Part 3: the conclusion of the triennial memphis drill. anyone else with pictures please send!
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See Part 1 and Part 2 here (this will be linked eventually for now just scroll down)An ambulance going to Baptist East (one of four participating hospitals taking patients), was used to transport me and one other critical patient, as well as one yellow-tagged sitting-up patient. The yellow patient with arm issues sat upright, the other critical patient was like on the floor part of it which I think is normal, and then I was on some kind of ledge that was higher up, against a wall. The guy in the ambulance was also very nice, but flat-out admitted he really didn't know what he was supposed to do with us in terms of simulati...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 7, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Part 2: faa-mandated triennial drill....memphis simulated airplane crash
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See Part 1 here.We drove to the grassy field next to the airport in large buses. Several buses lined up together to look like the fuselage (?) and they had a torn-up wing there too. There were explosives set up all over the place. We all walked out far into the field to be away from the explosives and scattered ourselves around appropriately. They couldn't make the call into all the emergency places until we were all staged and ready for them. After a while, as we sat there in the grass waiting, they started setting off some initial explosions, to get the smoke going. The wind luckily blew the smoke away from us, so everyt...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 7, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
More triennial drill pics....
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This dude sent me some of his awesome photos, THANKS! More later. (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 7, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Emergency plane crash drill part 1....
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Dripping blood. Gore. Lacerations. Bruises. Burns. Skin flaps. Massive wounds. Torn clothing. Pale cyanotic skin. CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!Today was the FAA-mandated triennial drill where a major airline crash was simulated. I volunteered. It was a very interesting and fun day, but also a sobering one! I'm going to share in excruciating detail because, c'mon, that's how I roll. The day started out at 1:30pm with a bunch of Baptist nursing students and a few UT people meeting up near campus to get on a bus to the staging area for the crash. We sat on the bus as people trickled in until 2:10. They expected 100 but got far...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 7, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Exciting times for the occupational therapy profession
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I’m hoping that I’ve not lost too many readers while I’ve eben absent from my blog! I find it hard to believe how quickly the weeks have gone by since I last posted.
I thought I’d quickly update what I’ve been involved in, and then hopefully, I’ll expand the entries in later postings. I [...] (Source: Occupational Therapy - educational issues)
Source: Occupational Therapy - educational issues - May 6, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Authors: Merrolee Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
A response from wfot
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I received a response from WFOT regarding an email I sent them about a banner ad on their website. Here is their response:From: World Federation of Occupational Therapists [mailto:admin@wfot.org.au]Sent: 03 May 2008 17:25To: 'chris@abctherapeutics.com'Cc: Marilyn PattisonSubject: WFOT: For Info: banner ads on WFOT websiteDear Dr. AlterioMany thanks for your letter and the concerns you raise.I would like to draw to your attention to the following statement on the WFOT website:Placement of advertising either on the WFOT website or in the Bulletin does not imply any endorsement of the advertised products and / or services by ...
Source: ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog - May 5, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Tags: evidence-based practice Source Type: blogs
Soporific somnolence surly satiation i dunno this post is randomly boring
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This post has very little to do with OT but y'all will survive. Sorry Mom, don't fuss at me for being unprofessional, I already know. I took my friend Sarah, who just turned 18, to Nashville this weekend to visit some good friends, my ex-roommate Suzanne and her husband Arnie. We were going to leave Friday but weather prevented that. We left Saturday morning, got there in time to meet them for lunch, and then shopped at like thrift stores. The highlight of our road trip was a rest stop in Bucksnort, Tennessee...I ended up with a t-shirt. Because seriously. Everyone needs a T-shirt with a buck on it that says Bucksnort, Ten...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 4, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Charlie, which way to candy mountain? pony prosthesis!
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Anyone who gets the obscure title (besides Burt or Sarah) gets an airkiss from me.Our department chair sent us an e-mail with the following story and it's like, the most awesome story in the entire world. I've received lots of awesome stories this weekend!!! And it took away the sting of the poor euthanized Kentucky Derby pony :( I've written articles over the years about horses who survived amputation surgery. There was Boitron, the California Thoroughbred stallion who could service mares after amputation surgery. There were Dr. Ric Redden's dramatic cases of founder su...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 4, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Emergency drill on tuesday augh!!!
