs, IADLs, return to work or school]. Recommendations: [based on findings]. Format for the evaluation section.
Prompt 4 — Write a home assessment report
Write a home assessment report for a patient preparing for discharge. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis, functional status]. Home environment: [house/apartment, number of floors, entry steps, bathroom layout, bedroom location]. Safety concerns identified: [list specific hazards — loose rugs, grab bar needs, threshold heights, lighting, etc.]. Patient's performance in the home environment: [if visit conducted — describe]. Recommendations: [specific modifications with rationale — grab bars at X location, shower seat, stair rail, ramp, etc.]. Equipment recommendations: [list with justification]. Referrals: [home modification programs, durable medical equipment supplier, follow-up OT services]. Format for a home assessment report.
Prompt 5 — Write a functional capacity evaluation summary
Write a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) summary for a patient being assessed for return to work. Patient (de-identified): [age range, injury/diagnosis, job title and physical demands]. Tests and observations: [describe what was assessed — lifting, carrying, sitting/standing tolerance, hand function, positional tolerances]. Results: [summarize findings by demand level — sedentary, light, medium, heavy — per DOT definitions]. Validity indicators: [effort and consistency of performance]. Recommendations: [job match, restrictions, modifications needed, further treatment]. Format for submission to a physician, insurer, or employer. Objective and defensible — FCE reports are often used in legal and insurance proceedings.
Treatment Planning and Goal Writing
Prompt 6 — Write SMART functional goals
Write SMART occupational therapy treatment goals for a patient with the following profile. Setting: [inpatient rehab / outpatient / home health / school]. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis]. Current functional status: [describe what they can and cannot do]. Priority occupations: [what the patient wants to be able to do]. Timeframe: [expected treatment duration]. Write 3 functional goals using the format: "Patient will [functional task] with [level of assistance] in [number of sessions / weeks]." Goals should be measurable, occupation-based, and meaningful to the patient — not just "improve strength" or "increase ROM."
Prompt 7 — Write an adaptive equipment recommendation letter
Write a letter of medical necessity for the following adaptive equipment. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis, functional limitations]. Equipment requested: [specific item — shower chair, reacher, dressing stick, weighted utensils, AAC device, wheelchair — describe]. Clinical indication: [why this patient needs this specific item — link to diagnosis and functional deficit]. How this equipment addresses the deficit: [specific functional benefit]. Why standard alternatives are insufficient: [if applicable]. Without this equipment: [functional consequences, safety risks]. Format for submission to insurance, DME supplier, or Medicaid. Include OT's professional credentials.
Prompt 8 — Write a sensory processing treatment plan summary
Write a sensory processing treatment plan summary for a pediatric patient. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis — ASD, SPD, ADHD, developmental delay, etc.]. Sensory profile: [describe sensory processing patterns — hypersensitivity, hyposensitivity, sensory seeking — by sensory system: tactile, proprioceptive, vestibular, auditory, visual, etc.]. Impact on occupational participation: [school performance, self-care, play, family routines]. Treatment approach: [sensory integration / sensory diet / Ayres SI / DIR Floortime / other]. Home program: [describe specific sensory diet activities for parents]. School recommendations: [modifications, accommodations, sensory breaks]. Format for the treatment plan and parent/teacher communication.
Prompt 9 — Write a hand therapy treatment protocol summary
Write a hand therapy treatment protocol summary for the following patient. Diagnosis: [fracture / tendon repair / nerve injury / arthritis / CRPS — specify]. Surgical or conservative management: [describe]. Phase of healing: [phase 1 / 2 / 3 — or weeks post-injury/surgery]. Current status: [ROM, strength, edema, pain, sensory status — describe measurements]. Treatment goals this phase: [protection, ROM, strengthening, scar management, functional return]. Interventions: [splinting, manual therapy, exercise program, modalities, ADL training — describe]. Home exercise program: [specific exercises with parameters]. Precautions: [list]. Format for the treatment note and home program handout.
