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I wonder if maybe people aren't writing because the
topics tend to be very deep, and may not be a reflection of what practitioners
want to discuss. For example, when I joined, what I hoped I would find,
and what I unfortunately haven't found, is an exchange of treatment ideas for a
variety of disabilities/conditions our patients have, and ways to improve our
technical skills. As I'm saying this, however, I do have to ask the group
a "deeper" question. So, I'd like to start dialogues in 2 different
directions. The first is something I really need, asap, as I've got a
student coming soon and a form to fill out. The second dialogue, however,
is of far more interest to me. Here goes:
1. I've got a Level 1 student coming sooooon,
and the school wants to know what Frames of Reference I am using. Now, I
really hesitate to ask this question of you all, as I really, really do no want
to get into philosophical discussions. I'm leaving these issues to the
theorists. I presume Ron is rolling is eyes right now - I'm really not
picking on you Ron - but I don't want to get into a discussion about this - I
just need some fast, quick help. I work in home health with a variety of
paitents with a variety of conditions. Can anyone tell me what Frames of
Reference they use in this type of setting?
2. How about we talk about an area that is
one of my favorite directions for OT to go into - pulmonary rehab. For the
longest time, I really didn't have a good handle on how to treat these patients,
beyond energy conservation. But a couple of years ago, I found this
fabulous website (see attachment above) and which has specific treatment ideas
for various conditions - one of the best OT websites around, I believe. I
used this site as a springboard for doing further reading and research into this
condition, and it has totally changed the way I work with patients, and has
really made me a much more effective practitioner. Now, whenever I work
with a patient with a pulmonary (and often cardiac) diagnosis, I give them an
information packet, rich with information, and especially teach them to really
listen to what their bodies are telling them (by way of symptoms) and to act
accordingly. For example, if they are cognitively intact, we discuss SOB -
what makes them SOB, what makes it worse, better, etc, so they can really start
thinking about it. Very often, they have been SOB for so long, they don't
think about it, and only notice it when it is really bad. However, they
can make real changes in their lives if they recognize the early stages of
SOB, and learn to "nip it in the bud" right away before it gets worse, by
performing proper breathing techniques. We then discuss the Levels of SOB
(I've whittled the levels down to 3 is it is much more user friendly for the
elderly) and teach how to apply them. We actually practice many different
ADLs and leisure activities, teaching the patient self-monitoring skills, until
they can control their breathing, without my intervening. I can't tell you
what a powerful difference this has made in patients lives, and it was all
through this website, jumpstarting ideas and getting me excited about
possibilities.
This is what I hope this forum will produce - a
real dialogue ideas. What do you all think? In exchange for sharing
this wonderful website with you, please, please, please, help me with #1 -
Frames of Reference - please, please, please!!!
Donna
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Occupational Therapy Treatment - Skills for the Job of Living.url