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Kaelin, an incoming MOT student, wrote me about being involved in emergency drills, it sounds fascinating! I copy/pasted the e-mail....I found your blog a few weeks ago and I've enjoyed readingit. I'm starting OT school at the University of BLANK in the fall(I'm so excited!) and I love hearing about the types of things you do. Aboutthe emergency drills - I've done a couple of these and I've actuallyreally enjoyed them. I mean, obviously if it was a real situation itwouldn't be good, but to me, it kind of felt like being in a movie (allthe make, lights, smoke machines, etc.) and it was fun. I don't knowexactly how one in an...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 4, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Two awesome internet videos
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A Chinese woman who has no limbs and does everything with her feet, ASTOUNDING http://www.elegantbay.com/main/amazingwoman.htm Second one: A blind boy who navigates using echo, similar to what bats use - also astounding http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkDI_spL0HQ (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 4, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
New sensory research for children who have autism
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Below is a feed I picked off of ScienceDaily - reporting on a study that was presented at the recent AOTA conference. I wish that more information was available - and I was unable to attend conference this year. I'll have to reserve most of my comments because I just need more information. I am encouraged by the apparent rigor of a double blind design - but wondering if they just used the Sensory Profile as a pre-post measurement. I'll try to find out and post more... Here is the newsfeed:Autistic Mannerisms Reduced By Sensory TreatmentScienceDaily (2008-04-27) -- Children with autistic spectrum disorders who underwent sen...
Source: ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog - May 3, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Tags: evidence-based practice autism sensory integration Source Type: blogs
Ot rap for ot month
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I got this via e-mail, it's awesome...."Hello...my name is Natalia and I'm a second year OT student at San Jose State in California. Some of my classmates made an OT rap that they posted on Youtube to promote OT during Occupational Therapy month and I would love if you could post the link of your blog to help spread the OT love!" (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 2, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
New and improved, shorter, miss otpf pageant
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Here is the new and improved 9.5 minute version of the pageant. All extra seconds deleted + all the runway walks sped up. Thanks Orli, Thanks Neal, thanks UT Memphis girls!! Thanks OTPF!! (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 2, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
An attack on evidence-based assessment in occupational therapy
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In the past I have blogged about evidence based practice so I don't really feel the need to revisit the topic at length. The use of evidence is not a passing fad but rather represents a real shift in the sophistication of our science. This shift was not just restricted to occupational therapy but occupational therapy was caught up in it. That was a good thing.I am revisiting this tonight because I was visiting the WFOT website and I saw one of their banner ads. The ad was for Schoodles, and the ad said "Changing the way therapists around the world assess children." Kudos to the advertising people at Schoodles because I alm...
Source: ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog - May 1, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Tags: evidence-based practice Source Type: blogs
Babies babies babies...
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I held babies the other day. It was a Monday morning and the census was the lowest I've ever seen - it seemed like half the rooms were empty and/or had parents visiting, which is also somewhat unusual for weekdays. I was hoping to get to follow the OT although I did not want to bother her. I wandered around for a while, but there really weren't any suitable babies. I ended up approaching a SLP and asked if I could follow her for a while, explaining I am an OT student. She didn't have much luck either. She finally got approval to see a baby in an isolette, the giraffe bed things where there are portholes but the...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 1, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Aughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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AUGH!!!I am officially a volunteer (one of MANY) for the Triennial Airport Emergency Drill on May 6th!!! I'll be a casualty! With victim makeup! And probably lying on the ground! And possibly transported to a local hospital where they continue the farce! Craziness! My heart rate will probably be like, 400 BPM because I'll be freaking out (this is gonna be a challenge for me, anxiety-wise but I think I can handle it) and they will be like "Yo Bob, this chick is on cocaine or something because her heart rate is insane" and I'll be like "NO ITS BECAUSE THIS IS FRIKKEN SCARY OMG AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 1, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Whoah
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Wow! I was looking up "sugar gliders" since I've been fascinated by them since I saw them at a flea market recently. I'm killing about 20 minutes before I leave for Tai Chi. Anyway, I stumbled across an article on self-mutilation! Sugar gliders self mutilate at times when sick or unhappy! Craziness!!I'm headed to Tai Chi in a few moments...then Bingo is tonight. Also, Orli, famed awesome Orli, has cut the pageant from 17 minutes to about 9.5, so it can be put on YouTube! YAY!!!!!!!!! She is a whiz with Windows Movie Maker and I'm sooo jealous! New version coming by early next week!! (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 1, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Low vision lab 2
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Today we first learned about things like diopters and F = 1/D and myopia and hyperopia and all sorts of crazy things. Then we visited Orli's office where there were 9 stations set up for tasks using various devices to help with low vision including CCTV, magnifying glasses, special glasses, binoculars, reading lamps, etc. Allison wrote a check under the CCTV (which makes it large) for a billion dollars, from me to her, for being her friend. :( So I wrote her one back from Orli, for five dollars, to me, for having such a sucky friend like Allison. Grrr. Anyway it was fun :) (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 1, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Low vision lab 1