Progress Documentation
Prompt 10 — Write an OT SOAP progress note
Write an OT SOAP progress note for a therapy session. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis, treatment setting]. Subjective: [patient's report — how they're feeling, functional concerns, response to home program]. Objective: [measurable data from today's session — ROM measurements, strength grades, FIM scores, time for task completion, cueing level required, specific functional tasks practiced]. Assessment: [clinical interpretation — progress toward goals, barriers, response to intervention]. Plan: [next session focus, home program updates, referrals, discharge considerations]. Use OT functional language — tie observations to occupational performance.
Prompt 11 — Write a school-based OT progress report
Write a school-based OT progress report for a student receiving services under an IEP. Student (de-identified): [age, grade, disability category]. IEP goals being addressed: [list each goal]. Progress on each goal: [met / on track / needs attention — with specific data such as accuracy rate, assistance level, frequency of success]. Functional observations in the school setting: [classroom participation, handwriting, self-care tasks, transitions, sensory responses]. Instructional strategies that are working: [list]. Modifications in place: [adaptive equipment, seating, sensory break schedule]. Recommendations for next period: [goal adjustments, new focus areas, teacher consultation topics]. Format for the school record and IEP team review.
Prompt 12 — Write a re-evaluation summary
Write a re-evaluation summary for a patient who has completed initial treatment and is being reassessed. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis, duration of treatment]. Initial status (from prior evaluation): [summarize baseline]. Current status: [functional performance today — compare to baseline on key measures]. Progress made: [specific gains]. Areas still requiring treatment: [describe persistent deficits]. Goals met: [list]. Goals to continue or revise: [list]. Discharge plan or continued plan of care: [recommend with rationale]. Format for the re-evaluation report.
Patient and Family Education
Prompt 13 — Write a home exercise program
Write a home exercise program for a patient with the following diagnosis and goals. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis]. Target area: [upper extremity / fine motor / ADL skills / cognitive strategies / fall prevention / energy conservation]. Exercises or activities: [describe 4-6 activities the OT has recommended]. For each: name, purpose, instructions (step-by-step), repetitions/frequency/duration, precautions. Illustrations note: [flag where pictures would help]. Format as a take-home handout the patient and family can follow without the therapist present.
Prompt 14 — Write an energy conservation education handout
Write a patient education handout on energy conservation techniques for a patient with [chronic fatigue / heart failure / COPD / cancer / MS / post-COVID — specify condition]. Cover: why energy conservation matters for this condition, the four Ps (pacing, prioritizing, positioning, planning), specific strategies for [cooking / dressing / work tasks / home management — list relevant ones for this patient], and how to identify early warning signs of energy depletion. Practical and actionable — this patient is trying to do more, not less. Under 400 words, suitable for a handout or patient portal message.
Prompt 15 — Write a caregiver training summary
Write a caregiver training summary for a family member learning to assist a patient at home. Patient needs: [describe — transfer assist, personal care, cognitive support, fall prevention, medication management]. Skills taught to caregiver: [list each — proper transfer technique, cueing approach, safety monitoring, adaptive equipment use]. Caregiver's competency level: [independent / needs reinforcement / concerns noted]. Instructions for home: [specific guidance — what to do, what to avoid, when to call for help]. When to call the therapy team: [list warning signs]. Format for the caregiver training record and discharge packet.
Professional Communication
Prompt 16 — Write a referral letter to another specialist
Write an OT referral letter to a [physiatrist / neurologist / hand surgeon / orthopedist / speech-language pathologist / other]. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis]. Reason for referral: [what clinical question needs to be addressed]. OT findings relevant to the referral: [summarize functional assessment findings]. What OT has done to address this: [describe treatment provided]. What the referral will help clarify or address: [specific question for the receiving provider]. Urgency: [routine / soon / urgent]. Format for a professional referral from an occupational therapist.
