Clinical I - Occupational Therapy Assistant Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Course

OTHA-1160-002 Clinical I - Occupational Therapy Assistant

Prerequisites

Course Description

A health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupation theory, skills and concepts. Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(1 sem hr; 4 clinic)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 NEW texts for this course:

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Fieldwork Handbook

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The Successful Fieldwork Student, Sladyk

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Excelling in the Externship, Halverson-Bender

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ANY OR ALL PREVIOUSLY purchased text for OTA program may be required in this course. Texts used will be based on student preference and fieldwork setting.

Supplies

 Professional dress as per program director including Allied Health Sciences name tag/badge

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At the end of the course, the Amarillo College OTA student will be able to describe OT practice in a selected setting including diagnoses commonly treated, deficits observed in patients, interventions provided by OT personnel, the job responsibilities of OT personnel, document intervention sessions effectively and clearly.

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Specifically, the Amarillo College OTA will:

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1. Identify ethical dilemmas which might occur in the setting
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2. Identify and restate safety issues including resolution
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3. Define occupational therapy
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4. Explain occupational therapy as related to the population observed in a clinical setting
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5. Explain the role of the OT and OTA in the observed clinical setting
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6. After instruction, monitor a patient performing therapeutic tasks with close, line-of site supervision
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7. After instruction, assist an OT or OTA with therapeutic tasks with close, line-of site supervision
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8. Effectively communicate with clinical instructor
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9. Effectively communicate with supervision with patients at an appropriate time
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10. Assess feedback for validity and make adjustments if necessary
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11. Demonstrate effective work behaviors
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12. Demonstrate effective time management
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13. Identify cultures which are different from own
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14. Demonstrate respect for a variety of cultures
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15. Explain supervision demonstrated between OTA and OT
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16. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills in clinic and classroom
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ACOTE standards addressed in the course:

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Understand the effects of heritable diseases, genetic conditions, disability, trauma, and injury to the physical and mental health and occupational performance of the individual. (B.2.6.)

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Express support for the quality of life, well-being, and occupation of the individual, group, or population to promote physical and mental health and prevention of injury and disease considering the context (e.g., cultural, personal, temporal, virtual) and environment. (B.2.9.)

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Consistency with and connection to curriculum:

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The curriculum design of the OTA program incorporates both developmental and adult education models of learning. In planning and implementing the curriculum, courses progress from easier to harder, general to specific, limited time observing to full time practicing. The program focuses on adult education concepts of self-directed learning, an increasing responsibility for one’s own learning, as well as establishing one’s own learning goals and objectives. The curriculum design incorporates the philosophy of the profession in that humans are active beings and so students enrolled in OTA courses are actively learning not passively listening to lecture or viewing power point presentations. OTA students create the power point presentations from which they learn. In Clinicals I, II, and III as well as FW II A and B students will observe and then practice in both traditional and emerging practice areas. This progression also moves the student from simple knowledge that an area exists as a practice option to the more difficult learning skill of applying skills as an OTA student performing fieldwork in that setting. This semester clinical is a half day long with following clinicals being longer.

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Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

FIELDWORK SITE CONDUCT

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An Occupational Therapy Assistant student’s conduct should be above question at all times. Without the cooperation of the area institutions, this program would not be possible. Misconduct by one student reflects on the entire program and jeopardizes other student’s use of such services. Students may be subject to drug testing as a condition for attendance at fieldwork settings. The fieldwork educator or supervisor has the authority to dismiss a student exhibiting improper or questionable behavior. Once a student has been dismissed from a fieldwork, they may not return until the program director has counseled them. While in the clinics, the students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner. Factors included in professional conduct are:

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a. showing respect for the patient’s needs, desires and person

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b. preserving the confidentiality of patient records and information

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c. performing duties assigned by fieldwork educators

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d. showing respect for fieldwork educators, supervisors and facility personnel

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e. arriving for fieldwork on time and leaving at the typical shift end

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The faculty who teach your on-campus courses and those who will supervise you in the off-campus fieldwork setting will be closely observing your hands-on skills and your ability to demonstrate professionalism.