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Orli, our Low Vision Rehab Specialist Extraordinaire of the World and I can't Spell Sorry, did a lab with us where we used a lot of goggles simulating low vision (vision bad even with correction). We had to do activities in them including take the elevators. LOL. (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - May 1, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
I don't know why
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This is my late grandmother, Joan. My mom is over on the right in the little dress. Joan had a PhD and was really really smart. I'm not nearly as smart but I think I'm kind of like her in general. But she would be the last person on Earth to be an occupational therapist, she was into hard science. I don't know why I'm posting this besides that it popped up first on my Picasa screen and I felt like it. So there. (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 30, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Completely random brambles that make heads explode
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What I am working on:Preparing Semester 3 PDEs (Professional Development Evaluations) with Intermediate Professional Behavior CriteriaModifying my resume to be OT-relatedWorking on condensing the research paper into smaller poster-sized chunks, with my research group (Abstract, Intro done)Preparing a 15 minute presentation on the healthcare policy ramifications of the Terri Schiavo case, and how it relates to occupational therapy.Working on collaborative paper with an OTS dude on the East Coast for hopeful eventual publication in a baby OT magazine.Uploading months of OT pictures to Facebook for people to use in their PDEs...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 30, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Volunteering at the alzheimers day center
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I recently went back to volunteer at the place I did my Level I fieldwork for two weeks. Of course none of the participants "remembered" me in a "Hi where have you been?" kind of sense, but they were warm and friendly and knew somehow I wasn't a stranger. I enjoyed walking around spending time with them. I also fell right back into "therapeutic fibs", which tickle me. lol. One sweet lady, let's call her Julie, said to me:Miss Julie: "I'm looking for my black pants. These ones I'm wearing are nice, but they aren't mine."Me: I'll go check for you, I'll be right back. ::disappears, confirms those are in fact her only pants, c...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 30, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
I had no idea i was so bad
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I have a tendency to make inappropriate morbid comments. Which has been pointed out to me. In fact, I've been recently warned not to go into the field of psych. I agree that there are a lot of populations I probably shouldn't work with, psych-wise, but some psych populations I'm awesome with!! Like inappropriate dementia patients are right up my alley. :) During a meeting:Me (after hearing news I didn't like): Please kill me now.Me: Oops sorry, I'm trying not to be so morbid, that just slipped out.::more meeting conversation takes place::Professor: ::makes random odd comment::Professor: "Ooh, that was just evil. ::glances ...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 30, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Karen cares!
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More discussions in health care policy...sorry they are vague...I wrote down the quotes but forget the exact scenarios. And now I want to quote that lost mind quote except I can't remember it. Which is startingly appropriate. Ok my friend Suzy helped me out: "Of all the things I've lost, it's my mind I miss the most."Girl: It trips me out that blah blah blah...Professor: "It trips a lot of people out."Professor asks question about who cares about something.::I raise hand to make a comment:::::Professor points to me:: "Karen CARES!" (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 30, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Most of them are in jail now...
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Our health care policy professor was discussing how we need to be advocates for our profession, including talking to our congressman. We had to do mini simulations with 30 second sound bites on why OTs are concerned about athletic trainers widening their scope of practice. The professor threw all sorts of twists into the simulations to make them harder. She said..."I've talked with Congressmen before...::thoughtful pause:: Most of them are in jail now." (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 30, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Ramble bramble briar rose
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I have been hesitant to cover up the pageant, but we're going to be trying to shave seconds off here and there to get it under ten minutes if at all possible, so I'll post the shorter version soon. WHICH MEANS NOW I CAN BABBLE AWAY HAPPILY!!! I've been dying to ramble!! Ramble like a rose!! Or is that a bramble. Or a briar. I have no idea what I'm saying. I'm sleep deprived. And I've been reading a weird version of Sleeping Beauty. Anyway...I want to discuss holding babies the other day because I got to see a really interesting but hideous opthalmology procedure done on a baby..UGH...and put my hand...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 30, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Myofascial release and evidence-based practice
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File this under 'required reading.'Please head over to myphysicaltherapyspace.com, specifically to the entry on evidence-based practice and myofascial release interventions. This is an excellent discussion and I hope you all have the chance to take a look at it.Myofascial release is a modality that is much more widely used in physical therapy than occupational therapy, but it still crops up in OT interventions from time to time. I am especially concerned about so-called craniosacral therapies and the ways that some therapists combine these dubious interventions with other OT quackery.I really don't have more to add than wh...
