Blog 5 Project Reflection and Working EQ

Content

The Pentagon:

(1) Positive things that have happened as a result of what I've completed so far:

• After my summer mentorship at Casa Colina I better understood what occupational therapy does and is which has helped me pick my senior topic. As well as help me decide what career I'd like to pursue. 
• The first few research checks have also helped me understand the different ways occupational therapy can help an individual, like a person that has experienced a stroke.

(2) EQ Content

• My interview with Keri Garcia, an OTR/L at Casa Colina, increased my knowledge of occupational therapy by explaining the different types of occupational therapy (hand, acute, community-based, rehab, etc.) and by talking to me about what she does. Keri specializes in Home, Community & Transitional Living therapy post-brain injury. After a patient has done rehab in the hospital, the patient transfers to someone like Keri to prepare them on how it will be like living at home. I also learned that Hand therapist work from the elbow down and Acute therapist is more attentive to patients. Patients who work with Keri, their goal is to be stabilized enough to live more independently whereas a patient's goal in acute care might just be to be able to sit up right independently.

(3) What has worked

• I think my summer mentorship has worked well for me because it has allowed me to get to know a lot of the staff in a department which made it much more simple for me to get an interview.

(4) What hasn't worked

• Getting quality research was a bit rough in the beginning but I found a website where I can get some pretty alright articles for now. I'm working on finding a book about occupational therapy. Probably rehab or transitional therapy because I have better resource connections for that area. 
• Applying to Casa Colina to be a volunteer hasn't worked much either. I applied late in the summer so I have to wait to see if any spots open up in October. As well as not being old enough to work in the department that I'd like do more research in (transitional care).

(5) Finding Value

• "How can an Occupational Therapist best evaluate a patient in transitional care with post-brain injury?" I would try to research the different evaluations occupational therapist use to asses patients because there is no specific way to evaluate a patient.
• For mentorship, I plan to mentor with the lady I mentored with over the summer.