Prompt 17 — Write an OT discharge summary
Write an occupational therapy discharge summary. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis, treatment setting, number of sessions]. Reason for OT referral: [presenting concerns]. Initial status: [summary of evaluation findings]. Treatment provided: [interventions, frequency, duration]. Outcomes: [progress on each goal — met / partially met / not met with data]. Functional status at discharge: [describe current ADL/IADL performance and assistance level]. Discharge recommendations: [home program, follow-up services, community resources, equipment needs]. Patient/family education completed: [list]. Format for the medical record and for communication to the referring physician.
Prompt 18 — Write an ergonomic assessment report
Write an ergonomic workstation assessment report for the following employee. Setting: [office / remote / manufacturing / healthcare]. Employee (de-identified): [age range, job role, complaint or reason for assessment — pain, injury prevention, return-to-work]. Workstation observations: [describe chair height, monitor position, keyboard/mouse placement, lighting, equipment used]. Risk factors identified: [sustained postures, repetitive motions, force requirements, contact stress — describe]. Recommendations: [specific ergonomic adjustments — chair settings, monitor height, wrist rest, document holder, etc.]. Education provided: [microbreaks, posture cues, exercise recommendations]. Format for an employer or insurer ergonomic report.
Discharge and Transition Planning
Prompt 19 — Write a discharge planning note
Write a discharge planning note for a patient preparing to leave [acute care / inpatient rehab / skilled nursing]. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis]. Discharge destination: [home / home with services / assisted living / SNF — specify]. Functional status at discharge: [ADL levels, mobility, cognition summary]. Equipment needs: [list with delivery status]. Home modification needs: [what has been arranged or recommended]. Services arranged: [home health OT, outpatient OT, community programs — describe]. Family/caregiver training: [completed / outstanding]. Follow-up appointment: [with OT, physician, other]. Outstanding concerns: [any unresolved safety or functional issues]. Format for the medical record and discharge communication.
Prompt 20 — Write a return-to-work recommendation letter
Write a return-to-work recommendation letter for a patient following [injury / surgery / illness — specify]. Patient (de-identified): [age range, job title, physical demands of job]. Current functional capacity: [what the patient can and cannot do based on OT assessment]. Recommended return: [full duty / modified duty / unable to return currently — specify]. Restrictions if modified duty: [list specific restrictions — lifting limits, positional restrictions, time on feet, etc.]. Duration of restrictions: [timeframe]. Supportive workplace modifications recommended: [describe if applicable]. Follow-up plan: [next OT visit, functional reassessment date]. Format for employer or occupational medicine physician review.
Professional Development and Career
Prompt 21 — Write a CEU reflection for portfolio
Write a continuing education reflection for my OT professional development portfolio. Course: [title, provider, CEU hours, specialty area — hand therapy, pediatrics, neurorehabilitation, etc.]. Key clinical skills or knowledge gained: [describe 2-3 specific takeaways]. How this applies to my current caseload: [specific patient population or setting connection]. One practice change I'm implementing: [concrete and specific]. One question this raised: [something to explore further]. Format for a CEU portfolio entry or specialty certification application.
Prompt 22 — Write a clinical supervision reflection
Write a clinical supervision reflection for a patient case I'm presenting. Case summary (de-identified): [clinical profile, functional goals, interventions used]. What's going well: [describe progress and effective strategies]. What I'm uncertain about: [specific clinical question — therapeutic approach, goal priority, discharge timing, family dynamics]. What I've tried: [describe what I've already done to address the uncertainty]. What I'm hoping to get from supervision: [direction, evidence-based guidance, case consultation]. Format as a private preparation document to bring to supervision.
Prompt 23 — Write a cover letter for an OT position
Write a cover letter for an occupational therapy position. Position: [setting — acute care / pediatric outpatient / school-based / home health / hand therapy clinic]. My experience: [years of practice, primary settings, specialty skills or certifications — CHT, SIPT, NDT, etc.]. Why this setting/population: [genuine motivation]. A specific clinical example that demonstrates my approach: [de-identified brief case illustration]. What I bring: [a strength or approach that differentiates me]. Why this organization: [something specific about the employer]. Under 350 words. Personal and setting-specific.