Source: ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog - April 30, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Miss otpf 2008 is here!
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Even if you aren't in the OT world, this pageant should be pretty amusing!! Please enjoy! APRIL IS OT MONTH!Notes:OTPF stands for Occupational Therapy Practice Framework...a VERY important document in OT Student Land, with specialized vocabulary and everything. :)Brooke is the announcer.Karen (me) is reigning Miss OTPF.Stereotypical contestants are: dorky Meg, cheerleader Stephanie, snobby Kim, mean Allison, one-upper Kerri, and South Carolina ditzy Emily. Neal, our tech guy, helped a TON...and HE put in the "does it all" part in my name in the credits...I swear I didn't ask for that. lolFilming took place in our big OT la...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 28, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Adhd - stock question and answer
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I recently got this email question, again. It is a relatively common email that I receive so I thought I would post the question and my stock answer here...The Question:My school district/teacher keeps telling me that my child has ADHD and needs to be medicated. They have been harassing me at every IEP meeting and want me to medicate my child. I have absolutely refused because I never believed that medication would fix the problems my child has.How do I know if my child even has ADHD, and what should I do about it? How do I get the school to stop harrassing me? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.The Answer:The school ...
Source: ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog - April 28, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Vestibular book - the brain that changes itself
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My friend Joey sent me an e-mail titled "Vestibular and brain plasticity" and I'm copy/pasting some of it! The book sounds great. Hope it's at the public library! """""I read your post on Vestibular rehab and it piqued my interest. I'vebeen reading a book called " The Brain that Changes Itself" by NormanDoidge. It's about brain plasticity and so far it is incrediblyinteresting. Anyway, he begins the book by speaking of a woman namedCheryl Schiltz who feels like she is perpetually falling, hervestibular aparatus is not working because of gentamicin (a drug givento her following surgery). Doidge then goes on to speak of Paul...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 27, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Airport drill...
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There is an "Airport Triennial Emergency Drill" that will take place on May 6th, as mandated by the FAA. I may get to be a volunteer - being a victim - but it's unlikely. They wanted volunteers in the health care field to help provide feedback on how things go. Awesome huh! (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 27, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Article:cuddling helps preemies bear pain
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Cuddling helps preemies bear pain: study A reuters article: "Cuddling up against mother's bare skin can helptiny premature babies recover more quickly from the pain of being stuckwith needles and other procedures, Canadian researchers reported onWednesday."Thanks Arnie for the link!Speaking of cuddling, I plan to go hold babies in the morning and if I'm lucky, observe some OT with them. :) (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 27, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Linkages linkages...
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My blog is linked on the AOTA Conference blog!http://aota2008conference.blogspot.com/The presidential address from P.Mo is up on that blog :) (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 27, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Yay i passed my fake boards
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Test Taken: Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR®) Practice Test Your Scaled Score: 469Examination score required to pass is: 450Thelowest possible score is 300, and the highest possible score is 600. Atotal examination score of 450 or higher is required to pass theexamination. Your total scaled score is computed based on the totalnumber of correct items.Yay! I passed (barely) the NBCOT Practice Exam without studying at all! Of course I'll study a ton when the real one comes around, just in case - it's really expensive to re-take it if you fail! (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 27, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Dangerous things happen when flights are delayed
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I am currently stuck in Chicago, and have been for the last several hours. To an action-oriented person like myself free hours feel like they are taffy-time - stretched beyond any point of recognition of what they originally were.This means that I have uninterrupted opportunity to mentally operationalise some plans. Mental operationalisation is somewhat oxymoronic, and I will need to explain that at another time. Also, I don't mean to use spelling that would more likely be found in other countries but a certain letter on this laptop is not working (the letter after 'y') and so I can't spell things in the way I normally wou...
