Getting Started With Your Medical Practicum Experience Winter

Getting Started With Your Medical Practicum Experience Winter

A FEW PRELIMINARY NOTES ….

Influenza Modes of Transmission • Respiratory droplet transmission (cough, sneeze) • Contact with respiratory secretions and bodily fluids • Indirect contact via hand transfer • Note: People infected with flu may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 -7 days after becoming sick (from Everyday Preventive Actions on CDC website)

Preventing Influenza Transmission Get influenza vaccination Cover your cough & sneeze Use facemask if patient has droplet precautions Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth Use standard precautions (hand hygiene, gloves) Limit touching of surfaces Disinfect surfaces Keep a distance (if possible) DO NOT go to practicum if remotely feeling sick DO NOT go to practicum until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (without fever-reducing meds) • Link to CDC website on seasonal flu • • •

MEDICAL PRACTICUM

What is the purpose of Medical Practicum? • Familiarize yourself with a medical setting • Acquire basic competencies in certain areas of medical speech-language pathology – Medical chart review – Patient interviewing and case history – Oral-facial examination – Cognitive, speech, language screening – Swallowing screening and feeding precautions

What is a SNF? • Skilled Nursing Facility - An institution where round the clock care is provided to individuals by trained nurses (LPNs and RNs). • Patients come for long term care and for short term care/rehab (to get better and return home or to a lesser level of care) • Some patients come and are still very ill or injured – May have mobility issues, new incisions, IV’s, drains, are in traction, have bruises, are very weak or difficult to arouse

What Types of Patients Do SLPs See? • Age range of patients in long-term care – 60 -69 years: 12% – 70 -79 years: 23% – 80 years and older: 57% • Top SLP diagnoses in SNF’s – Swallowing: 67% – Cognitive-Communicative Disorder: 47% – Aphasia: 6% – Dysarthria: 5% – Voice Disorder: 3% • Source: ASHA NOMS: Adults in Healthcare – Skilled Nursing Facility 2012 – http: //www. asha. org/content. aspx? id=15831&Lang. Type=1033

How To Be Successful In Medical Practicum • Be on time, dressed according to clinic standards and eager to learn • Meet in the front lobby of Riverpark • Complete any readings or preparation requested in advance • Be mindful of HIPPA and confidentiality in and out of practicum

How To Be Successful In Medical Practicum • If you are feeling uncomfortable about a medical situation, talk with your supervisor as soon as it becomes a concern • Maintain professionalism with the staff and residents you meet at all times • Communicate with the residents you meet at eye level, with a clear voice and smile!

Benefits of Medical Practicum • Increase familiarity with this population and type of working environment • Hands on experience with commonly used tools • Ability to see importance of interprofessional environment

How to Prepare • Info. CDS> Practicum Placements>UO Placements> Medical Practicum • Please read, print and review information and materials for Winter term • Sign up for time slot via sign up genius • Email me directly: elisep@uoregon with any questions or concerns

What to Expect First Visit • • Tour of facility Client history/chart review Practice professional introduction Participate in patient interview and administration of SLUMS

Medical Charts • Medical Charts contain current information on the patient’s medical status • Professionals who interact with the patient document their interaction in the chart – If it’s not in writing, it did not happen! • All information in the chart is absolutely confidential!!

Anatomy of a Chart • Typically you find: – Demographics and General Info – Physician’s Orders – Care Plan Information – Hospital Discharge Information – Nursing Assessments and Notes – Physician’s Notes – Notes from other departments (Social Services, Dietary, Activities, etc) – Rehab Evaluations and Notes

Chart Review • Purpose - To gather information needed to complete an assessment • Current and prior status - Information regarding status prior to the onset or referral is AS important as gathering information on current status. • Impact - During the review, think about the impact of the information you gather and answer additional questions you might have

Professional Introduction • • • Introduce yourself Make eye contact Speak clearly State your credentials ( show your ID) State your intention or ask permission to interview

During Patient Interview • Make note of; – Cognitive status – Orientation – Awareness of problem – Hearing status – Expressive Language • Word finding challenges?

Personal Interview Cont. • Comprehension – Follows directions? – Understands Yes/No? – Ability to follow directions • Voice – Loudness – Quality