As future occupational therapy clinicians, we are passionate about advocating for our field. Despite common misconceptions that we simply help clients find a new job and that we are often mistaken as the physical therapist, our therapeutic role is unique. As future occupational therapists, we will focus on occupations, which are any and all activities a person wants to do or needs to do. Occupations vary greatly, from dressing oneself in the morning, to gardening or playing sports, to volunteering in the community, and beyond. We are trained to focus on the physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects of recovery and work with individuals throughout their entire journey. So while our practice may overlap with that of physical therapists, and although we might help clients prepare to return to work after an injury, occupational therapy has a unique role in the health care team that meets a variety of needs for clients.
One way that we, as the OT Equal Access Clinic (EAC) Board, seek to advocate for our field and establish ourselves within the healthcare continuum is holding interprofessional rounds with other health care disciplines within the EAC. In June, we held our first interprofessional round with the Physical Therapy (PT) EAC. Open to all students of the UF OT and PT doctoral programs, and facilitated by EAC board members, the objective of this meeting was to lay out the purpose and scope of practice for both respective therapies. This was done through case study presentations of the evaluation, intervention, and outcomes of current EAC clients, whose identities remained anonymous. One case study we discussed was a client who is receiving services from both the PT and OT EAC. During the discussion, we were able to advocate for the value of occupational therapy for this client and how it both compliments and builds upon the physical therapy services she is receiving. This discussion allowed OTD and DPT students to collaborate to work toward better continuity of care for clients of the EAC for improved health, well-being, and quality of life.
Furthermore, the OT EAC collaborates with the Pharmacy branch of the EAC Network to provide diabetes education classes for individuals who are pre-diabetic or have diabetes in the Gainesville community. We meet every second and fourth Thursday of the month to discuss the causes and symptoms of diabetes, how the condition affects the body, medication management, and more! One unique aspect of the classes is that they are offered in both English and Spanish to provide services to a wider population. Recently, the diabetes education class volunteers attended a community screening event at the Medical EAC’s Anthem Church Clinic. There, clients received a thorough medical screening, which included an A1C test (a blood test that is used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes). Clients who had prediabetic or diabetic A1C levels (5.7% or higher) were sent to the diabetes education classroom. The OT and pharmacy EAC volunteers were able to speak to several clients to discuss the significance of their A1C levels and to promote their services and invite people to attend the classes. Knowledge is power, and these classes give clients a better understanding of the risks associated with diabetes, as well as strategies and lifestyle changes that can help them improve their overall health and effectively manage their diabetes.
By collaborating with the PT and Pharmacy EAC’s, we are able to advocate for the field of occupational therapy, as well as help ensure that our clients are receiving the best, comprehensive services we are able to provide within the EAC Network. We look forward to continuing working with the PT and Pharmacy EAC’s and collaborating with other EAC disciplines in the future!
Photo from the Anthem Clinic screening event (left to right: OT EAC diabetes education class co-chairs Kayla Ramos and Daniela Moreira with Pharmacy EAC diabetes education class officers Riya Shah and Jennifer Estrellado)
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