Source: ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog - April 26, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Otpf pageant time....in time for ot month
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Functional Reach Test...ACLS....Digi-Flex....Ohhh the cone-stackingWhat a splint. All bandaged up....Hello all, I have been quiet a few days after the recent belated AOTA conference marathon postings. My blog is linked on the AOTA Conference Blog Links now, woot woot. Some of my classmates, our amazing tech guy Neal, and I, successfully completed our Miss OTPF Pageant on Thursday afternoon - it is about 16 minutes long with a casual wear (scrubs), evening wear (khakis/polos), OT-related equipment photo shoot, and OTPF-related interview questions. It's pretty awesome and, in our opinion, hilarious. It has to be SLIGHTLY edi...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 26, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Fieldwork advice
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Another post today.....I had received an email a while back from a student who wanted advice about the Level I Pediatrics Fieldwork experience. I wanted to wait to answer that because I wanted to finish the 10 weeks before I summed it up.What I've learned is that every fieldwork site is different. Everyone in my class pretty much went to different places, some went to public schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics, etc. I was at a special services school. Also, everyone saw different ages. Some worked with babies, preschoolers, or elementary aged. I worked primarily with 14-21 year olds, although I got to observe younger ch...
Source: if you can't fix it with duct tape- you haven't used enough - April 25, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
One-ish more week to go!
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There's a lot of books I'd like to read. I wish they weren't so expensive. This one caught my eye and it's probably worth investing in once I start making money. http://www.amazon.com/Therapeutic-Exercise-Foundations-Techniques/dp/0803615841/ref=pd_sim_b_title_6 My first year of grad school is coming to an end. The program is half over and I still remember my interview like it was yesterday. I promise I'll write something deep one of these days, but I need to reserve my remaining brain cells for 1 more presentation, a baby lab, and 2 final exams. So anyway, if you're an OTS, you'll understand this list I created. Things I'...
Source: if you can't fix it with duct tape- you haven't used enough - April 25, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Post 5: people and events and i am done
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Brooke rides a bull. In a bar. Not at Conference though. Just in the area.Meg tries not to fall.Me, Aunt Cathy, Uncle Jim, Uncle Mary, Grandma, Dad, Mom. PF Changs in Long Beach near Convention Center.Ok. Deep breath. My two big "I AM SUCH A CELEBRITY I SHOULD BE ON CELEBRITY REHAB" thrills:1) Getting to meet Chris Bluhm, executive director of AOTA, for a brief chat. He was extremely busy of course, but shaking his hand and discussing social networking was well, exciting. We briefly discussed that I've been doing some tarsal-smashing without even realizing it but it's not because I'm offensive or anything (I like to think)...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 23, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Post 4: neurocom, how i adore thee...or at least your staff.
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I am doing my second Level II occupational therapy fieldwork rotation in Vestibular...in a well-known San Diego hospital system. I am pretty excited as this is primarily a physical therapy field with few OTs. NeuroCom had a booth at AOTA Conference and they had one of their smaller systems set up so that people could see how it tested basic balance and such. I tried it and my vestibular system - not surprisingly since I'm dizzy all the time and easily car sick - is bad. I chatted a little bit with Marcia Thompson, DPT, as well as one of her co-workers, Nick K. Both were really kind and helpful and no-nonsense. Marcia remin...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 23, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
3: aota ..friday..senior member salon, expo, presidential address...
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Some of the stuff I got at conference...not counting the many inches of papers/catalogs. Friday, April 11th, I think.The day started out early - I met Marc Freedman, who was on the Steering Committee, to discuss some of the "You are the Future" Communications Proposal, at a cute little cafe. We looked at things like Facebook and chat rooms and discussed options. Then we headed to the Hyatt for the Senior Member Salon. I begged him to let me go in his place since I had screwed up on Thursday and I felt so guilty.It worked out so I sat in on an Intergenerational meeting in the Senior Member Salon, with the session facilitate...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 23, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Post 2: aota conference keynote speaker and posters
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Start here first: Going to AOTA Conference Post 1 out of A Bazillion to Come (updated to have a few pictures) Post 2: I’d like to warn you all that I have no true concept of time, all days run together and I couldn’t tell you what I did two days ago let alone weeks ago (hence the whole journaling thing, except that it only works if you keep on top of it, oops), so there may be some chronological inaccuracies…oh well. You get the point. Thursday April 10th was a big day at AOTA. The first thing I did that day was screw up. I had signed up to volunteer within the Senior Member Salon as a note-taker, and I forgot/sle...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 23, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Some neat articles...
