Overview of Level II Fieldwork
Fieldwork Coordinator & Staff|Frequently
Asked FW Questions|Fieldwork Dates|Fieldwork
Objectives & Expectations|Sample Contract|Potential
Employment|Legislative Update|
The completion of the equivalent of 24 weeks of full-time Level
II fieldwork (FW) is required to become a registered occupational therapist. It
is required by both the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
(ACOTE) and the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapists (NBCOT).
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, all other course work must be completed
before students are allowed to begin Level II fieldwork. Students earn a M.S. in
Therapeutic Science and Occupational Therapy after successful completion of required
Level II fieldwork. This means that the graduation date for most students is in
December following the completion of their second FW placement, or, for students
who complete Level II fieldwork later than mid-December, in May or August of the
following year depending on when they complete all required Level-II fieldwork.
There are only 3 graduation dates per year at UW-Madison, May, August, and December.
Students are eligible to take the national certification exam given by NBCOT only
after successfully completing all requirements for graduation including all required
Level-II fieldwork.
dbebeau@education.wisc.edu
2165 Medical Sciences Center
1300 University Ave.
Madison, WI 53706
(608)262-0093
Fieldwork Coordinating Assistant:
Lisa Blochwitz
blochwitz@education.wisc.edu
2130 Medical Sciences Center
1300 University Ave.
Madison, WI 53706
(608)262-8976
Fieldwork Facts:
Students' Frequently Asked Questions
About Fieldwork:
Please go to AOTA
to view Students' Frequently Asked Questions about Fieldwork (http://www.aota.org/Students/Current/Fieldwork/FAQs.aspx).
Fieldwork Dates:
2008
June 30 – September 19
September 29 - December 19
2009
June 29 – September 18
September 28 – December 18
2010
June 28 – September 17
September 27 – December 17
2011
June 27 – September 16
September 26 – December 16
2012
July 2 – September 21
September 24 – December 14
Fieldwork Objectives/ Expectations:
LEVEL II FIELDWORK OBJECTIVES & EXPECTATIONS
UW-Madison Occupational Therapy Program
The following general objectives apply to all fieldwork experiences developed to
be consistent with the conceptual core and curriculum design of the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. Level II Fieldwork experiences will include the application of
knowledge of (1) the science of occupation, (2) professional ethics, (3) effective
therapeutic relationships, (4) group process, (5) the contexts of service delivery,
and (6) principles of management and systems. Students will be expected to provide
evidence-based interventions that promote the participation of individuals in meaningful
and culturally relevant occupations within lived contexts. In addition, students
will have the opportunity to engage in research-related activities and participate
in the education of others about the practice of occupational therapy. The term,
“client,” may refer to an individual, a group, or a population of individuals.
Upon completion of Level II Fieldwork experience, the student will demonstrate the
following in accordance with the standards established by the fieldwork center:
- Competency in evaluation procedures designed to identify problems related to a client’s
satisfactory participation in meaningful occupations in lived contexts
- Appropriately select and utilize observation, interview, and data from other assessments
routinely used by the fieldwork center
- Accurately record evaluation results
- Ability to accurately interpret evaluation data and use that information in developing
appropriate goals and intervention plans that (1) incorporate current knowledge
about occupation, (2) are occupation-based, (3) are consistent with evidence of
best practice, and (4) respect client priorities
- Identify and define problems related to participation in occupations in ways that
are relevant and meaningful to clients
- Develop specific therapy objectives that reflect a client’s occupational priorities
- Collaborate with clients and their caregivers and teachers in developing therapy
intervention plans
- Articulate the clinical reasoning behind the selection of interventions used
- Proficiency in implementing interventions
- Establish and maintain a collaborative therapeutic relationship with clients
- Make program changes in response to changes in client needs
- Collaborate with other staff, including OTAs, in implementing interventions
- Set appropriate limits to a client’s undesirable behaviors
- Accurately evaluate effectiveness of interventions
- Collaborate on follow-up programs in accordance with a client’s priorities
and discharge environment
- Effective communication with others
- Interact effectively with clients, colleagues, other professionals, and community
members from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds on a one-on-one basis and within
the context of groups
- Communicate effectively with varied audiences for varied purposes
- Acquisition of professional behaviors
- Demonstrate appropriate professional conduct
- Adhere strictly to all confidentiality standards and protocols
- Represent the occupational therapy profession accurately and effectively
- Seek out and make use of feedback from others
- Provide effective feedback to others
- Accept responsibility for own actions and the outcomes of those actions
- Fulfill commitments
- Differentiate facts from illusions and assumptions
- Demonstrate a broad sense of professional responsibility to the community and social
and health care issues
- Contribute to selected management functions
- Participate in selected research-related activities
- Contribute to the understanding of others about occupational therapy
Policies Related to Fieldwork:
1. Level II Fieldwork may be completed on a part-time basis as defined by the Fieldwork
Placement in accordance with the Fieldwork Placement's usual and customary personnel
policies as long as it is at least 50% of a Full-time Equivalent at that site.
