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Strategies To Improve Interdisciplinary Communication In An Acute Care Inpatient Pediatric Unit, Sarah Thompson, Haley Pelletier, Barbara Bush Children's Hospital-Inpatient, Maine Medical Center, Suneela Nayak, Ruth Hanselman, Stephen Tyzik

MaineHealth Maine Medical Center

Interdisciplinary patient rounding has been shown to improve patient and family satisfaction as well as reduce patient length of stay and readmission rates. In an acute care inpatient pediatric unit, baseline metrics demonstrated that 100% of the time, nursing was not included in these rounds thus resulting in sub optimal communication.

The goal of this performance improvement project was to attain increased nursing participation. Data collection demonstrated several reasons for lack of participation and corrective actions were instituted. After undertaking this KPI goal and utilizing operational excellence, 95% of the time, nurses were called to morning rounds with the medical …

Workplace Discrimination And Visual Impairment: An Analysis Of Eeoc Charges And Resolutions, Jane Mcneil

Theses and Dissertations

Workplace discrimination for individuals with visual impairments in the U.S. is an ongoing issue dating before the founding of the EEOC and the enactment of the ADA. Despite laws enacted to protect against unequal treatment in the workplace, the EEOC continues to receive submissions of formal discrimination charges from individuals with visual impairments.

The workplace is experiencing changes with increasing amounts of older adults, women, minorities, and the use of technology and the Internet. By examining characteristics of the discrimination charges and the resulting outcomes, the knowledge gained can describe the current situation and the historical progression of workplace discrimination …

Occupational Therapists' Intervention Approaches In Secondary Transition Services For Students With Disabilities, Elizabeth Kelly Miller

Online Theses and Dissertations

Students with disabilities have poor adult outcomes following high school compared to students without disabilities. Issues including poor self-determination, limited work and community experiences, and poor life skills contribute to poor adult outcomes. Occupational therapists possess unique skills that guide intervention in these areas. Despite explicit skills, occupational therapists are currently not predominate service providers in secondary transition services for students with disabilities. This study focused on transition-related intervention approaches used by occupational therapists in the Arizona Peoria Unified School District. Data was collected through qualitative research of a larger study designed to establish the role for occupational therapy in …

Achieving Success In College: An Occupational Therapy Approach To A Study/Support Group, Mattie Heckaman, Angela Sepe

Occupational Therapy Capstones

This project was designed to target the needs of students with psychiatric disabilities pursuing higher education. Kessler, Foster, Saunders and Stang (1995), noted that early-onset psychiatric disorders often disrupt attainment of higher education. According to Mowbray et al. (2006) epidemiological studies indicated that youth ages 15-21 years old had the highest prevalence rate of mental illness in 2005. These ages correlate with the conventional years that an individual may attend college. Consequently, the initial psychiatric occurrence of many young adults is experienced during college years. As noted in recent literature, increased supports are needed to retain students with psychiatric disabilities …

The Effectiveness Of Personal Data Assistants In Improving Daily Function Of Adults With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Connie Lee Budiwarman

Masters Theses

This study evaluated the effectiveness of using Personal Data Assistants to help with memory and/or organizational difficulties with adult patients who had survived mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Utilizing an AB single subject design method with a training period, one subject ultimately completed the study. The study demonstrated mixed results. Through the use of daily record sheets, the subject reported improvement in three areas of daily function but reported negative improvement in three areas of daily function. This study suggests, but does not completely support, the potential use of Personal Data Assistants with patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

The Influence Of Occupational Therapists' Worldview On Clinical Reasoning And Action: A Qualitative Study, Matthew P. Mekkes

Masters Theses

This qualitative study examines the influence of occupational therapists’ worldview on clinical reasoning and action. Recent clinical reasoning research has determined that this complex and multi-faceted process is more than applied theory. Some scholars in occupational therapy have identified intrapersonal factors as influencing clinical reasoning. However, the nature and role of the intrapersonal factors in clinical reasoning remains unclear. To increase understanding of this phenomenon, semi-structured interviews were conducted with expert therapists. Results suggest that a therapist’s worldview, specifically related to beliefs about human nature does affect the way they envision and enact the occupational therapy process. This influence is …

Essence Of Cultural Competence: Listening To The Voices Of Occupational Therapy Students, Roxie M. Black

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study examines the perceptions and meaning of cultural competence and culturally competent care as described by occupational therapy students in their final year of occupational therapy education. The purpose is to determine whether students who have received education that included diversity and multicultural content see themselves as developing cultural competence.

Impact Of Spinal Cord Injury On The Life Roles Of Women., M Claire Quigley

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

This qualitative study was conducted to explore and describe the role experience of five women whose lives were disrupted by a traumatic spinal cord injury and who later returned to their communities after completing intensive rehabilitation programs. In-depth interviews and participant observations were used to examine the experiences of these women. The findings exemplify how the women's use of adaptation and negotiation and the development of a new role as self-advocate facilitated the reestablishment of their life roles. As the women's occupational roles were redefined, the processes of adaptation and negotiation were evident in three aspects of their lives: daily …