This portfolio will reflect how various events throughout 2014 have effected and nurtured my understanding of the need for an accurate assessment in Occupation Therapy. I will do this by reflecting on various events that have contributed to the schema, which has developed in my thought process around performing accurate assessments. It will further explore the many aspects that are involved and influence an assessment: such as professional and ethical behaviour; integrating a multitude of information sources; and reflecting on learning experiences to understand how I approach, conduct and understand assessments. Overall this paper will demonstrate how my understanding of an accurate assessment from the beginning of this year has been altered …show more content…
Jay stood in front of our class and informed us that 2nd year in physical would be about learning how to perform assessments correctly. She asked our class why we thought we had to learn how to perform assessments correctly, and the general response was that if you didn’t know what was wrong with someone, how could you treat the unknown problem correctly. I had it in my mind that performing an accurate assessment involved gaining an understanding of the client and any problem they experienced with regards to their body or mind. This was reinforced by the statement from Occupational therapy and Physical dysfunction that, “Assessment means gathering information about people, the occupations of concern, and the environments in which occupations occur.”(1). So I now understood that an assessment was all about gathering information about the client, information that was detailed both from the clients perspective to understand their subjective experience, as well as what I observe about the client, from an objective …show more content…
“Professional reasoning is used to plan, direct, perform and reflect upon client care.” (6). I was planning my assessment sessions by being comfortable with the theory and revising the relevant notes; I was directing and performing the assessment sessions with the beliefs that to participate in ethical and professional behaviour I had to be competent in what needed to occur; and I was reflecting on the importance of preparing for an assessment and performing the assessment correctly. This whole process was the adding to and accommodating my assessment schema as I experience fieldwork and learnt from my textbooks.
Although I have not experienced treatment this year, I am aware of the importance of assessment information plays in planning the treatment sessions. Willard and Spackman’s Occupational therapy indicates the importance of gathering information as the information is what will form the occupational profile as well as determine the priorities for the intervention (7) for the patient. This further makes me believe the requirements of an accurate assessment are the foundation for collecting the correct information in order to ensure the most beneficial and fitting treatment plan for the client as an
The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework defines an occupational profile as “the initial step in the evaluation process that provides an understanding of the client’s occupational history and experience, patterns of daily living, interests, values, and needs (2014).” During this process the client’s problems and concerns about daily occupations are identified then the client’s main concerns are determined (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). Occupational Therapists strive to be holistic and client-centered, and the occupational profile is one method to ensure treatment takes on these characteristics. During the occupational profile the clients share their priorities based on what is important to them, and the therapist
Though occupation usually refers to a job, a person’s occupation is initially determined by what their everyday life consists of. When a person becomes incapable of performing the tasks that they are expected to do in their everyday life due to developmental delays, physical injury, or psychological problems they are often referred to an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists, or OTs, usually have occupational therapy assistants, often called OTAs. The OT gives the OTA a set of objectives to help the patient achieve. Since people go through numerous occupations during the course of their lives, OT’s and OTA’s prov...
Sacket et al, cited in, Duncan, E,A,S, (2006) Foundtions for practice in Occupational Therapy, 4th edition, Elsevier Ltd.
Evaluating Process: First, it is important to review R’s occupational profile for progress from the start of occupational therapy. This is done to determine which assessment fits the needs of R and to ensure that the services rendered fits the client's purpose and goal. Some of the information gathered will include: client's occupational history, ADL patterns, needs and goals, environmental issues, and what the client’s limitations. It is important to evaluate the client’s progress to help facilitate the services that the new occupational therapist will continue. In addition, the client's concerns and interests are assessed in a welcome and open interview to attain additional information that R's family may
Occupation is defined as “activites of everyday life, names, organized and given meaning by individuals and a culture” (Association, 2006). This article also discusses the historical aspects of occupational therapy. Occupational therapy was founded by many different professionals with different backgrounds, that came together to share the same idea about how occupational therapy should be and the importance of activites for a person. This article also talks about different types of services that occupational therapy offers. Occupational therapists and assistances can work in many different settings. With the variety of settings a therapist and assistance can work in, the services that are offered there are different. Some different services that can be offered at these settings can include community mobility skills, stress management, alternative routines and habits, and more. It is important for therapists and assistances to know what settings offer what type of services when they are referencing their client to a new setting. The last topic this article discussed
Townsend, E.A. & Polatajko, H. J. (2007) Enabling Occupation II: Advancing an Occupational Therapy Vision for Health, Well-being & Justice through Occupation. Ottawa, ON: CAOT Publications ACE.