2. Level II Fieldwork must be completed prior to receiving your degree and taking
the NBCOT Certification Exam. Both Level II Fieldwork experiences must be completed
within 24 months of completion of coursework.
Sample Contract:University of Wisconsin-Madison
Occupational Therapy Clinical Education Program Agreement
This affiliation agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by ("Facility"),
and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System on behalf of the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Education, Department of Kinesiology,
Occupational Therapy Program (“University”) to provide practical learning
and clinical experiences for the University’s students and to establish and
operate an Occupational Therapy Clinical Education Program (“Program”)
at the Facility.
This Agreement shall become effective on the ____ day of ________, 20__ and shall
automatically renew on an annual basis unless terminated as provided by this Agreement.
Either party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement for any reason on
sixty days written notice to the other party. In the event of termination,
the parties agree that any students placed at the Facility will be able to complete
their activities in connection with the Program.
General
1. The beginning and ending dates for the placement of each student (“Placement”)
in the Program will be mutually agreed upon in writing by the Facility and the University.
2. The number of students eligible to participate in the Program will be mutually
agreed upon by the Facility and the University and may be altered by mutual agreement.
3. The University will place with the Facility only those students who have
satisfactorily completed the prerequisite academic portion of the University’s
curriculum.
4. Facility actions regarding students:
A. The Facility may cancel, by notice in writing to the University, the placement
of any student whose performance or conduct is unsatisfactory, whose personal characteristics
interfere with the development of professional relationships within the Facility,
or whose health conditions interfere with the student's successful completion of
his or her assignment at the Facility.
B. The Facility may immediately suspend any student’s Placement if the
student’s performance adversely affects the safety or welfare of the Facility’s
patients or clients.
C. Prior to cancellation of any student’s Placement, the Facility shall notify
the University, provide the student and the University with written justification
for the Facility’s proposed cancellation, consult with the University about
the proposed cancellation, and make reasonable efforts with the University to resolve
the matter.
5. The University and the Facility shall not discriminate with respect to race,
color, sex, creed, national origin, disability, age, public assistance status, marital
status, sexual orientation, and religion in their on-going practices.
6. The University and the Facility shall make reasonable accommodations to provide
accessibility for students with disabilities. If a student requests an accommodation
in his or her assignment to the Facility, the University will encourage the student
to disclose directly to the Facility information in support of the student's request.
7. This Agreement does not create any third-party beneficiaries.
8. The University’s personnel, faculty, and students are not eligible for
coverage under the Facility's Workers' Compensation or Unemployment Compensation
insurance programs. The University shall provide, if any, Workers' Compensation
or Unemployment Compensation coverage as required by Wisconsin law. Neither
the University nor the Facility shall compensate students for their activities during
their Placement, and this paragraph does not extend Workers' Compensation or Unemployment
Compensation coverage beyond the specific requirements of Wisconsin law.
9. The Facility shall send to the University a list of required immunizations and
titers, special training, applicable deadlines, and other conditions of participation
in the Program. The University shall inform students of the Facility's requirements.
Students are responsible for providing to the Facility timely documentation of completion
of all the Facility’s requirements.
10. Neither party may assign any rights or obligations under this Agreement without
the prior written consent of the other party.
11. The parties agree that any student placed at the Facility under this Agreement
is considered a member of the Facility’s “workforce,” as defined
in 42 C.F.R. 160.103, for the limited purposes of the Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act of !996 (HIPAA). The parties also agree that the University,
its employees, and its students are not “business associates” of the
Facility, as defined in 42 C.F.R. 160.103, for the limited purposes of HIPAA.
