Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship

Our Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program will provide an exceptional experience leading to refinement of clinical skills, advancement of knowledge, and expertise in the practice of neurologic physical rehabilitation within inpatient and outpatient settings.  The Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship program offers a combination of advanced didactic learning opportunities, mentored service delivery experiences, and scholarly and professional activities, including evidence-based research studies and advocacy initiatives for the neurologic patient.  

The Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program will:

• Support the mission, vision, and core values of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center by increasing the numbers of highly trained Neurologic Occupational Therapy providers, thereby improving the quality of life for people with neurologic diseases/conditions. 
  • The program will provide training in evidence-based, comprehensive skilled Occupational Therapy services 
    across all aspects of patient management for neurologically-involved populations of all ages. 
  • The clinical faculty will provide on-site mentoring of the fellow at selected clinical sites within the OSUWMC.  
• Develop and implement a curriculum of specialty practice in Neurologic Occupational 
  Therapy that fosters integration of didactic knowledge of foundational and clinical   sciences with advanced patient-centered practice.  
  • Provide experiences that demonstrate advanced knowledge of neurological impairments and their impact on occupational performance. 
• Provide opportunities to facilitate and develop exceptional professional behaviors (e.g., empathy, compassion, cultural competence, collaboration, adaptability, altruism, ethical behavior, social responsibility) as demonstrated by the fellow with clients, patients and families while functioning in an interprofessional setting. 
  • The program will mentor the fellow in professional, ethical, and moral behaviors and decision making applicable to neurologic Occupational Therapy practice. 
• Facilitate and develop excellent teaching skills of the fellow in academic and clinical settings. 
  • The program will allow the fellow to acquire teaching experience within the entry level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at the Ohio State University and within the OSUWMC. 
  • The program will provide the fellows with resources and opportunities to develop, practice, and refine their teaching skills. 
• Promote the advancement of the field of Neurologic Occupational Therapy by engaging the fellow in activities to appraise or discover new evidence to guide practice decisions. 
  • The program will require the fellow to contribute to the body of knowledge in Neurorehabilitation through participation in and dissemination of knowledge gained through clinical research or in the development of a patient case report. 
  • The faculty will provide the fellows with resources and opportunities to develop and practice evidence-based practice skills.  
• Provide Occupational Therapists at the OSUWMC with an advanced level of clinical training and education in the area of Neurologic Occupational Therapy as outlined in the AOTA Description of Board and Specialty Certification 
  • Neurologic Occupational Therapy Fellowship and inter-fellowship conferences will be scheduled to allow OSUWMC rehabilitation staff to attend whenever possible. 
  • The program will facilitate development of clinical mentoring skills so that fellowship faculty train the fellow at an advanced specialized level.
• Graduate occupational therapists that are prepared to pursue American Occupational Therapy Association Board Certification. 
  • The faculty will develop and implement a curriculum that prepares fellows to achieve AOTA board certification in physical rehabilitation within 3 years. 

Fellow Goals and Objectives

• Body of Knowledge: 
  • Fellow will demonstrate advanced knowledge of neurological disabilities and their impact on occupational performance. 
  • Fellow will be able to identify primary and secondary conditions of individuals with neurological conditions to adjust approach of care. 
  • Fellow will identify reliable and valid assessments for individuals with neurologic conditions that are supported by current evidence. 
  • Fellow will integrate diagnostic and evaluation information to formulate evidence based treatment strategies for the neurological population. 
  • Fellow will understand and integrate health care policy and insurance regulations into plan of care and utilize the continuum of care to maximize patient's recovery. 
• Reasoning and Performance Skills: 
  • Fellows will complete comprehensive evaluations of adults with neurological conditions that include selection and administration of appropriate assessments, completion of occupational profiles, and performance of clinical observations. 
  • Fellows will develop evidence based plans of care by integrating information from administration of formal and informal assessments completed in the clinic. These assessments should include person, context and occupational performance for individuals with neurological disorders. 
  • Fellow will select and carry out therapy interventions based on best evidence, integration of evaluation data, and contextual factors including sociocultural and psychosocial implications of disability. 
  • Fellow will deliver neurological interventions, monitor progress toward client centered goals, and revise plans of care as indicated by patient response. 
• Ethical Practice Skills: 
  • Fellow will identify and articulate a process for navigating through issues related to client-centered service. 
  • Fellow will identify and articulate a process for navigating through fiscal and regulatory issues. 
  • Fellow will identify and articulate a process for navigating through scope of practice or systems/organizational issues. 
• Interpersonal Skills: 
  • Fellow will collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to help patients archive outcomes that support health and participation in neurological rehabilitation. 
  • Fellow will participate in advocacy efforts for people in neurological rehabilitation by getting involved in appeals and approvals, developing and understanding of health care policy, and working with interdisciplinary team members for advocacy efforts for people with neurological rehabilitation. 
  • Fellow will receive evaluations by patients or clients regarding their satisfaction with their occupational therapy care. 
• Scholarly and/or Professional Activities 
  • Fellow will use research databases to find, summarize, evaluate, and cite best evidence for use in practice. 
  • Fellow will utilize research approach and evidenced based practice to create a clinical case study, utilizing their experience with scholarly activity and applying it to clinical care, and reviewing outcomes of their intervention 
  • Fellow will demonstrate excellent teaching abilities in the academic and clinical settings by receiving classroom teaching evaluations from peers, mentors, and students that are above average. 
  • Fellow will be prepared to pursue AOTA Board Certification in Physical Rehabilitation.