Skip to main content

Specialty Certification Interest

I knew pretty early on that I wanted to pursue a career in the rehabilitation field.  Luckily, I was able to shadow many different settings during my undergrad years.  I was offered a job as an OT aide my senior year at the University of Alabama at a local outpatient clinic called Tuscaloosa Rehab and Hand Center.  I had hands-on experience with client and non-client related tasks.  I was exposed to the many different aspects of outpatient therapy, and what it would be like to work on an interdisciplinary team.  This setting really stood out to me, and I developed an interest in hand therapy.  I loved how each client was different and challenging in their own ways.  Seeing individuals lose functioning in their hands, and then being able to help them get back to living their best life would be so rewarding.  Achieving the Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) specialty certification is something I would love to do.  Not only would it make me more specialized in the field of occupational therapy, it would be a long-term professional development goal.  Because I am interested in hand therapy, the CHT certification is very appealing to me.  Once I graduate, I want to surpass the Entry-level performance level and further develop my career.

Comments

  1. Dr. LancasterFebruary 3, 2018 at 5:59 PM

    Hi Anna! That's really cool that you had that exposure to a specialty area of practice so early on along the path in your OT career! Incidentally, I did one of my Level II fieldworks at DCH in Tuscaloosa :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sexuality in Older Adults Reflection

What were the key takeaway points from the guest lecture today? Describe two occupational therapy interventions based on the topic. Each intervention should address a different type of client: individual (1:1), group, or population. Key Takeaways Our society creates myths that older adults are asexual.  While it is not often talked about, older adults remain sexually active into their later years.  Studies show that organs can relieve pain, reduce stress, improve sleep, boost immune system and cognitive functioning, as well as increase life span.  Knowing this, sex has a direct impact on older adult clients.  Today we gained an understanding of the fundamental differences between approaches to sexual interactions based on biological gender.    Sex is an occupation and therefore is covered in the occupational therapy scope of practice.  It is important for us to be educated on this topic in order to educate future clients who are experiencing sexual ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Person-First Language

" The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug. "   - Mark Twain  People with disabilities are just like every other human being.  Person-first language puts focus on the individual and not the disability.  We should not identify individuals based on their functional or mental limitations.  For example, a practitioner should refer to someone as "a man who had a stroke" instead of a "stroke patient."  I believe it is important to understand and practice person-first language to be an effective practitioner.  First, it allows the client to feel more comfortable, and you will make more progress together if the client feels like an individual and not a disability.  Second, occupational therapists are trained to help people as a whole, not just the disability, so it is important for us to look past the disability and focus on the client, as well.  There are countless mo...
1 comment
Read more

Do-Live-Well Framework

Do-Live-Well is a framework of reference used by occupational therapists that ultimately emphasizes "what you do everyday matters."  It has four main sections being (1) dimensions of experience, (2) activity patterns, (3) health and well-being outcomes, and (4) contextual forces influencing activity engagement, or things in the environment.  These sections are further broken down into more specific dimensions.  This framework can help identify missed or disrupted dimensions that interrupt with an individual's well-being.  It aims to empower people in reflecting on their patterns of activity engagement and promote health and well-being.  This framework can be used on all populations and in any setting.  When using this framework, a therapist might assess the client's activity patterns such as habits, routines, roles and rituals, ADL skill level, community involvement, and physical abilities.
Post a Comment
Read more