Responsibilities of the University
12. The University shall send to the Facility a personal data form for each student
placed with the Facility at least four (4) weeks before the commencement of each
student's Placement. This form will include the dates on which each of the
Facility’s requirements was completed.
13. The University shall recommend hepatitis immunizations to each student and shall
provide opportunities for training about:
- bloodborne pathogens and universal precautions as required by OSHA.
- HIPAA Privacy Rule requirements
14. A University faculty member and a designee of the Facility shall coordinate
the University’s academic requirements with the Program activities of each
student at the Facility.
15. The University shall notify each student that he or she is responsible for:
- complying with the policies, procedures, standards, and practices of the Facility;
- obtaining any uniforms required by the Facility;
- providing his or her own transportation and living arrangements;
- reporting for Program activities on time;
- maintaining his or her own health records and providing his or her own health insurance
coverage and documentation as required by the Facility;
- complying with the policies, procedures, standards, and practices of the University;
- granting the Facility a 30-day review prior to presenting or publishing any materials
involving the student’s activities at the Facility, and
- maintaining the confidentiality of patient or client records and information.
16. The University, as a unit within an agency of the State of Wisconsin,
provides liability coverage for its students and faculty consistent with section
895.46(1) of the Wisconsin Statutes. The University’s students
and faculty who participate in the activities resulting from this Agreement are
agents and employees, respectively, of the State of Wisconsin. While participating
in such activities, students and faculty are acting within the scope of their agency
or employment. The liability coverage provided by the State of Wisconsin under
Section 895.46(1) is self-funded, unlimited, and continuous. Such liability
coverage includes, but is not limited to claims, demands, losses, costs, damages
and expenses of every kind and description (including death), or damage to persons
or property arising out of Program activities at the Facility.
17. During the term of this Agreement, the Board of Regents of the University of
Wisconsin System agrees to hold harmless the Facility from any and all liability
that is based the acts or omissions of its officers, employees, or agents while
acting within the scope of their employment or agency consistent with sections 895.46(1)
and 893.82 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Responsibilities of the Facility
18. The Facility shall provide a planned, supervised program of clinical experiences,
as specified in writing to the University, for each student’s Placement.
19. The Facility shall maintain complete records and reports on each student's performance,
providing evaluations to the University on forms provided by the University.
20. In all cases, the Facility shall retain ultimate responsibility for the
care of its patients or clients.
21. The Facility shall, on reasonable request, permit representatives of the
University and academic accreditation agencies to inspect its facilities, the services
made available for the Placement of students, student records, and other information
relevant to the Program.
22. The Facility shall designate in writing to the University the name of
the person responsible for the Facility's Program and shall also submit to the University
information requested regarding the professional experience of that person and of
other professional staff participating in its Program. The Facility agrees
to notify the University in writing of any change or proposed change in its designation
of the person responsible for the Facility's Program, or of any other staff that
may affect student Placements.
23. The Facility shall have primary responsibility for ensuring student compliance
with his or her responsibilities as set forth in subparagraphs A, B, and D of paragraph
15 of this Agreement. The University agrees to assist the Facility in achieving
student compliance on request of the Facility
24. The Facility shall, at the commencement of a student's Placement, provide
the University’s faculty and the student with a thorough orientation about
the Facility's policies, procedures, standards and practices relevant to the student’s
Placement.
25. At regular intervals, as specified by the University, the Facility shall
provide the University with an outline of the curriculum for the Facility’s
Program.
26. In the event a student is absent because of illness for more than three
(3) days during the student’s Placement, the Facility shall promptly arrange
for the student to make up the lost time or shall inform the University of its inability
to do so.
27. Except for personal emergencies, the Facility shall not grant leaves of
absence from regularly scheduled activities to students during their Placements
without prior approval from the University.
28. The Facility shall promptly advise the Vice Chancellor for Legal and Executive
Affairs, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 361 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison,
Wisconsin 53706-1380, if it has any reason to believe a claim may exist against
an officer, employee, or agent of the University in connection with any activities
performed under this Agreement. Notification is for informational purposes
only and shall not eliminate Facility’s duty to follow the statutory claim
procedure in section 893.82 of the Wisconsin Statutes prior to instituting
a lawsuit against the University.
