sandra wroteThis is a topic of interest to occupational therapists working in Canada. I look forward to the discussions about this.
Hello everyone!
I am so glad, together with Jocelyn, to be able to open up this discussion space for all of us who are committed to working in meaningful ways with clients and families coping with intensive and critical care experiences. I had never focused on this area during my own career until relatively recently. I was presented with personal situations that demanded my engagement in and understanding of what it means to be in an ICU. At the same time, a good physiotherapy colleague and I found ourselves discussing often about what are the missing opportunities for patients and families to benefit from occupational therapy services that never seem to be offered in the critical care context. Yes, we work with physiotherapists and other colleagues in delivering more traditional and recognizable rehabilitative services, but some of our less familiar or visible skills we possess as occupational therapists rarely have the chance to share in that environment.
A scoping review about OT in the ICU was completed; presentations have been given about the findings and a publication is poised on the brink of being submitted. From these exciting actions, Jocelyn and I decided to contact every occupational therapist that had contacted us over the past two years and then explore the idea of joining OTION with a discussion board and space for Working in Critical Care. Our vision of where this can take us includes collaborations in publications and research, as well as investing in the evolution of a clear and powerful role for our profession in supporting people faced with the mysteries and fears of critical care environments.
Sue Baptiste
