ITU Occupational Therapist shares insight into their role during COVID-19
During these unprecedented times, we can all appreciate what it feels like not being able to do the things we previously enjoyed. Occupational Therapy is all about promoting people’s independence and engagement in daily activities. Engagement can often be affected after illness or injury and the ITU Occupational Therapists are supporting our patients with their Coronavirus recovery.
Gemma Lyon, Occupational Therapist at St Bartholomew's Hospital said: “due to COVID-19 our team has grown in numbers, we have received redeployed staff from many different areas including community and paediatrics. We have changed our shift pattern and we now run a new 7-day service. When treating Coronavirus patients our team is involved from their initial ITU admission, all the way to discharge.”
Gemma explained: “we review a patient at the start of their ITU journey and often at this point they are very weak, due to lots of time spent in bed. Some of our COVID-19 patients can be delirious or disorientated and this is common after waking up in a strange environment”.
The ITU Occupational Therapists aim to provide re-orientation to patients and help them complete basic tasks for themselves including, washing their face or combing their hair. They try to be creative and help patients keep occupied during the day, often with activities such as listening to music, watching TV and colouring.
Gemma said: “at this difficult time where visitors are restricted, we try to support communication with family members by using phones and iPads. We find this helps improve patient’s mood and wellbeing and also keeps families connected”.
The Occupational Therapy team work closely with their Physiotherapy colleagues to support patients getting out of bed and provide appropriate and comfortable seating. The team continues to support COVID-19 patients with progressing independence in personal care as they get better and move off the ITU wards.
When working with COVID-19 patients Gemma explained: “we provide education about how to manage new difficulties such as breathlessness and fatigue. We may also need to adapt activities to make them easier, such as using equipment or teaching strategies. Our final job is to ensure that the patients are set up safely for discharge and have community follow up if required”.
The ITU Occupational Therapy team at St Bartholomew's have been actively sharing photos and videos across social media, all with the hope to boost team morale during these unsettling times.