Page 45 - Joondalup Health Campus Annual Report 2017

They say that for every problem there is a solution and for JHC Occupational Therapy Manager rebecca Kitching and her team, coming up with creative ways to restore independence following significant illness or injury is all in a day’s work.
Many patients come to hospital having experienced serious injury or illness and their focus is on getting better and recovering their health. Often it is not until the initial crisis is averted that they realise the impact their illness or injury could have on the rest of their lives.
“The care we provide in hospital is not just about restoring health and sending people home. As occupational therapists, we address the physical and psychological effects of the injury or illness enabling people to once again participate in their every day life and live it to the full,” Rebecca said.
“Every single patient is different, with their own unique set of circumstances and we tailor our approach to the individual. They may have experienced an event that affected them mentally or physically that was impeding
them from returning to live independently or preventing them from getting back to work.
“We are client centred and work with the patients’ goals to restore function. Sometimes it is not realistic for a patient to return to complete independence and it is then that we look at compensatory techniques, equipment and home modifications. It is very much about problem solving and working around perceived obstacles.”
She said occupational therapists work
with patients of all ages with wide ranging conditions in all clinical areas in the hospital.
One recent patient had memory problems following diagnosis of a medical issue and his family were very worried he would never return home to independent living.
“But his therapist developed a plan comprising of the use of assistive technology and visual prompts designed to remind him about all sorts of things, such as taking his medication and general safety issues. She helped him with strategies, prompts and cues to deal with all sorts of situations which enabled him to return home with minimal support. His family wrote a letter saying how wonderful it was that this gentleman was now coping at home, using all those strategies and how his renewed confidence had helped relieve their anxiety,” Rebecca said.
She said the role of the OT was very often motivational as well.
JOONDALUP HEALTH CAMPUS | ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17
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