SOUTHERN ILLINOIS COLLEGIATE COMMON MARKET OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT PROGRAM COURSE SYLLABUS: FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE 2 SPRING SEMESTER 2015 FIELDWORK EXPERIENCE I MUST BE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED WITHIN 18 MONTHS OF ACADEMIC COURSEWORK. COURSE NUMBER: JALC: OTA 218 RLC: OTA 2218 SCC: OTA 218 SIC: OTA 252 KC: OTA 218 CREDITS: 4.5 Hours of Lecture:.5 Hours of Lab: 4 Total Class Contact: 8 hours - lecture 40 hours per week for eight weeks - lab PREQUISITES: Successful completion of ALL academic coursework of first three program semesters, valid and current CPR card. ACADEMIC FIELDWORK SUPERVISOR: Maegan King, BS, COTA/L Office: Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market 3213 South Park Avenue Herrin, IL 62948 Work phone: 618-942-6902 Cell phone: 618-559-6318 E mail: mking@siccm.com COURSE REQUIRED TEXTS: There are no required texts for this course. RESOURCE READINGS: All previously utilized course texts are recommended resources for this class. STUDENTS THE COURSE IS EXPECTED TO SERVE: The course is intended for students completing their A.A.S. degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Development of professional skills through supervised application of treatment principles. This second Level II Fieldwork experience is designed to provide the first of two clinical opportunities to make the transition from student to clinician. As with Fieldwork Experience I, within the eight weeks students are expected to perform the functions of a practicing therapist at the first of two assigned clinical sites. It is expected
2 that at the end of the eight weeks (school systems minimum 280 hours, all others minimum 320 hours) the student should be functioning at entry-level with close supervision needed. General objectives for each experience are the same. However, each fieldwork site in conjunction with the OTA educational program will develop specific objectives. Fieldwork will include at least one physical disability site and any of the following for the other section site: physical disability, psychosocial, pediatric, or hand therapy, or a combination. Psychosocial experiences will be strongly encouraged within all fieldwork. A certified occupational therapy assistant and/or a registered occupational therapist with at least one-year clinical experience will closely supervise students. RELATIONSHIP TO THE CURRICULUM DESIGN: This course is offered in the final semester of the program. It provides the student the opportunity to apply OTA skills learned within the curriculum. It involves integration of knowledge, practice skills, and professional attitudes, in final transition to the world of work. TOPICS TO BE COVERED: Topics to be covered during the lecture portion include: Professional behaviors Supervision Fieldwork Problems Studying for the NBCOT exam Topics to be covered during the clinical experience will be relevant to type of clinical setting each student is assigned. COURSE OBJECTIVES: On the completion of the lecture portion of this course: 1. Students will discuss specific ideas and skills pertaining to professional behaviors while in the fieldwork setting. 2. Students will discuss fundamentals that contribute to successful supervisory relationships. 3. Students will identify factors that contribute to successful performance. 4. Students will understand how to deal with common fieldwork problems. 5. Students will understand the characteristics of an effective student versus a challenging student. 6. Students will understand the basic certification process. Under the supervision of a competent certified occupational therapy assistant and/or registered occupational therapist, clinical experience is designed 1. To provide an integration and application of academically acquired knowledge in the effective treatment and rehabilitation of patients with disability. 2. To provide in-depth meaningful clinical experience in which the student will develop the necessary skills to be determined at entry-level status upon completion.
