AOTA

Anne M. Moscony, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Earn:  .15 CEUs (1.88 NBCOT PDUs/1.5 contact hours)

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe an occupation-centered model of practice that can be used when addressing deficits associated with peripheral nerve injuries of the upper extremity (UE-PNIs).
2. Describe how intervention strategies for UE-PNIs can typically fit under the umbrella of acquisition or reacquisition of skills needed for specific occupational performance, remediation or restoration.
3. Identify common psychosocial concerns and concomitant physical impairments typically seen after an UE-PNI.
4. Identify standardized assessment tools appropriate for determining the impact of UE-PNIs on occupational performance.
5. Identify the occupational therapy evaluation code level (CPT) based on the client level of complexity and contextual factors following an OT evaluation.
6. Explain how established biomechanical protocols for UE-PNIs can be adhered to while simultaneously employing an approach to treatment that emphasizes the biopsychosocial aspects of occupational participation.

Description:

Occupational therapist who treat nerve injuries of the hand and upper extremity have historically focused on remediation of specific motor and sensory deficits that adversely affect body function. However, as a growing body of evidence has revealed, the impact of these injuries on participation, health and well-being have been under assessed, under reported, and under addressed.

As occupational therapy practitioners, we champion a holistic patient-centered and occupation based philosophy in which the patient and therapist work collaboratively in a shared decision making model to reduce or manage the adverse impacts of disease or illness on occupational performance. This course describes how practitioners can merge the traditional hand therapy focus on remediation of impairments with the simultaneous treatment of occupational dysfunction and associated causes using a biopsychosocial lens to intervention.

Audience:  OT Practitioners

Content focus:  Domain: Occupations; Process: Evaluation and Intervention Professional Issues: Occupation centered practice

Keywords:  Nerve injury, peripheral nervous system, hand therapy