Article 2017

Instructional insights: Restructuring the fieldwork experience: One clinic’s journey

Occupational Therapy in Health Care
Journal · Vol. 31 · Issue 4 · pp. 365-373
Abstract

Although there are standards for occupational therapy education, there are no universal standards for the affiliated fieldwork settings, only guidelines from the educational institutions. As a result, a student learning experience often varies dramatically from facility to facility. Several factors that may affect the clinical experience include the preparedness of a student, the willingness of a clinic to work through potential student challenges, and the theoretical foundation a clinic has built for disseminating occupational therapy practice skills. This article highlights the journey of one clinic through a redesign of the occupational therapy fieldwork program and outlines the steps taken to transform student experiences and improve program success. Starting with a self-directed review of the fieldwork process, and through a combination of program redesign, application of a theoretical foundation, and refocus toward a competency-based program, the student success rate at this acute rehabilitation hospital drastically improved and achieved positive feedback fromall involved. © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Competency-based education Program evaluation Clinical supervision Clinical Education Program design Establishing a fieldwork site Evaluation of a fieldwork program Fieldwork sites Occupational therapy and fieldwork Preceptor program design Situational leadership

Index Keywords

Skill learning clinical competence human Humans Students Vocational education Problem solving curriculum student education leadership practice guideline human experiment program evaluation school rehabilitation clinical supervision occupational therapy clinical education Education, Professional theoretical study field work rehabilitation center outpatient department occupational therapy education Ambulatory Care Facilities occupational therapy practice positive feedback Rehabilitation Centers
Author Affiliations
Rehabilitation Services, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
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10 Lew, Nancy, When fieldwork takes a detour, Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 21, 1-2, pp. 105-122, (2007)
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