Prompt 24 — Write a professional bio for a clinic or school website
Write a professional bio for an occupational therapist for a clinic or school website. My background: [degree, years of experience, primary settings, populations served, certifications]. My clinical philosophy: [how I approach OT — what I believe about occupation-centered practice]. What I'm known for: [a specialty area or patient population I'm particularly experienced with]. Personal note: [one personal interest or connection to the work that humanizes the bio]. Under 200 words. Professional, specific, and readable — this is what patients and families read before choosing a therapist.
Practice Management
Prompt 25 — Write a referral source outreach letter
Write an outreach letter to a physician or specialist to introduce OT services for their patient population. My setting and services: [describe OT practice, specialties, referral process]. Patient populations I serve: [list]. Conditions I treat: [list most relevant to this physician's patients]. What referring physicians can expect: [communication, turnaround, what we measure]. How to refer: [simple, clear instructions]. Format as a professional practice development letter. Concise — physicians don't read long marketing letters.
Prompt 26 — Write a productivity report summary for a supervisor
Write a monthly productivity summary for an OT practitioner. Metrics: [units per day, caseload size, evaluation completion time, documentation turnaround, no-show rate, discharge outcomes — list what's tracked in your setting]. Performance this period: [numbers]. Comparison to benchmark: [above / at / below — describe]. Factors affecting productivity: [describe any context — patient acuity, staffing, referral volume]. Accomplishments beyond caseload: [in-services, student supervision, program development]. Goals for next period: [1-2 specific targets]. Format for a supervisor or department manager review.
Prompt 27 — Write a student fieldwork evaluation comment
Write fieldwork evaluation comments for an OT student completing a Level II fieldwork placement. Student (de-identified). Setting: [describe]. Strengths demonstrated: [specific clinical behaviors — with examples from their performance]. Areas for development: [specific and behavioral, not global — frame constructively]. One strength that will make them an excellent clinician: [describe]. One development priority for their next placement or entry-level practice: [specific and actionable]. Overall readiness for entry-level practice: [entry-level competency met / emerging competency — describe]. Format for the AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation or facility form.
Prompt 28 — Write an in-service presentation outline
Write an in-service presentation outline for OT staff or an interdisciplinary team. Topic: [clinical topic — fall prevention, cognitive screening for OT, sensory strategies for behavioral management, energy conservation, adaptive equipment overview, discharge planning communication — specify]. Audience: [OTs / nurses / teachers / care aides / interdisciplinary team]. Duration: [20-30 minutes]. Learning objectives: [2-3]. Content outline: [5-7 key points with brief description of each]. Teaching method: [didactic / case examples / demonstration / small group activity]. Materials needed: [handouts, equipment, slides]. Format for an in-service planning document.
Specialized Settings and Populations
Prompt 29 — Write a pediatric evaluation parent report
Write a parent-friendly summary of a pediatric OT evaluation. Child (de-identified): [age, referral concern]. What was assessed: [list evaluation areas in plain language — fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, self-care, sensory processing, visual motor integration]. What was found: [strengths first, then areas of difficulty — in parent-friendly language, not clinical jargon]. What this means for daily life: [specific examples — how these findings connect to what parents see at home or teachers see in school]. Recommendations: [OT services, home activities, school accommodations]. What parents can do right now: [1-2 practical suggestions]. Format for a parent summary letter.
Prompt 30 — Write a dementia care OT recommendation letter
Write an OT recommendation letter for a patient with dementia being assessed for level of care. Patient (de-identified): [age range, dementia type and stage, living situation]. Current functional status: [ADL performance, safety awareness, behavioral symptoms]. Safety concerns: [specific risks — medication management errors, stove use, wandering, fall risk, driving — describe with clinical basis]. Caregiver burden and capacity: [describe]. Recommendation: [home with supports / memory care community / other — with clinical rationale]. Supports recommended: [list specific services, modifications, supervision level]. Format for a letter to a primary care physician, family, or care facility. This letter may influence significant care decisions — be thorough and objective.
