OTs still needed in Haiti!!

I do not believe this is a good fieldwork experience for students.  In this environment, I was lucky to have one other OT there with me and that is not guaranteed.  An Occupational therapist in this environment must have some experience to pull from, nothing is straight forward or what we are traditionally taught, you have to think outside of the box. From the therapists previous experience you have to be able to read patient status change, distress/body cues. there is such a huge language barrier and decreased access to equipment needed to check patient status.  Students, especially OTA students need to get all they can in the traditional areas of practice to find their way to be exceptional therapists before this big of a step.  The experience was very intense and was the hardest work I have done yet. The organization I went through will not take students, only licensed therapists.  I went through project medishare.  I would encourage your students to look into something like this after they have had a few years of experience, it was very rewarding.  I hope that this helps. 

Sheila Richardson, OTR/L