Occupation

Abstracts
Posters
Older Adults. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics,
Vol. 30 (2) pp. 165–175.
Keywords
Older people, Research, Innovative practice, Other
Contact E-mail Addresses
valerie.flattery@hse.ie
Author Biographies
Valerie Flattery is an experienced Occupational Therapist with
more than 12 years working in the Irish healthcare system. Her
current role is as Practice Tutor at Galway University Hospitals.
She is committed to the development of quality practice
education. Valerie is a previous Chairperson of the Association of
Occupational Therapists of Ireland.
Sandra Burke is an experienced Occupational Therapist with
her current role as Senior OT in Orthopedic Services at Galway
University Hospitals. She has a keen interest in hand trauma.
Session 73.2
Setting up an occupational therapy led fracture
bracing service for orthopaedic patients
Worthy M, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Functional bracing is an effective therapeutic modality in
the management of selected fractures (Sarmiento, 1999).
Occupational Therapists (OTs) working within Orthopaedics
at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (STH) carry out all bespoke
thermoplastic and cast functional bracing and following a strong
promotion of this specialist skill created a amatic increase in
demand for both in and outpatients.
Method: Following discussions with Orthopaedic Trauma
Consultants, regular OT attendance at the daily Orthopaedic
trauma conference and a wide promotion of this OT specialist
skill a large increase in the use of bespoke fracture bracing
occurred. A large training programme and upskilling of staff
was instated to accommodate demand and ensure quality
intervention. Regular OT brace clinics were also set up for in and
out patients for all brace fittings and checks.
Results
• The project led to around a 400% increase in fracture bracing
in a 2-year period.
• An associated business case secured funding for an increase in
specialist OT staff working within Orthopaedics.
• Improved links between Orthopaedic in and outpatient teams.
• Assisted in developing the roles of Clinical Specialist OT’s
within Orthopaedics at STH.
Impact
• An Occupational Therapy led effective intervention for certain
fracture types.
• Regular monitoring of patients to ensure hygiene and skin
integrity checks enabling patients to feel more involved in their
own treatment.
• A cost effective intervention at STH.
Implications for OT
• A raised profile for OT within Orthopaedics.
• Increased job satisfaction within Orthopaedics and demand to
work in the clinical area from rotational OT staff members.
• Has lead to an increase in various types of OT splinting within
Orthopaedics.
This presentation will share the process of promoting the skill
and the current and potential benefits of its implementation.
References
Sarmiento, Augusto, and Loren L. Latta. Functional fracture
bracing. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons 7.1 (1999): 66–75.
Keywords
Occupational therapists, Practice development, Practice – present
and future, NHS
Contact E-mail Addresses
matthew.worthy@sth.nhs.uk
Author Biographies
I am currently working as a Clinical Specialist OT within
Orthopaedic inpatients at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. I have
always loved working within Orthopaedics from having a
student placement there many moons ago. I have seen through
a number of advancements during my time including more MDT
working, abolishing hip precautions, generic therapy assistants
and an increase in the fracture bracing and splinting use within
Orthopaedics.
My passion for Orthopaedics may be related to my previous
career as a Mechanical Engineer working on the railway.
Outside of work I enjoy playing squash, cycling and spending
time with my young family.
Session 74.1
Attitudes to integrating occupational therapy and
physiotherapy roles in an acute setting
Cook T, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust;
Background: Integrated working, as encouraged by UK and
international policy, occurs when staff from different professions
collaborate and share decision making for the benefit of service
users (Pollard et al. 2005). There is minimal evidence related to
integrated therapy roles in acute settings. It was important to
explore this further to inform the introduction of integrated roles
at new sites and future work related to service quality.
Aim: To explore the experiences and attitudes of therapy staff
working in an acute setting in the UK towards integrated
occupational therapy and physiotherapy roles.
Methods: A phenomenological approach was taken to this
qualitative, exploratory study in order to describe individuals’
experiences of integrated working in relation to their contexts
(Finlay 2011). Data was collected via elite interviews and focus
groups with therapists and support workers at a large acute
hospital trust in the UK, and analysed using thematic analysis
techniques.
Results: Three main themes emerged: Participants’
understanding of integrated working their experience of this as
a journey and the perceived impacts. Overall participants agreed
in their understanding of integrated working. Although opinions
differed between staff groups, different sites and according
to experience, all were able to identify potential benefits and
risks of role integration, with the need to maintain specialist
professional roles being emphasised.
Conclusion: Implications for practice are presented in the
form of potential barriers and facilitators to the introduction
of integrated therapy roles. These relate to staff, for example
the barrier created by feelings about change or the facilitator
of receiving appropriate training, and also relate to patients,
like the possibility of overwhelming patients or the benefits
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