As the activity demands of an individual increases, the need for greater confidence in mobility does too. The hierarchy of mobility skills, from the most stable to the least, is: bed mobility, mat transfer, wheelchair transfer, functional ambulation for ADL, toilet and tub transfer, car transfer, functional ambulation for community mobility, and community mobility and driving.
This sequence is logical and decreases in support as the client progresses through the levels. The base of support varies for each skill. The largest base of support is with bed mobility, which is also the lowest level on the hierarchy. For the highest level, community mobility and driving, there is more maneuvering through environments other than the home. This means extra walking or transfers than the client would usually perform in the home.This is what I have observed in my past experiences. For a client who is very weak and in the hospital, they may not be stable or strong enough to get out of bed. Instead, they can be assisted in rolling, bridging, and scooting while never leaving the bed. Since I have seen this sequence in the works, I agree with the approach. I believe it is a successful way to safely progress a client from bed mobility to community mobility and driving in a safe manner. It is important to know your clients strengths and limitations and when is the appropriate time to progress to a more challenging skill.
I have gained valuable experiences and skills through the labs and simulations that are essential in the career of an occupational therapist. It is important to communicate and be confident while performing a transfer into a wheelchair or bed with a client. As an OT, we will perform transfers and bed mobility regularly. I am thankful to be taught that safety is extremely important, both for the client and the therapist. Using the CHIPS Center to practice my skills on classmates using hospital beds and wheelchairs allowed me to practice in a clinical setting, without the pressure of it being for the first time with a client.
This sequence is logical and decreases in support as the client progresses through the levels. The base of support varies for each skill. The largest base of support is with bed mobility, which is also the lowest level on the hierarchy. For the highest level, community mobility and driving, there is more maneuvering through environments other than the home. This means extra walking or transfers than the client would usually perform in the home.This is what I have observed in my past experiences. For a client who is very weak and in the hospital, they may not be stable or strong enough to get out of bed. Instead, they can be assisted in rolling, bridging, and scooting while never leaving the bed. Since I have seen this sequence in the works, I agree with the approach. I believe it is a successful way to safely progress a client from bed mobility to community mobility and driving in a safe manner. It is important to know your clients strengths and limitations and when is the appropriate time to progress to a more challenging skill.
I have gained valuable experiences and skills through the labs and simulations that are essential in the career of an occupational therapist. It is important to communicate and be confident while performing a transfer into a wheelchair or bed with a client. As an OT, we will perform transfers and bed mobility regularly. I am thankful to be taught that safety is extremely important, both for the client and the therapist. Using the CHIPS Center to practice my skills on classmates using hospital beds and wheelchairs allowed me to practice in a clinical setting, without the pressure of it being for the first time with a client.
Glad you enjoyed the simulation experiences! Looking forward to your continued success!
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