General Admissions & OTCAS Questions to ask while observing?

[ot.3277]

I'm currently shadowing with a hand therapist at another facility and was wondering what are the dos and don'ts and good questions to ask. I want to make the most of the experience while also not use up her time. Thanks for the input!! 🙂

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[emmig]

I really like to ask patients (when possible) why they are receiving OT. You get insight into that person's life and how disease/disability has impacted their personal occupations, which leaves a much greater impression on me than the therapist saying "patient is a 63 year old male who suffered a stroke and now has left sided weakness." I find that the best time to ask is when you're introducing yourself. I always inform them that I'm observing because I want to go to OT school, and ask if they would mind telling me about themselves and why they're at the facility. This is more appropriate in an adult setting rather than pediatrics, not only age-wise but due to the conditions that children have who receive OT. In a peds setting, I would let the therapist ask the child if it was ok if I was told a bit about them, or I would ask the therapist after the session.

 

[OTGonzagaa]

I recommend bringing a small notebook that you can write notes in. I often wrote down anatomical structures (or drew them out), conditions, procedures, tips, etc. I would go home and look certain things up and then come back my next observation hours and try to elaborate on the patient a bit more (when possible) just to understand why the patient was receiving OT. You can also write down questions and ask them later (which I prefer to do because sometimes I'll forget what to ask).
It helped me out a lot as I still have my journal and read it and make flashcards on 'Quizlet'. Also the OTs really liked that I did this because it made the impression that I was very interested in OT and that I kept myself occupied when I was not able to do anything.

Hope this helps!