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Promoting the skills of Occupational Therapy
OT News interviews BACPR Council Member Sarah Quinlan about the role for the Occupational Therapist within cardiac rehabilitation. In April 2013, Sarah Quinlan took up the position of therapy
specialist within the cardiac rehabilitation team for the Cheshire Wirral
Partnership. This was a new post within
an existing multidisciplinary team, based at the Countess of Chester Hospital. ‘Having worked within cardiac rehabilitation for 10 years,
previously as an exercise physiologist and during my occupational therapy
training, I was passionate to demonstrate what our profession has to offer
within the multidisciplinary team, ‘she says. ‘I strongly felt that the skills of an OT in areas such as
goal setting, client centeredness and task analysis would be of great benefit
to the service and patients receiving its care.’ Prior to taking up the position, Sarah says she knew that
patients were already being provided with excellent support and advice, in
areas such as symptom management, medication optimisation and exercise
prescription, but felt there was an opportunity to enhance the service by
working with patients attending cardiac rehabilitation is vast – from 18 years
to over 90 years – and, as such, their occupational needs varied greatly, from
completing A levels, to returning to work, or regaining independence with daily
activities,’ she explains. ‘I also felt that, through the use of cognitive behavioural
approach, occupational therapy could enable patients to manage any anxiety or
mood issues (often associated with a cardiac event) in order for them to return
to their previous normal activities with confidence.’ ‘As from experience, I was aware that fear of a further
cardiac event can be a barrier to returning to certain occupations.’ As a result Sarah worked with the cardiac rehabilitation
manager to integrate occupational therapy interventions into the existing
comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation programme. ‘An individual occupational therapy assessment was given at
the patient’s initial appointment, with the aim of identifying occupational
therapy strengths and needs, from which to set individual goals,’ she says. ‘Individuals could then be supported set objectives to meet
their goals, which would be reviewed at regular intervals throughout the
programme. This initial assessment also
provided the opportunity for onward referral to other services, community
rehabilitation or mental health services.’ She adds: ‘If more complex needs were identified at the
initial assessment, opportunity for one-to-one occupational therapy
consultation would be offered, to enable more detailed follow up and monitoring
of progress towards their goals.’ Another initiative included the development of weekly
wellbeing sessions, covering topics such as managing mood, managing anxiety,
thinking styles, return to work and learning to live with a long-term health
condition. ‘During these sessions, individuals have the opportunity to
review their goals on a monthly basis and set a new objective if required,’ she
says. ‘On discharge, individuals are seen by the OT to review progress towards
their initial cardiac rehabilitation goals and set long-term maintenance goals.’ Encouragingly, the role of occupational therapy within
cardiac rehabilitation is being recognised by the British Association for
Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR), and at the association’s
annual conference in Ireland in October 2014, Sarah produced a poster outlining
these service developments and the OT role. ‘It won the best poster award I was invited to apply to
become BACPR council member,’ she says.
‘I was successful in being elected and currently hold position of
observer on the council, and I will take up full council position in June
2015.’ Sarah concludes: ‘I believe that the future looks brighter
for OT within cardiac rehabilitation, and also in the management of long-term
health conditions, which are a huge cost the NHS.’ ‘The Department of Health and the Allied health Professions
Federation both recognise the AHPs, including OTs, have a potentially
significant role in supporting primary care in the management of individuals
with long-term health conditions.’ ‘As such, I feel that we need to continue to promote the
role of our profession in the management of long-term health conditions, to
ensure that we are a key member of the multidisciplinary team.’ ‘During my time on the BACPR council I look forward to
promoting my skills of occupational therapy and hope to be successful in
influencing the continued inclusion of our profession in the cardiac
rehabilitation team for the future.’ Author Sarah Quinlan Therapy Specialist,
Cardiac Rehabilitation Team, Cheshire Wirral Partnership and BACPR council
member
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