knowledge check 4/18

-

Professor Flick's lecture on health promotion and awareness was very enlightening. I feel as though this area of health is under appreciated and a topic that all health professionals should be versed in to begin to spread awareness to their clients. A topic I found interesting was the multiple types of prevention and that OT can have a role in each type. Although OT is probably most common in tertiary prevention, I think that primary prevention is the most important type of prevention to teach clients and I plan to implement this into my treatments. Many people do not understand the consequences of their poor choices and as health professionals it is our responsibility to educate on the significance of choosing healthy behaviors to prevent chronic illnesses in the future.
Discussing the topic of health literacy really struck a chord with me as this is not something that I have often thought about. After watching the videos in class of clients struggling to read and advocate for themselves due to lack of understanding made me realize how common this problem is and that it needs to be addressed for each client. It is vital to make sure clients understand the information provided to them by all providers so that they are able to engage in self-care improvement and chronic disease management. Admitting literacy issues can be an embarrassing or intimidating topic for some individuals. This is why it is crucial to form a rapport and build trust with clients so that they feel comfortable to ask questions. Navigating the healthcare system can be a scary thing for everyone, and particular care needs to be given to those struggling with health literacy. It is our job as OTs to be an activist for all of our clients.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Biomechanics blog post #2

-
Using bony landmarks and proper positioning is necessary when measuring ROM so that you are able to put joints at zero for a starting position. By identifying a bony landmark you are able to stabilize the proximal joint. To have a good testing position it is important to have the right amount of tension on the structure. The test position for MMT is the position in which the muscle is placed for optimal muscle contraction.   If a client can comfortably withstand pressure in the test position for 3-4 seconds than they have normal muscle strength. The gravity eliminated position is implemented when the client is unable to hold test position and breaks after a few seconds. If they are graded a 2 (poor) or less, MMT will be performed so that the structure being tested is parallel to the ground as to eliminate gravity. To avoid unnecessary compensation, it is important to provide stabilization to joint that is not being tested.
Read more

Why I want to become an OT

-
Image
My grandparents dancing at a wedding and also my grandmothers first outing after her accident.  My realization that I was destined to be an OT began the day that my grandmother fell and fractured a vertebra. My strong, independent grandmother would come to tears often over her accident. It was not the pain that made her emotional, but the thought that she may have lost her freedom for good. It was her occupational therapist that was able to bring her out of her depression and show her that life was not over. I watched the OT encourage Grandma when she was ready to give up, and slowly she began to regain strength and perform her everyday tasks again. This occupational therapist not only changed my grandmother’s outlook on the quality of life she could have after the fall, but she changed mine as well. As I began working as a rehab technician at HealthSouth in Florida I noticed that it takes a special type of person to perform this occupation. You not only have to be empa...
Read more

OT 533 post-sim reflection

-
Overall, I feel as though the Sim encounter was a great learning experience and my encounter was positive.   Once I was settled and feeling more comfortable, I was able to convey the information in a clear and concise manner to the client. If I was given the opportunity to re-do this simulation, I would have been sure to ask more questions about Ms. Nelson and Libby’s home life and get a better understanding of their daily routine. I also caught myself thinking of Libby as a bystander, instead of a child that had some concerns with sensory processing. In the future, I will make a vigilant effort to approach the situation with a person-first perspective and be more self-aware of the whole person that is being affected. I believe that I provided an attitude of caring by letting Ms. Nelson know that she is not alone in this journey and will not be abandoned after this meeting. It is important for clients to feel support and understand that they are a part of a team ...
Read more