Fieldwork News: Past, Present, Future!

PAST: 

Thank you to all who came out to our Fieldwork Appreciation Events in Saskatoon and Edmonton in the last few weeks.  It was so much fun to celebrate our clinical community and have a chance to express our appreciation.  We hope to plan similar events in other cities in the future. 

PRESENT:  

Level I placements still needed!!! 

We are still looking for a large number of placements for our Level 1 students from May 15-June 30.  These students are especially keen and excited to have their first opportunity to actively participate in occupational therapy service.  The general caseload expectation is approximately 25% of caseload with moderate to maximal assist, the focus is on applying academic knowledge, and  the supervision style is focused on 'teaching'. While we obviously want students to have lots of client contact, because there is a lower expectation for independence, it is reasonable to provide students with extra time and structured opportunities to engage in self-directed learning or practice.  Here are some ideas to engage student's while preceptors are completing their own activities:

• perform chart review, practice charting
• prepare notes for brief verbal report (rounds)
• complete an occupational profile on a client (even if you don't know what's involved in that, the student should!)
• spend time exploring relevant cultural competency resources such as spending time with an Elder or Aboriginal Helper,  or simply having discussions with clients about their culture and it's impact on occupational performance. 
• research community resources and partners
• research a diagnosis, lab result or diagnostic test and relate to occupational performance
• review medication list and identify potential influence on occupational performance
• shadow OT in another area, identify similarities and differences
• spend time with support personnel and discuss assignment and delegation principles
• shadow interprofessional team members and identify overlapping and unique scope of practice
• complete a project or deliver a presentation that supports learning objectives (no more than 5% of placement time)
• spend time becoming familiar with equipment, materials, resources (adjust some wheelchairs, play with splinting scraps, sew a sling!)

If you feel you can support a student at this time or want to discuss options please contact Michele Green <mgreen@ualberta.ca> or Cherie Henderson  cherie.henderson@ualberta.ca 

FUTURE: 

Rehab Med Family Fun Day & Calgary Open House

Join us for a FREE family event for people of all ages to learn what physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and rehabilitation scientists do! PLUS an opportunity for prospective students to tour the Calgary satellite site, learn more about MSc Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy programs, and see our ‘double robot’ in action!

Saturday, April 8, 2017

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Calgary Downtown Campus 

Floor 3, 906-8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1H9

Register by March 31 at: registration

Fieldwork Community Appreciation Event

We are pleased to host past, present, and future supporters of our MScOT students to the following Pub Nights:

Saskatoon - March 9th, 4:30-6:30 at Mano's on 8th st E

Edmonton - March 15, 5:00-7:00 at Canadian Brewhouse on 109 street/104 avenue

Drop in anytime for appetizers, soft drinks and prizes.

Please RSVP to cherie.henderson@ualberta.ca

Celebrating Preceptor Excellence

I was so happy to attend the SAOT AGM last week and see some of our excellent preceptors recognized with the SAOT Clinical Preceptor Award.  There were four recipients this year:

Mary Henry from the Royal Alexandra Hospital

Mary Henry with SAOT's Laura Budzak

Gary Rowland and Anthony Goodwin of Halvar Jonson Centre for Brain Injury 

Gary and Anthony with their former students Priyanka Vergis and Taylor Guy

Also recognized was Nicole Bretzer of Shepherd's Care Foundation.

Congratulations to these four and thank you for providing excellent mentorship to our students!