Project Description
Area of Study: (1) Program and Policy Development, (2) Advocacy (Secondary)
Area of Practice: Children with rare genetic disorders in the Plain Community
Project Site: The Community Health Clinic in Topeka, Indiana. The CHC specializes in rare, genetic disorders with care that is consistent with the Plain Community.
Project Vision: To equip occupational therapy clinics in a rural area with support and resources necessary to develop sustainable programs that positively impact their community.
Project Mission: To promote and enhance occupational therapy clinics in a rural area to benefit the community.
Needs Assessment
- The desired outcome is to assist in establishing an outpatient occupational therapy program for rural Plain Community members in northeastern Indiana.
- Evidence shows that 65% of rural counties in the United States have shortages in health professionals (MacDowell et al., 2010)
- There is limited research regarding occupational therapists in rural America; however, in Canada, only 5.9% of occupational therapists work in rural areas (Roots & Li, 2013)
- Amish communities have different priorities and values that influence their healthcare views (A. Cardin, personal communication, 2022)
- Culture must be considered when determining occupations relevant to a certain community (Zango et al., 2015).
Literature Review
- Having a wide variety of diagnoses, feeling a sense of community, autonomy, and a rural lifestyle were noted as positives to rural occupational therapy practice (Hanson & Magee, 2018; Wieland & Taylor, 2020)
- Increased travel time, a lack of mentorship, high client to therapist ratio, and limited continuing education opportunities are considered drawbacks to rural practice (Hanson & Magee, 2018)
- A lack of professional support, such as adequate resources and supportive management, is a common reason OTs and PTs left rural practice (Roots & Li, 2013)
- Interpersonal relationships and understanding an individuals context in their community is important in rural areas (Roots et al. 2014)
My Mentors
Accomplishments
- Observation of healthcare practitioners (nurse practitioner, physician, OT, PT, SLP) serve children in the Plain Community/rural areas to enhance knowledge of barriers to services
- Development of a grant specific to therapy equipment for the program
- Development of a proposal for therapy services at the Community Health Clinic to share with the leadership staff to assist with the development of a program
- Provided staff education regarding a therapy program at the Community Health Clinic through a PowerPoint presentation of highlights of the needs assessment, proposal, action plan, and infographics
- Written article in the Community Health Clinic's newsletter educating families on occupational therapy services
- Creation of itemized list of various therapy equipment, cost, and quantity for the clinic to purchase
- Development of educational pamphlets shared with staff at the Community Health Clinic and with caregivers at an Amish respite center, Caring Hands
- Development of evidence-based handouts for occupational therapists working with rare disorders that affect the Plain Community.
- Completion of 7.5 hours of continuing education from Marsha Dunn-Klein's webinar, Finding Mealtime Peace and Safety, which assisted in creating educational handouts.
- Gained an opportunity to continue working within the Plain Community as an occupational therapist
Deliverables
- A community action plan summarizing the steps to developing a therapy program
- A collection of written analyses from observation and discussion with healthcare providers working in a rural community
- Certificate of completion of CEU course based on needs of the community
- Needs assessment specific to the Community Health Clinic developed through observation at the clinic, discussion with healthcare providers, and research on rural healthcare
- A proposal outlining a therapy program developed based on the needs of the Plain Community. The proposal was shared with relevant stakeholders at the clinic.
- Educational pamphlets for staff at the Community Health Clinic and caregivers at Caring Hands
- Evidence-based handouts, including interventions, for occupational therapists working with children who have rare genetic disorders
- Journal reflections on my advocacy journey during my capstone project
- A written grant for therapy equipment
Future Plans
This project has provided me with an excellent foundation for understanding the barriers families in rural communities face, especially the Plain Community when accessing services. I will use this knowledge to help support my clients throughout my career. This project has also helped me build connections that will allow me to continue to serve rural communities in northeastern Indiana. I am hopeful the Community Health Clinic will utilize my resources in the development of a therapy program.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my mentors, Rhonda Anderson and Regean Berstresser-Simpson, and the staff at the Community Health Clinic for sharing their knowledge, giving me their time, and showing continuous support throughout my project.
To reach me in the future, please email me at: erinmohr5@gmail.com
References
Hanson, S., & Magee, J. (2018). Experiences of occupational therapists working in rural areas of Minnesota and North Dakota [Unpublished capstone final project]. University of North Dakota.
MacDowell, M., Glasser, M., Fitts, M., Nielsen, K., & Hunsaker, M. (2010). A national view of rural health workforce issues in the USA. Rural and Remote Health, 10(3), 1531.
Roots R., Brown H., Bainbridge L., Li L. (2014). Rural rehabilitation practice: perspectives of occupational therapists and physical therapists in British Columbia, Canada. Rural and Remote Health, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH2506
Roots, R.K., & Li, L.C. (2013). Recruitment and retention of occupational therapists and physiotherapists in rural regions: a meta-synthesis. BMC Health Services Research, 13(59). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-13-59
Wieland P.M, Taylor E. (2010). Understanding rural practice: implications for occupational therapy education in Canada. Rural and Remote Health, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH1488
Zango Martín, I., Flores Martos, J. A., Moruno Millares, P., & Björklund, A. (2015). Occupational therapy culture seen through the multifocal lens of fieldwork in diverse rural areas. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 22(2), 82–94. https://doi.org/10.3109/11038128.2014.965197
Credits:
Created with an image by Greg Kelton - "Amish Farmers bringing in the Hay"