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At 60, He Learned to Sing So He Could Learn to TalkThis is an article about speech therapy, but the field has a lot of overlap with occupational therapy. OTs use song and music a lot to engage patients. Pretty interesting. Thanks Arnie for the send. At Bedside, Stay Stoic or Display Emotions?Another good story. Regarding doctors, but anything in the health-care field has repercussions for everyone...consumers and professionals alike. (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 23, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Occupational therapy street reality: early intervention
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Here is a quick clinical scenario, in case anyone is out there glamorizing pediatric occupational therapy practice.This one is more "dirt road" reality as opposed to "street" reality.I have been in squatter's homes before that have amounted to little more than foundation-less sheds and shacks tucked away on corners of land that other people have abandoned or forgotten. These are sad stories, but they are realities nonetheless, and these people make up a certain underclass of society that require a lot of support. As I drove up a country road toward my destination I saw rows of dilapidated trailer homes with lots of bare pl...
Source: ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog - April 22, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Sleeeeppyyy
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I volunteered at a local pediatric hospital this morning doing WEE-FIM. Then had a Health care class. And then an awesome CPR/AED certification course needed for our Level II projects. He told us about how the pads for the AED just need to be in a way that its a straight line to heart and I had this great idea that if you only had one set of pads and two people that needed it, you could like position them side by side, then put one pad on each person so that it zaps them both, but he said that wouldn't work, I was bummed. I thought it was brilliant. Oh well. Tomorrow involves research talks regarding our Tai Chi paper,...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 22, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Going to aota conference post 1 out of a bazillion to come
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Assembly of Student Delegate Representative Meetings, Pre-ConferenceMeg is our class ASD rep, and I am an ASD "project coordinator" (fancy way of saying I didn't make the Steering Committee but I can still help with things), so I accompanied her to some of the ASD sessions, just out of curiosity. It reminded me a lot of Conclave, actually. There was a session on fieldwork at Conclave that I had complained was common sense, and Meg ended up saying the same thing about the session on fieldwork for ASD reps. Overall it was a great group of students with enthusiasm and passion, and sessions ran smoothly. We had a...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 21, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Holding babies on a sunday morning....
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I volunteered this morning, holding babies at the step-down ICU at a local pediatric hospital. It was the weekend so it was "quiet", meaning the tide of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, consultants, and therapists is stemmed drastically. The babies, and therefore all their leads and tubings, are left undisturbed and so the beeps, alarms and buzzes are less frequent The only noise is the idle gossip of the nurses gathered near the front, some of them holding babies as they chattered. I walked in to the thin mewling of a 6-week old, hungry and sleepy and needing comfort. The nurse went into his private room, put...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 21, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Ummmmm its 2am so this is going to be random
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The last few days have been fun but busy. Including some time with friends, but also a lot of work on projects. We have had two lectures on low vision with an amazing and well-known low vision specialist in the region, Orli. She is from South Africa and has the most awesome accent. It can make learning about scotomas and hemianopsia almost fun. Well not quite. Low vision isn't my thing, but she's a great lecturer. We also had a wonderful woman come in from the physical therapy department, who is from Puerto Rico, and she gave us a lecture on cultural issues in rehab from a Latino perspective. It refreshed my desire...
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 19, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Ot!
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AOTA Conference REPRESENTS....stolen from Jillian's Facebook. Blogging to come. I'm going a little crazy right now with too much stuff going on! (Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G))
Source: Occupational Therapy Students (B)e(LO)n(G) - April 18, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
Personal examples of 'being in place' and how it relates to parenting
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OK that last entry was too philosophical so I needed to find something to counterbalance the point I was trying to make. I wrote this seven years ago and it will serve the purpose of illustration.Again, the concept here is that there needs to be some way to approach the meanings and intentions behind parenting decisions, and to find ways to harness phenomenological analysis as a tool to help parents move from point A to point B. Anyway, this is a personal example of how it applies - and I hope this will demonstrate the depth of meaning behind a parenting moment. Knowing this depth from a personal perspective actually intim...
Source: ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog - April 18, 2008 Category: Occupational Therapists Source Type: blogs
