My pediatric caseload is starting to grow considerably... I've been evaluating 1 or 2 people a week for a couple weeks and have about 3 more weeks of such already lined up. I've had to start doing 2 afternoons a week (split between hospital and peds) and may need to go up to 3 days. (This situation would be a lot easier if I didn't hate hands and the typical outpatient environment)
Anytime I get to feeling like I'm gaining a handle on peds practice something makes me realize that I still really don't know what to do sometimes. Little Miss A has CP which has affected her right side. I have some weight-bearing and BUE movement goals. But when we're involved in activity, it's hard to know what to focus on, even when I'm just focusing on her right arm. I only have 2 hands myself, so do I supinate her forearm, extend her wrist, or extend her fingers?
I told my boss from the onset of taking the entire pediatric practice that I really would need to get some good CE so that I could be more informed and prepared for these new responsibilities. I've been exploring different things but still haven't decided. I really like the idea behind the Alert program, but most of my kids are under the recommended age of 8 (a range closer to 3-7). I've also been looking into the Miller Method for kids w/ autism spectrum and the Interactive Metronome which claims to be for kids with various problems and also adults. Obviously, for it to be worth my while it needs to be effective for a kids of all ages and diagnoses, preferably evidenced based, and not require expensive or specialized equipment to implement. If it will coordinate with the few standardized items that we have (Peabody, Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile, and 1 Handwriting without tears book) it would be all the better.
I'm open to suggestions or information from anyone who's worked with these programs and willing to lend some advice... as the caseload grows it becomes more and more important to take some serious action.
4 comments:
hey I found your blog over in livejournal...
anyway have you heard of MEDEK? its this newish program they do with all types of kids. I am still in school so I never did it obviously... I heard a presentation on it the other day and it sounded interesting. just a suggestion.
I hadn't heard of that before, but I will do some exploring. I guess location might also be a limiting factor to what kind of CE I'd attend as well... it's a long trip for me to get to Canada! Thanks for the tip though :)
I used to be somewhat of an expert in pediatrics with a specialty in neuro. I have a 23 year old daughter with CP so that gave me first hand experience as well.
I haven't worked for 3 years, but I think I still have some good ideas once in a while. Any networking you'd like to do, just let me know. Reading your blog, I think you are probably a very talented OT lucky enough to work with kids.
Thanks for your faith, Susan. I can't really consider myself a very talented OT yet, since I'm still in that 'new grad' stage and had zero experience in peds before starting this job. Hopefully I will grow into it though, and will get some assistance from the OT network to help me grow :)
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