K is for Keck Hospital....

Keck Hospital Occupational Therapy service carried out a small scale pilot using Lifestyle Redesign in the acute hospital setting. A poster was produced that was presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association conference.

The patients were a group who were in hospital and had Venticular Assist Devices (VAD) while awaiting heart transplant. This is a highly complex procedure and very limiting to normal lifestyle and activities. The OTs worked with the patients using a variety of methods to address each individual's issues and needs. For all there was an emphasis on trying to include the 'ordinary', a challenge in such an acute hospital setting. Most patients required stress/anxiety management as part of their programme.
Despite some limitations due to the setting and varying medical fitness of patients to participate, the pilot study concluded that:

'Utilizing Lifestyle Redesign® tools in an acute care setting bridges the gap between traditional care and health promotion yielding greater access to occupational health and wellness potential for our clients and those that care for them.'

I am grateful to the authors of the study Whitney Pike OTR/L, CLT, Katie Jordan OTD, OTR/L and Camille Dieterle OTD, OTR/L for permission to share the poster.