Occupational therapy made its first appearance in a modern-day setting during the 18th century; however, occupational therapy dates back to 100 BC. The United States medical system adopted occupational therapy in the 19th century. In 1910, occupational therapy became a realized profession. Then, the main focus was working with individuals to get them to a fully functional state. Around 1930, standards of practice were developed for occupational therapists (OT’s). The career continues to evolve and change as new illnesses and disabilities arise. Even with all the changes, the main focus remains intact: helping people.
Occupational therapy was based off of psychology; we evolved from treating mentally ill patients with isolation as an efficient treatment plan. We must never forget we are known to be “the art and science of helping people do the day-to-day activities that are important and meaningful to their health and well being through engagement in valued occupations” (Crepeau, Cohn, & Schell, 2008). To other professional disciplines this article explains the difference between each of us, yet can also express our relation to one another. The basic goal of all therapeutic disciplines is to better our clients life, through physical, speech or occupational therapy. Every discipline targets different goals, may it be body mechanics, reducing a stutter or buttoning a shirt, at the end of the day our clients well being may it be through science, art or both is all that matters. To the occupational therapy field this article means progress for what we do. Reading this article today in the year 2015 did not seem like old information to me, it is still relevant, I am proud that our field is not only evolving with contemporary time but it is also maintaining its
An understanding of occupation and its science dimension enables the therapist to gain knowledge about how patients orchestrate their lives through the doing of occupations in any given context. The occupational therapy proce...
After careful review, the author has decided to critique the Five Elements Model of assessment. The author feels this model provides clarity and highlights specific elements needed to properly assess the client’s current circumstance. The structure of the Five Elements Model is conducive to the use of o...
The experience I had interviewing for the first time was extremely daunting but at the same time, eye-opening as it made me realise how essential a skill like this is to have and practice as an occupational therapist. It is a skill that requires time to develop and to craft, but is vital in building a therapeutic alliance between the client and the therapist. I carried out two different interviews, The Occupational Circumstances Assessment Interview Rating Scale (OCAIRS) and Canadian Occupational Performance Model (COPM), as the interviewer and also acted as the interviewee so I could gain insight into what such an experience would be like from the client’s perspective. The aim of both interviews was to assess the client and assessment proves to be a critical part of the OT process.
Often if something does not fit into an existing model then it may be viewed as beyond the area of practice in occupational therapy. In contrast occupational therapy should be inclusive, not exclusive and respond to people’s needs rather than to the limitations of a model (Reed & Sanderson, 1999).The language in conceptual models can also be quite challenging and complicated to understand, detaching therapists from their client’s world (Duncan, 2009). Commonly used conceptual models are MOHO (Model of Human Occupation) and CMOP-E (Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement). The model of Human Occupation (MOHO) is a client centered, evidence based conceptual model which focuses in particular on occupation and how motivation and performance of occupations are intertwined (Cole & Tufano, 2008).
Nursing standard, 24(51), 42-45. Institute of psychiatry, psychology, & neuroscience” Mental Healthcare :: Homepage (Mental Healthcare :: Homepage) http://www.mentalhealthcare.org.uk/ O’Brien, J. C., & Hussey S. M. (2012). Introductory questions. Introduction to occupational therapy (4-5).
The realization of how important the value of occupation and health is in my own life inspires me to help others. I work on maintaining my own health by staying active and productive everyday. Being able to participate in occupations and activities I enjoy is what allows me to live a fulfilling and satisfying life. Occupational therapy appeals to me because it helps people overcome different obstacles, allow them to accomplish their goals, and participate in activities that are meaningful to them. Along with the physical component of Occupational Therapy, I have also observed the emotional, mental, and behavioral aspect of it. I have always been fascinated with the holistic approach Occupational Therapy takes when providing someone with individualized treatment. I believe physical and mental health is integrated, and it’s essential to look at the whole person in order to understand the needs of an
Many of the techniques utilized during the assessment include interviews, observation, administration of work samples or activities, career exploration, and vocational guidance and counseling. An assessment performed soon after the initial consumer contact becomes the first step toward the development of an effective rehabilitation plan because the assessment gives the