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Should you ever compromise professional standards while in a fieldwork setting to an unacceptable level, your fieldwork educator may choose to discharge you from that facility. If that discharge is permanent, you will also be immediately discharged from the program with no possibility to re-enroll in that same program at some later date. This same level of professionalism is also expected while you are on campus and carries the same dismissal penalty should it be compromised to an unacceptable level as determined by the program director. In other words, your potential career as an Occupational Therapy Assistant will be abruptly terminated.

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DISMISSAL

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Courtesy and respect are expected between the learner and fieldwork educator. Learners are to extend highest respect to patients/clients and other professionals when making off campus contact. Lack of regard to this expectation at any time by any single learner or group of learners may result in immediate dismissal of the learner/s from the situation by the academic fieldwork coordinator, fieldwork educator or other professional employed within the facility. If a student is dismissed from the facility, the student should immediately contact the academic fieldwork coordinator at the cell phone number provided. Immediately indicates the student will call within the first half hour (30 minutes) of the event.

Grading Criteria

The final course grade will be computed as follows:

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Fieldwork attendance                       25%

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Fieldwork evaluation                        25%

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Documentation/assignments        50%

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                                                                    100%

Attendance

Students are expected to be present for all fieldwork experiences, and each student is responsible for information presented and assigned to be successful in this course. Students are expected to be present for all fieldwork experiences for the entire semester. Upon completion of each fieldwork visit time, the student is responsible for having the fieldwork educator fill out and sign the evaluation form provided and turn it in to the academic fieldwork coordinator. A grade of “zero” will be recorded if the time verification form is not turned in. An alternate form of documentation IS NOT ALLOWED. It MUST be the fieldwork forms you are provided. A sheet of notebook paper will not be accepted, a partial sheet of paper, a faxed form are not acceptable.

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The student must call and inform BOTH the fieldwork educator as well as the academic fieldwork coordinator of an absence immediately by phone. Immediately indicates that the student will call within the first half hour (30 minutes) of the missed fieldwork starting time OR prior to that time when it becomes apparent that an absence will occur. For example, if you have an ill child you will be staying home with and you know this on the evening prior to your fieldwork day, call the academic fieldwork coordinator the evening before the fieldwork time. If you wake up ill on a fieldwork day, call the academic fieldwork coordinator and speak to her. You are to speak to the academic fieldwork coordinator IN PERSON. DO NOT LEAVE A VOICE MESSAGE. In the same manner, you are to contact the fieldwork educator and speak directly with the fieldwork educator. You should not contact the fieldwork educator at home, only at the facility.

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If fieldwork time is missed for any reason, the student is responsible for making arrangements for an alternate fieldwork time. This agreement must be arranged with the fieldwork educator during the cancellation phone call and communicated immediately (within the first 30 minutes of the missed visit) to the academic fieldwork coordinator. The fieldwork educator has the right to choose whether or not the missed time can be made up. The student is responsible for arrangements regarding make up of fieldwork absences.

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Make up time MUST be completed within 6 days of the missed fieldwork session in order for a grade to be recorded for the week. The fieldwork educators have the right to choose whether or not the missed time can be made up. A student should leave a written absence notification in the academic fieldwork coordinator mailbox EACH day after the missed fieldwork visit. This notification must be on a full sheet of paper indicating the details of who is involved, the facility, fieldwork educator, and the planned make-up session details. The page should be placed in an envelope and clearly marked with the academic fieldwork coordinator‘s name. The envelope is to be delivered in person to the academic fieldwork coordinator if that person is present or to the “student mail box” in the Allied Health Division mailroom.

Calendar

Additional Information

See the fieldwork handbook/guidelines as provided in class.