3 Upon completion of Fieldwork Experience II the student will demonstrate: 1. The ability to articulate the unique nature of occupation as viewed by the profession of occupational therapy to the patient, potential employer and general public. 2. The ability to analyze tasks relative to performance areas, performance components, and performance contexts. 3. Demonstrate an appreciation for the patient s perception of quality of life, wellbeing and occupation to promote health and prevention of injury and disease. The need for and use of compensatory strategies to allow for patient occupational performances. 4. The ability to gather and share data for screening. 5. The ability to administer selected assessments and use occupation for the purpose of assessment. 6. The ability to use safety precautions with patients during all patient contact. 7. Documentation within the guidelines of the facility and the payor sources. 8. The ability to select, adapt and sequence relevant occupations and purposeful activities that support the intervention goals and plan as written by the occupational therapist. 9. The ability to develop treatment goals that are reflective of the assigned patient s needs, interests, and occupational performances under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist. 10. Education of the assigned patient/family/caregiver/significant others to facilitate skills in performance areas as well as prevention. 11. Competency in utilizing the assessment tools and evaluation procedures routinely used by COTA's at the fieldwork center. 13. Proficiency in implementing treatment under the supervision of a COTA or OTR congruent with O.T. philosophy and models and theories of treatment practiced at the fieldwork center. 14. Effectively document observations, progress of clients and treatment goals in the format used by the fieldwork center. 15. Proficiency in adapting treatment plans and modifying treatment activities to meet the changing and cultural needs of clients. 16. The ability to effectively use oral communication of ideas and relevant information to a variety of staff team members in a professional manner. 17. Effective departmental record keeping, maintaining of supply inventory and ordering of supplies when necessary. 18. Maintenance of tools, equipment and work areas. 19. An awareness of safety factors and treatment precautions when choosing activities and working with assigned clients. 20. Effective correlation of traditional forms of treatment with the specific treatment program of an assigned client. 21. Assistance in planning long term supportive programs for patients. 22. Effective communication with supervisor and other team members regarding the patients condition and the role of occupational therapy. 23. Effective budgeting of time to carry full patient caseload. 24. Modification of behavior in response to supervisory feedback. 25. Respect for the client's rights to confidentiality, privacy and choice. 26. Adherence to the policies and procedures of the facility.
4 27 The ability to carry a patient caseload typical of an entry-level therapist. 28. Adhere to program evaluation standards. 29. Advocate for the profession and the client when necessary. 30. Demonstrate the use and awareness of the use of professional literature in the selection of treatment choices. 31. Effectively demonstrate the role of the COTA within the assigned setting including but not limited to treatment intervention, discharge, advocacy, reassessment, and referrals. 32. Demonstrate awareness of the effects state and federal legislation have on the delivery of O.T. services in the assigned setting. These are general objectives for fieldwork. Each site has developed specific objectives based on these objectives and the American Occupational Therapy Association Fieldwork Evaluation Form. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: 1. Attendance. Students are required to be at their assigned facility 5 days a week for eight weeks. In sites where workdays are shorter than 8 hours (6 hours for school system), special provisions should be made with the Fieldwork Supervisor and the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator to assure that the student obtains the necessary hours to meet the course requirements. If an emergency arises and the student must be absent the student is responsible for notifying both the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and the Fieldwork Supervisor as soon as possible. The student must also be prepared to make provisions for the treatment of their assigned patients. Students may miss only for an emergency and it will be required that the student must make up the missed time. If the site is closed for a holiday the student may be asked to take a field trip to another facility or an assignment may be given that will ensure time is made up. The Fieldwork Supervisor may wish to contact the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for guidance in this situation. STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES: Student academic support services are available at every college represented within the S.I.C.C.M. OTA program. Services are available for a wide variety of needs (e.g. computer and audiovisual assistance, tutoring, special accommodations, etc) and are described in the college catalogs and college student handbooks. Information and referral may also be obtained from OTA faculty. Students who require reasonable accommodation for a physical or learning disability should contact the disabilities coordinator at their campus. If you have a documented disability, you are entitled to reasonable educational accommodation. However, if you qualify, you must inform the class instructor in writing of needed accommodations at the beginning of the course. PRIMARY METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: Lecture Clinical experience
5 Student Evaluation Assignments / Tests (Clinical Portion 100%): At the end of the eight weeks the supervisor should complete AOTA s Fieldwork Performance Evaluation for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Student. FWPE for OTA = 100 points The following is the grading scale used by the school to assign a letter grade to the evaluation. A: 100-80 B: 79-75 C: 74-70 Fail if below 69 A minimum final grade of "C" is necessary to pass this course. Student must also score 3 or better on questions 1-3 to pass the fieldwork. The Academic Fieldwork coordinator will use this score as a guideline to issue letter grades.