Let's Reflect - The Role of Occupational Therapy in the ICU

I read an article based on an interview with Abby Lefkove OTR/L. She started working at a hospital in Georgia as an acute care occupational therapist, and eventually moved to the intensive care unit (ICU). In the interview, Abby discussed the types of diagnoses and clients you can expect to work with while working in the ICU, as well as what you can expect to see, do, and use during a typical day as an ICU occupational therapist. 

For me, the biggest takeaway from this interview is the importance of having knowledge of procedures, tests, statuses, and the precautions that go along with them. While working in the ICU you will see a lot of clients who are in critical condition with various precautions and levels of mobility and function, therefore it is important to know what precautions to take with each individual client so that you do not worsen their condition. On the other hand, it is also important to know when it is acceptable to be more aggressive in treatment sessions versus when you should back off during a treatment session. Overall, I learned that the most important aspect of working as an occupational therapist in the ICU is maintaining your knowledge of the conditions, procedures, and vital signs to ensure that you understand the condition of each client.