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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
NSU Occupational Therapists at Hill Day in Tallahassee
Drs. Bloch, Lambdin-Pattavina, and Peirce with the FOTA leadership team.
On Wed. Feb 21 over 60 Florida occupational therapy practitioners and students arrived at our State Capitol for the Florida Occupational Therapy Association’s (FOTA) Hill Day. Three faculty (Bloch, Ed.D, OT/L, Lambdin-Pattavina, OT, OTR/L and Peirce, Ph.D, OTR/L) represented Nova Southeastern University from the Department of Occupational Therapy Fort Lauderdale program along with three entry level OTD students from our Tampa program (Jordan Powers, Farrah Bell and Ylianne Llana).
Dr. Lambdin-Pattavina and Dr. Peirce.
Our mission for this Hill Day was to educate our state legislators about the profession of occupational therapy and meet with specific representatives to discuss the lack of occupational therapy coverage for state employees. We had tables on the 3rd floor of the Capital building set up with activities and information about occupational therapy in various practice areas. The NSU team presented information on the role of OT in mental health and the state of mental health care here in Florida. Additionally, we provided stress balls and aromatherapy clips to legislators and their staff, containing ways occupational therapists can support recovery for those with a mental illness. In addition to the tabling event, several therapists visited 10 key legislators involved in the Health and Appropriations Committee to advocate face to face for the inclusion of OT services in the state health plan of over 65,000 state of Florida employees. The team articulated the cost savings of occupational therapy services through reducing readmission rates for patients with heart failure, pneumonia and acute myocardial infarction. We also discussed the Lifestyle Redesign randomized controlled trial studies with the healthy elderly that demonstrated improved quality of life and decreased hospital admissions. Our representatives in both the House and Senate enthusiastically support the addition of occupational therapy services to the state health insurance plan.
Occupational therapists advocate for their clients and families on a daily basis in their respective work environments. Hill Day provides the occupational therapy community with an opportunity to educate our legislators about the important work we do in the health care environment and to have a “voice at the table”. Through didactic courses and fieldwork experiences, our occupational therapy students develop advocacy and leadership skills that will serve them well as they enter the profession and participate in important activities such as Occupational Therapy Hill Day. We hope next year to have a bus filled to capacity with students attending this meaningful day!