OTA 1170 Phys Dysfunction Fieldwork

Course Description:

Physical Dysfunction Fieldwork I is a one hour/week lecture and thirty hour clinical site experience. Lecture prepares for the off-site experience and future fieldwork IIs by requiring academic & practical competency-based assignments. The externship will be arranged and take place at clinical facility sites within the community under the direction of an academic fieldwork coordinator. Emphasis is to expose students to a variety of diagnoses and to develop professional behaviors and clinical observation skills. 

Assignment Description:

Students will explore in-depth, the occupational therapy intervention of one (1) particular patient.  You should explore the diagnosis, family dynamics/interaction, culture, occupational therapy evaluations, goals, and treatment AND expand on your interpretation of the treatment provided, additional ideas for intervention both OT treatment and perhaps other professionals, and whether or not discharge is in the near or distant future.

Reflection:

My fieldwork experience was absolutely amazing. I had the opportunity to observe an incredible OTA at Holladay Healthcare Center. This experience really confirmed for me that I have made the right decision and made me more excited than ever for this journey in becoming an OTA. I am super thankful to my fieldwork educator and being able to observe her in her element and watching her help so many people was invaluable to me. I also learned a lot about myself during this time. I discovered that I am very interested in dementia and would love to work with clients with dementia in the future. I also learned that I could actually really see myself working in the geriatric setting, where previously I was mainly interested in pediatrics. There were times that were hard, particularly watching clients struggle, but I think that is the beauty of being an OTA, is being the person that can be there for these individuals during these hard times and being the one to lift them up. Figuratively and literally speaking.