29. The parties to this Agreement agree to revise or modify it only by written
amendment signed by both parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement
The Board of Regents of the
Facility
University of Wisconsin System
By
By_____________________
Darrell Bazzell
______________________
Vice Chancellor for Administration
Name (print) and Title
________________________
Date
Date
School of Education
Department of Kinesiology
Occupational Therapy Program
BY
Deborah Bebeau MS, OTR
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Potential Employment:
www.otjoblink.org
Legislative Update:
(The following information from www.aota.org)
OT/OTA Student Services
Historically, OT and OTA students have participated in the delivery of occupational
therapy services under the supervision of occupational therapy personnel in a variety
of fieldwork sites. The changes to Medicare payment systems over the last few years
have brought concurrent changes to the way in which the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA),
interprets how and whether the Medicare program should provide payment for services
provided by students. In the article, "Strategies
for Creative Fieldwork Opportunities," AOTA’s Academic Affairs, Federal
Affairs, Practice, and Reimbursement and Regulatory Policy staff provide guidance
to help occupational therapy programs, fieldwork sites, and facilities understand
and adapt to these changes.
For those settings that serve Medicare patients, it is important to be aware of
both new and existing Medicare payment policies. Although Medicare does not state
that students cannot provide services, CMS has published specific criteria relating
to how and when the program will pay for services provided by students. When developing
fieldwork plans for sites that serve Medicare patients, two issues must be considered:
- Whether Medicare payment rules specifically allow or restrict coverage of services
provided by students, and
- What type and level of supervision are required to raise those services provided
by students to the level of covered "skilled" occupational therapy as defined by
the Medicare program.
All relevant Medicare coverage criteria must be reviewed if reimbursement is sought
for services. In addition, many State practice acts and regulations provide requirements
(legal statutes) and guidance for occupational therapy services provided by students.
You can find the regulatory board contact information on the
State-by-State OT Law Database located in the Licensure section of this
Web site.
The following chart sets out for each Medicare setting whether Medicare payment
rules specifically allow or restrict coverage of services provided by students and
what type and level of supervision Medicare requires to raise the services provided
by students to the level of covered "skilled" occupational therapy. Practitioners
should take care to assure an appropriate level of supervision, whether or not a
specific CMS rule regarding students has been issued.
Setting/Payer
|
|
|
|
Medicare Coverage of Services Provided by Therapy Students
|
Type and Level of Supervision of Student Required
|
|
|
Medicare Part A Hospital and Inpatient Rehabilitation
|
CMS has not issued specific rules.
|
CMS has not issued specific rules. See relevant state law for further guidance on
supervision for the services to be considered occupational therapy.
|
|
Medicare Part A
SNF
|
The minutes of therapy services provided by OT and OTA students may be recorded
on the MDS as minutes of therapy received by the beneficiary.
|
Services of OT and OTA students must be provided in the "line of sight" of the OT.
OTAs can provide clinical supervision to OTA students; however, if the services
are to be recorded for payment purposes, they must be performed in "line of sight"
of an OT
|
|
Medicare Part A Hospice
|
CMS has not issued specific rules.
|
CMS has not issued specific rules. See relevant state law for further guidance on
supervision for the services to be considered occupational therapy.
|
|
Medicare Part B
Partial Hospitalization
|
CMS has not issued specific rules.
|
CMS has not issued specific rules. See relevant state law for further guidance on
supervision for the services to be considered occupational therapy.
|
|
Medicare Part A
Home health
|
Regulations (§484.115) specifically cite definitions for "qualified personnel",
which do not include students. However, CMS has not issued specific restrictions
regarding students providing services in conjunction with a qualified OT or OTA.
|
Services by students can be provided (as allowed by state law) as part of a home
health visit, when the student is supervised by an OT or OTA in the home
|
|
Medicare Part B
Private Practice, Hospital Outpatient, SNF, CORF, ORF, Rehabilitation agency, and
other Part B providers including home health agencies when providing Part B services
|
Under the Medicare Part B outpatient benefit, the services of students directly
assisting a qualified practitioner (OT) are covered when the type and level of supervision
requirements are met.
|
Students can participate in the delivery of services when the qualified practitioner
(OT) is directing the service, making the skilled judgement, responsible for the
assessment and treatment in the same room as the student, and not simultaneously
treating another patient. The qualified practitioner is solely responsible and must
sign all documentation.
|
AOTA continues to work with a coalition of practitioner organizations to advocate
for additional government support for education of allied health providers and to
develop long-term solutions to the problems caused by Medicare’s limitations
on reimbursement for student services.