Prompt 31 — Write a wheelchair seating and positioning justification
Write a wheelchair seating and positioning clinical justification for a patient requiring a customized wheelchair or positioning system. Patient (de-identified): [age range, diagnosis, postural and functional status]. Postural assessment: [describe — pelvic obliquity, scoliosis, tonal abnormalities, pressure injury risk, functional reach, propulsion ability]. Why standard equipment is insufficient: [specific clinical rationale]. Recommended equipment: [wheelchair type, seating system components with rationale for each — cushion type, back support, headrest, lateral supports, footrests]. Expected functional outcome: [what this positioning will enable]. Format for insurance prior authorization or DME justification.
Prompt 32 — Write a low vision OT assessment summary
Write a low vision occupational therapy assessment summary. Patient (de-identified): [age range, vision diagnosis, functional complaints]. Visual acuity and field: [describe from records or optometrist report]. Functional impact observed: [how vision loss affects reading, mobility, meal preparation, medication management, community participation]. Assessment findings: [contrast sensitivity, eccentric viewing trial, magnification testing, glare sensitivity]. Recommendations: [optical devices, non-optical strategies, environmental modifications, referrals to low vision optometrist or community services for the visually impaired]. Format for the evaluation report.
Tips and Closing
Prompt 33 — Explain an OT evaluation finding to a non-OT team member
Explain the following OT evaluation finding to a [physician / nurse / teacher / administrator] who is unfamiliar with occupational therapy: [describe finding — e.g., "moderate impairment in bilateral coordination," "Allen Cognitive Level 4.6," "motor planning difficulties affecting dressing independence"]. Translate into plain English: what it means functionally, why it matters for this patient's care, what it means for their role on the team, and what specific actions or accommodations are recommended. Keep it under 150 words — brief and practical.
Prompt 34 — Write a difficult conversation script with a family
Help me prepare for a difficult conversation with a patient's family about the following situation: [describe — unsafe discharge plan, patient refusing recommended services, cognitive decline that family is not acknowledging, placement discussion, loss of driving independence]. What I need to communicate: [clinical facts]. How to open the conversation: [first 2 sentences]. Key points to make: [list]. Anticipated family reaction: [describe]. How to handle the emotional moment: [what to say when they push back or become upset]. How to close: [clear next steps, leave door open]. This is a preparation script — the actual conversation will be responsive.
Prompt 35 — Write a patient success note for a case study
Write a de-identified patient success story for an OT case study or professional portfolio. Patient journey: [describe — starting status, what they couldn't do, what we worked on, outcome]. Specific interventions that made the difference: [list 1-2 with brief rationale]. What the patient could do at discharge that they couldn't do at evaluation: [specific functional outcome — not just ROM numbers, but what they did]. What this outcome meant to them: [quote or paraphrase from the patient if appropriate]. Clinical lesson: [what this case taught me as an OT]. Format for a professional portfolio, continuing education submission, or team sharing.
Getting the Most From These Prompts
Replace every placeholder with your patient's actual (de-identified) clinical picture. The more specific the input, the more usable the output — vague prompts produce generic notes.
Review all documentation before it enters the medical record. These prompts produce drafts. Your clinical judgment, accurate measurements, and professional attestation make them complete.
Adapt to your setting's documentation system. OT documentation formats vary across SOAP, DAP, BIRP, narrative, and electronic templates. Adjust the output structure to match your facility's requirements.
The Complete Occupational Therapist AI Toolkit
These 35 prompts cover the full OT documentation workflow. If you want the complete system — evaluation report templates by setting, functional goal banks by population, adaptive equipment justification frameworks, school-based IEP contribution templates, and a complete home program library — the Occupational Therapist AI Toolkit has everything.
Get the Occupational Therapist AI Toolkit →
Bookmark this page. Share it with your OT team. Use one prompt before your next evaluation — you'll spend less time writing and more time treating.
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