Occupational Therapy Education

Posted Le 14 août 2021

We are looking at initiating a Falls Intervention Team into our 911 response, ideally we would like to see an OT paired with a paramedic responding to 911 Fall calls. The paramedic would address the medical issues on the call, taking care of non-transport procedures and documentation while the OT would address the falls risk assessments / education / prevention / referrals.

I have been tasked to prepare a second plan in the event we are unable bring OT into the service due to budget / HR issues. This 'back up plan' would be to train our Community Paramedics to do the OT role recognizing it could never and WON'T be nearly as good as the OT would do but we need it to be as good as possible.

We can train them in doing the assessments (eg: falls assessments, postural vital signs, gait / balance/ mobility assessments) and documenting this but I am looking more for education in taking these findings and interpreting to determine the root cause of why the fall happened. They need to understand the background / theory beind what they are testing for and what this means... I think ??

anyone have topics ? courses (online / virtual / in person)(certification/ non-certification) (paid/free) ? webinars ? videos ? 

Again, they wouldn't do anything NEAR as good as the OT would do in addressing the in-the-moment needs of the client but I am after giving them something between nothing and OT level.... education on gain aids assessment/proper use, living environment modifications etc...