Instructional Insights: Restructuring the Fieldwork Experience: One Clinic's Journey

ABSTRACT

Although there are standards for occupational therapy education, there are no universal standards for the affiliated fieldwork settings, only guidelines from the educational institutions. As a result, a student learning experience often varies dramatically from facility to facility. Several factors that may affect the clinical experience include the preparedness of a student, the willingness of a clinic to work through potential student challenges, and the theoretical foundation a clinic has built for disseminating occupational therapy practice skills. This article highlights the journey of one clinic through a redesign of the occupational therapy fieldwork program and outlines the steps taken to transform student experiences and improve program success. Starting with a self-directed review of the fieldwork process, and through a combination of program redesign, application of a theoretical foundation, and refocus toward a competency-based program, the student success rate at this acute rehabilitation hospital drastically improved and achieved positive feedback from all involved.

KEYWORDS:

• Clinical education
• clinical supervision
• competency-based education
• establishing a fieldwork site
• evaluation of a fieldwork program
• fieldwork sites
• occupational therapy and fieldwork
• preceptor program design
• program design
• program evaluation
• situational leadership

About the author

Sheila Wilson, OTD, OTR/L, ATP, Team Leader, General Rehab Program, Magree Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.