WVU OT Alumni Spotlight: Ben McGurk
Alumni Merges OT and Technology into Successful Career
Graduates from the WVU Division of Occupational Therapy have numerous career opportunities in the healthcare sector, and Ben McGurk, MOT, OTR, is a prime example of such success.
After completing the WVU MOT Program in 2016, McGurk began providing occupational therapy services in home health settings with one of the largest home health agencies in the country. His exceptional skills and dedication soon led him to a marketing manager role. In this capacity, McGurk worked closely with hospital discharge planners to increase referrals and reduce hospital readmission.
When occupational therapy practitioners are included in discharge planning, there are reduced readmissions, improved quality, and thus reduced health care costs. (Rogers et al., 2016). Occupational therapy utilization is one healthcare spending category that addresses both the clinical and social determinants of health and “investing in OT has the potential to improve care quality without significantly increasing overall hospital spending.”
Building on his success, McGurk merged his home health background and interest in technology at KanTime Healthcare Software. Here, he focused on promoting a cutting-edge post-acute Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system designed to reduce documentation time for clinicians in the field. McGurk now serves as VP of Sales for HealthRev Partners. In this role, he works to enhance cash flow for home health and hospice agencies nationwide through effective post-acute coding and revenue cycle management strategies.
McGurk embodies the Mountaineers Go First motto as he promotes occupational therapy, client care, and healthcare technology throughout the nation.