1 Acute Care Therapy Sessions
The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) offers a hands-on learning experience for occupational therapy students to develop their skills in the acute care setting. The Acute Care Therapy Sessions, or ACTS, program offers students a foundational experience in the setting. The program totals 24 hours spanning three semesters. Each semester, student learning objectives are adjusted to align with the students’ experience levels, allowing for the gradual development of student independence over the three semesters.
The ACTS program is designed to:
- Faciliate early exposure to the acute care setting
- Prepare students for Level II Fieldwork rotations in acute care
- Provide opportunity for students to apply skills learned in didactic classes
- Increase interprofessional collaboration and team building
The hours students spend in the ACTS program are included in Level I Fieldwork hours. Students will spend two half days in the acute care setting each semester. During these experiences, students will observe and assist the therapist as appropriate. Ideally, students will participate in at least four direct patient care sessions in each half day experience. Students will be provided opportunities to chart review and document during their time in the setting.
The Acute Care Setting
There are a variety of reasons people are admitted to the hospital. They can include acute or chronic medical conditions, medical emergencies, mental health emergencies, and complex medical needs. Depending on their condition and discharge recommendations, patients could be in the hospital anywhere from a few hours to weeks or months. Patients are referred to occupational therapy for functional assessment and intervention to determine the safest discharge location.
Acute care service delivery
The top priority of the setting is stabilizing patients medically. Occupational therapists’ goal is to promote engagement in meaningful occupations safely and within precautions. Occupational therapy’s role is to:
- Evaluate each patient’s current functional status
- Create intervention plans for patients while in the hospital
- Reduce the risk of further decline by promoting functional mobility and participation in ADL activities
- Educate patients on maintaining precautions during ADLs and IADLs following surgical procedures
- Improve functional independence through occupation-based intervention
- Assist the patient in preparation for performing daily tasks consistent with the next level of care
- Assist with discharge planning, ensuring each patient has a safe discharge plan
Discharge Recommendations
Therapists in acute care must provide discharge recommendations for the patient in their documentation following each session. Safe discharge considers various factors, including a patient’s independence in functional tasks, support at home (home health services, care partners, or support from facility staff), and cognitive status, to name a few. Review the list below to learn more about each level of care available to patients at discharge.