Occupational
TherapyLeadership
Leadership
in Designing
and Implementing
Occupational Therapy
in Designing
and Implementing
Injury
in Level
I Trauma
Centers
InjuryPrevention
PreventionPrograms
Programs
in Level
I Trauma
Centers
Patricia A. Gentile, DPS, OTR/L
Mark Dekki, MPA
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Jamaica, NY, USA
JHMC LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTER
SNAPSHOT
INTRODUCTION
In the US, traumatic injuries are a major public
health problem across the lifespan and a leading cause
of death in individuals 1 to 44 years of age. More
than 2.8 million people are hospitalized and 31.7
million people treated in emergency rooms as a result
of violence and injuries each year.
The American College of Surgeons, the organization
responsible for verifying Trauma Centers across the
country, mandates that Trauma Centers be actively
involved with injury prevention efforts.
Occupational therapists working with injured
patients have always provided these individuals with
information and practical tools to make healthy
choices to prevent injuries from reoccurring.
Occupational therapists working in Trauma Centers
now need to take it to the next level by
assuming leadership roles in injury prevention
programming. This leadership includes using concepts
of occupational therapy to design, implement and
evaluate broad scope prevention initiatives. It also
requires occupational therapists increase their
involvement and presence in advocacy and health
policy related to trauma injury prevention. Increased
involvement in leadership activities of this sort will
also support the profession to move forward
consistent with the AOTA Centennial Vision.
Age
Contact Information: [email protected]
• Utilizes Center’s Trauma Registry for Data Driven
Problem Identification
Mechanism
4% 4%
4%
24%
• Develops Collaborative, Community-Based,
Strategies
0 -18
37%
29%
41%
MVA
Falls
19-35
Assault
31%
36-55
26%
Suicide
56 +
Types of Trauma
Other
• Designs and Implements PEC Population Based
Interventions
• Employs Careful Evaluation and Measurement
• Demonstrates Post-Implementation Persistence
• Identifies Funding Opportunities
• Engages in Health Policy & Activism
TYPICAL PROGRAMS
Injury Severity Score (ISS)*
1%
9%
21%
Blunt
0
22%
1 to 8
Penetrating
9 to 15
22%
78%
47%
Other
>15
*Injury Severity Score (ISS):
• Used to define major trauma
• Correlates with mortality, morbidity and
hospitalization time.
• Major/polytrauma is defined as ISS > 15
•
•
•
•
•
•
Helmet Safety
Violence Prevention Initiatives
Fall Prevention
Distracted Driving Education
Car-Seat Education
Street Crossing/ Pedestrian Safety
OT APPROACH AND
INFLUENCING FACTORS
KEY POINTS IN INJURY PREVENTION
• Injury develops through a process.
• Identifying factors underlying injury can be aided by
using conceptual models.
• Conceptual models can guide the development of
interventions.
• Injury prevention involves several disciplines.
• Multi-disciplinary interventions are often more
successful
OT LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
Population Need
Person
Financial Support
Public Policy
Environment
Occupation
Media Attention
Local/National Events
PEC Approach
Influencing Factors
AOTA 95th Annual Conference & Expo
April 16-19th, 2015
Music City Center, Nashville, TN
REFERENCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control. Web–based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System
(WISQARS) [online]. Accessed February 10, 2015.
American College of Surgeons (2014), Resources for optimal care of the injured
patient 2014 (online). Retrieved from
http://www.facs.org/trauma/verification/resources-preview/index.html
McDonald E.M, MacKenzie E.J, & Teitelbaum S.D, et al. (2007) Injury prevention
activities in U.S. trauma centers: Are we doing enough? Injury, 38, 538-547.
Cohen, L. & Swift, S. (1999) The spectrum of prevention: developing a
comprehensive approach to injury prevention Injury Prevention, 5:203–207
Hildenbrand, W.C. and Lamb, A.J. (2013). Health policy perspectives:
Occupational therapy in prevention and wellness: Retaining relevance in a new
health care world. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67,266-271.
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
Trauma Division
Injury Prevention Programs
Preventing Falls at Home Program
• Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Preventing Falls at Home Program is dedicated to preventing brain, spinal cord, and other
traumatic injuries through education and advocacy. Members of our Trauma Team visit senior centers and local community centers to
educate the community on preventing falls. This is an injury prevention program based on high-risk patterns identified in our elderly
trauma patients. By the end of the program, the audience will be able to: recognize that most falls among older adults result from
interacting risk factors, describe how you reduce your risk of falls, and identify strategies and resources that you can use to reduce
your risk for falls.
Distracted Driving Program
• This program is available for all age groups. This power point presentation and discussion focuses on the dangers of distracted
driving. The purpose of this program is for everyone to know the importance of safe driving not only for the people in the car, but other
drivers and pedestrians. This program can be modified to meet the needs of the specific audiences.
Bicycle Helmet Distribution Program
• Our Bicycle Helmet Distribution Program is a new approach to reduce bicycle related trauma injuries. This program provides a
bicycle helmet to unhelmeted patients brought into our Emergency Department because of their injuries. Prior to being discharged,
the patient will receive a helmet as well as educational materials highlighting the importance of bike riding with a helmet.
Safe Car Seats for Kids Program
• Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among children ages 1 to 19. Our Car Seat Safety Program addresses
car seats, booster seats and seat belts. This poster presentation teaches families how to use and install car seats so children are safe
for every ride. The program allows families to identify which is the proper car seat based on the child’s age, height and weight.
Playing it Safe Program
• The Playing it Safe Program is a program that focuses on concussion prevention related to sports injuries. This program promotes
concussion awareness and education for students, players, coaches, and parents.
M. Dekki, MPA