Fieldwork and Doctoral Experiential Internship Plan

Pacific University’s School of Occupational Therapy utilizes fieldwork education in addition to traditional classroom curriculum. Apart from fieldwork, I have also been developing a Doctoral Experiential Internship (DEI) Plan throughout my time in the program, which I will be carrying out prior to graduation in August of 2020. The following is both a brief outline and schedule estimation of past and future plans.  

Please click on blue links below for more information.

Fall 2017

OTD 520: Introduction to OT Doctorate | Preparation for the professional responsibilities of the OT Doctorate

Winter/Spring 2018

OTD 521: Introduction to OT Doctorate | Guided exploration of areas for the DEI and Capstone

Fortuna Rehabilitation & Wellness Center (Fortuna, CA): Level IA Fieldwork | 80 hours, January 2018

• Full-time two week fieldwork experience in a skilled nursing facility. Assisted the Director of Rehabilitation (OTR/L) in therapy sessions, formed relationships with patients, and witnessed occupational therapy practice through an interprofessional lens – collaborating closely with other healthcare disciplines to provide comprehensive patient care. 

Summer 2018

Aphasia Camp Couples Retreat (Rockaway Beach, OR): Level IB Fieldwork | 40 hours, May 2018

• Full weekend experience in an overnight camp setting (Camp Magruder). Paired with a speech-language pathology student, we worked closely with a stroke survivor with aphasia and her unaffected partner for the entirety of the retreat. Assisted in transfers, toileting, and meals. Engaged in arts and crafts, cooking with adaptive equipment, board games, and used a beach wheelchair to allow our patient to have a day on the coast with her husband. Worked through many communication breakdowns, developed new tools for communication, and engaged in many meaningful conversations and team-building activities with other couples and their student pairs.  

Camp Yakety Yak (Lake Oswego, OR): Level IC Fieldwork | 42 hours, July 2018

• A week long experience at a social skills day camp that supports friendship development in children (ages 5-15) with special needs, although neurotypical children/siblings are also welcome. Worked as a team instructor in the “Games” and “Play” classes: emphasized gross motor movement, conflict resolution, winning and losing, and fostering connections between campers. Served as a 1 on 1 support to a camper with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and sensory processing disorder. Assisted camper in regulating emotions and destructive/running/aggressive behaviors so that he could better engage in camp activities and play with peers. 

Fall 2018

OTD 771: Doctoral Experiential Internship and Capstone – Introduction | Preparation for the professional responsibilities of the OT Doctorate 

Portland VA Medical Center (Portland, OR): Level ID Fieldwork | 32 hours, October – December 2018

• Commitment of half days, once a week. Worked with supervisor (OTR/L) in outpatient rehabilitation, specifically focusing on driving rehabilitation. Also spent some time within the inpatient rehabilitation and acute care settings in the VA Medical Center. Spent a lot of time reviewing medical records/charts, reviewing standardized assessment performance of different patients, and assessing driving abilities given different diagnoses/conditions; looking at patient driving in the same context that a DMV driving instructor would when administering written exam and road test. 

Winter/Spring 2019

OTD 772: Doctoral Experiential Internship and Capstone – Scholarship

Summer 2019

General OTD Coursework (no DEI specific courses)

Fall 2019

OTD 773: Doctoral Experiential Internship and Capstone – Partnership

• Final literature review and first draft of “Form C: Capstone Project/Scholarship Proposal” completed and submitted. 

Redwood Pediatric Therapy Associates (Santa Rosa, CA): Level IIA Fieldwork | 510 hours, August – November 2019

• 12 weeks of full-time work in a combination of a school-based setting and pediatric clinic setting. Worked under two OTR/L supervisors to reach entry-level competence as a school-based and pediatric clinic occupational therapy practitioner. Involved frequent review of client files; planning and implementation of treatments/interventions for specific clients or for a push-in classroom model of care; frequent documentation (daily note or SOAP note format); standardized assessment administration, scoring, and interpretation (Sensory Processing Measure – Preschool (SPM-P), Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency – Second Edition (BOT-2), Peabody Developmental Motor Scales – Second Edition (PDMS-2), Sensory Profile – Second Edition (SP-2), Evaluation Tool of Children’s Handwriting (ETCH), The Print Tool, School Function Assessment (SFA), The Roll Evaluation of Activities of Life (REAL)); evidence-based practice research article critique and presentation to staff at facility; case study on ongoing client and presentation of study to staff at facility; student project involving revising and creating the current student fieldwork manual more accessible to future students/facility coordinators; initial/triennial evaluations; SEIS annual update/progress notes; environmental analysis for classroom/school setting; consult notes for teachers/parents; IEP presentation and attendance; resource creation for parents/teachers; frequent communication with supervisors, clinic staff, teachers, additional school staff (aides, psychologists, counselors), and parents.

Winter/Spring 2020 

OTD 774: Doctoral Experiential Internship and Capstone – Management

• “Form B: Community Supervisor Agreement”, “Form D: Doctoral Experiential Internship Evaluation”, Community Mentor Resume/CV, and final version of “Form C: Capstone Project/Scholarship Proposal” completed and submitted. 

Cloverdale Healthcare Center (Cloverdale, CA): Level IIB Fieldwork | 480 hours, January – March 2020

• 12 weeks of full-time work in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Worked under one OTR/L supervisor to reach entry-level competence as an occupational therapy practitioner. Frequent collaboration with interdisciplinary team (speech language pathologist, physical therapist, physical therapy assistant, occupational therapy assistant, rehab technician, restorative nursing assistant) to assess patient progress and plan optimal therapeutic interventions. Involved frequent review of patient/nursing medical records; planning and implementation of treatments/interventions; electronic documentation through Rehab Optima (evaluations, daily notes, progress notes, discharge recommendations); standardized assessment administration, scoring, and interpretation (SLUMS, Short Blessed Test- SBT, Allen Cognitive Level Screen – ACLS); manual muscle testing and joint ROM screening; ADL assessments; inservice presentation on oral hygiene to CNA/nursing staff; care conference attendance and presentation to family/caregivers on patient progress and discharge/planning. 

Summer 2020

OTD 785: Capstone Project/Scholarship

OTD 850: Doctoral Experiential Internship

• Faculty Advisor: Steve Park, PhD, OTR/L

• Doctoral Experiential Internship and Capstone Partner: Lelia Boniadi, OTS

• DEI Category: Leadership & Program and Policy Development

• DEI Site: Avamere Rehabilitation of Oregon City (Oregon City, OR)

• DEI Community Supervisor: Kali Wize, OTD, OTR/L, Director of Rehabilitation

• Capstone Scholarship Category: Scholarship of application, practice, or engagement

• Focused Scholarly Category/Question: 

  • How can occupational therapy practitioners address the occupational needs of long-term care and skilled nursing facility residents during mandated isolation due to a global pandemic?

To view a full layout of Pacific University’s curriculum according to the Pacific University OTD website, including general coursework, fieldwork, and doctoral experiential internship plans, click here. An updated curriculum proposal was provided to students in August of 2018, which can be viewed here.

To view the OTD Capstone and Doctoral Experiential Internship Manual provided by Pacific University, click here.