Stacy Forden 

OTA- 1170 

Fieldwork Round table written report

 My Level I fieldwork for the fall semester was at Harrison Pointe Inpatient Rehab Facility in Ogden, Utah. The facility has 51 beds, but it is allowed to have up to 62. I learned that this facility is completely government-run and caters to patients with low income or Medicaid. During my time there, all the beds were occupied. Harrison Pointe serves as both a transitional facility and a permanent residence for some of its patients. When I inquired about the age range of the patients, I was informed that they vary in age, but most are between 50 and 98 years old. I had the opportunity to tour most of the rooms except for three labeled as Biohazard. Some of the observed diagnoses included Gout, Spina bifida, Rotator cuff tear, Cirrhosis of the liver, Dementia, Below Knee amputation, Stab wounds, Knee replacement, Pelvis fracture, and a sprained ankle. At the facility, I encountered two occupational therapy practitioners, one of whom was my fieldwork educator, Lindsey Stone (COTA), and the other was Julie Polzin (OTR). Lindsey, with 15 years of experience as a COTA, demonstrated impressive knowledge. I witnessed her dismantling a wheelchair and fixing its wheels, responding promptly to a patient's need. I thoroughly enjoyed my fieldwork experience and the opportunity to observe operations at another inpatient rehab facility. I shadowed both individual and group interventions. Surprisingly, I gained substantial insights into insurance matters during my time there. Some patients falling under part B allowed for individual interventions. Given that I was present on Fridays, which is a day for group activities that conclude around noon, we only saw 1 or 2 patients individually. In these sessions, I observed patients engaging in preparatory activities such as pendulum swings, Theraputty exercises, upper extremity (UE) strengthening, and the Omi cycle. For group activities, we congregated in the dining room, forming a circle. We began with stretching and played games, including one with balloons where patients used flyswatters to keep balloons off the floor, focusing on increasing UE range of motion (ROM). Another game involved bean bags, where patients aimed at a moving target while either standing or seated, addressing standing balance and UE ROM based on their ability to stand. My experience at Harrison Pointe directly related to my coursework, providing a real-life perspective on what we are studying. Observing Lindsey's interactions with patients was inspiring, witnessing her patience and kindness. Although I mainly observed, I actively participated in group activities that aligned with our academic focus on ROM, strengthening, and standing tolerance. Overall, my fieldwork experience this semester was positive. While I wished for more exposure to interventions, greater involvement, and longer days, I did witness remarkable preparatory activities and observed real progress in some patients over the weeks, which was genuinely exciting. While I'm uncertain if this is the setting I wish to end up in, I would absolutely love to shadow at another inpatient rehab setting!