Think Spring!

Spring is a busy fieldwork season at Elizabethtown College! We have 2 cohorts of students, all of whom must complete 10 visits of level I fieldwork during this semester. The juniors are starting their very first level I fieldwork in sensory, perceptual and cognitive assessment and treatment (OT 332). The seniors are wrapping up their third and final level I fieldwork in psychosocial assessment and intervention (OT 434).

bright purple crocuses

Our program is growing! This spring, we anticipate having 48 seniors in OT 434 and 37 juniors in OT 332. We can only make this happen with your help  – our local clinicians as well as some of our clinicians who are further away from Etown —(some students may do 5 days of level I fieldwork over spring break March 2-6, 2015). Level I fieldwork will begin during the 3rd or 4th week of January, and most placements during the semester are needed on Mondays and Wednesdays.  There is a real shortage of psych-based OTs everywhere and it seems especially in south central PA. Of the 4 psych OTs within an hour’s drive, only 1 can take level I students. We rely primarily on non-OTs from diverse healthcare backgrounds in south central PA to help our students understand psychosocial dimensions and the delivery of psychosocial interventions in various settings.  We need everyone to consider how they can help students recognize and intervene with psychosocial issues with any age group, in any setting.

Student supervision and education is critical to our students’ learning objectives but also in touching the future of occupational therapy and in fulfilling AOTA’s Centennial Vision. I would be glad to talk to you and your organization about how fieldwork education can benefit everyone!  Please contact me to discuss how you can help support Etown this coming spring semester.  Thank you!

Christine L. Achenbach, MEd., OTR/L
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator & Instructor
Phone: 717-361-1146
Email: achenbachc@etown.edu

My clinical background spans outpatient and inpatient physical rehab, mental health and pediatrics. I practiced for 14 years before making the switch to academic fieldwork coordinator in 2001. I maintain a small private practice, serving children and adults in home and community settings for physical, cognitive, sensory and emotional barriers to participation. I am currently learning about neurofeedback and its role in OT. I am an Etown resident and enjoying small town life!