Mission for all of TriHealth:
"The mission of TriHealth is to improve the health status of the people we serve. We pursue our mission by providing a full range of health-related services, including prevention, wellness and education"(https://www.trihealth.com/about-trihealth/mission-and-values)
Mission for Women's Health Services:
"TriHealth Women’s Services is dedicated to caring for all women at every stage of their lives and celebrating what makes them special. With our inclusive, collaborative and team-based approach, we don’t just see patients. We see incredible women, each with her own unique story. From adolescent gynecology and comprehensive maternity to high-risk obstetrics, infertility and specialized gynecology, we’re ready to partner with you for a lifetime of care and support" (https://www.trihealth.com/institutes-and-services/womens-services)
Services:
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High-risk pregnancy care
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Breast health
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Maternity care
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Gynecology
Relation to Capstone:
Partnering with the Director of Operations of Women's Health at TriHealth and a TriHealth Urogyn will allow me to work with women's health and rehabilitation professionals. I will be able to integrate occupational therapy (OT) services into women's health at TriHealth by implementing a screening tool (Cozean Pelvic Dysfunction Screening Protocol) to assess the rate of pelvic floor dysfunctions while women are waiting in the waiting room at their OB/GYN clinic. This screening tool will aid in discovering issues that may not be routinely searched. I will also be implementing educational discussions with Urogyn post-vaginal reconstruction patients and their caregivers to aid them in getting back to their daily activities comfortably and safely.
Then I will create two surveys, one for Urogyn patients to fill out (Mother and Child Survey [MAC survey] to assess changes in pelvic floor symptoms and occupational participation) and another survey for OB/GYNs and Urogyns to complete (asking about what types of client diagnoses they typically treat, treatments used, and their interest in OT service integration). Lisa Drake, Director of Operations for women's health services believes there is a need for pelvic floor screenings to improve care. Dr. Catrina Crisp believes that post-vaginal reconstruction patients have a difficult time adjusting back to their daily activities and that this is a gap that OT could fill. Thus, I believe working with TriHealth Women's Health Services for my capstone project will allow me to utilize my ideal population of female patients and medical professionals in order to determine if it is feasible to integrate OT services into women's healthcare and whether this collaboration would be beneficial for all parties involved!
Reflection on Capstone Process (2022):
The occupational therapy doctoral capstone process has been ongoing, spanning from 2020-2023. This process has been difficult as it has pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone to pursue my interests. My capstone topic involving OT's role in women's health is an emerging area within the field of OT which has posed as a challenge in finding the perfect site and getting into contact with helpful mentors. My capstone project has had many changes since its inception, for instance, I just began piecing together the educational portion of my project with Dr. Crisp in early November of 2022. Although it has been difficult to plan a project a year in advance, ensure that all mentors understand my capstone and its process, and communicate with everyone in a timely, it has also been a very rewarding experience.
As my project has begun to slowly fall into place from the summer to December of 2022, I am becoming more and more excited about its potential. I am looking forward to having the experience of direct patient experience, meetings with women's healthcare professionals, and research. I am glad that I will get to add to occupational therapy evidence/literature, especially in an emerging area of practice where evidence is greatly needed. I also think that my capstone will give me the wonderful opportunity of collaborating with and learning from women's health medical doctors. This connection will allow me to build relationships with these professionals with the hopes to build referral sources for OT services and one day have OTs working directly in women's health primary care. Most importantly though I am eager to fill the gap of women's health unmet needs with a holistic and client-centered profession: occupational therapy.
While the path to capstone completion seems overwhelming and even impossible at times, I remember my "why". I remember my purpose and my goals along with the many negative impacts that PFDs have on a great number of women. I know this process will continue to push me out of my comfort zone and challenge me to use skills such as creativity, organization, and leadership, but I think I will be a better occupational therapist for it! This project will allow me learn about and contribute to the field of OT, it will allow me to sharpen my skills in an area of emerging practice, and prepare me for the NBCOT and the job market. Although the capstone process is a tremendous amount of work that can be very overwhelming, I know that if I take it one step at a time I will be able to create an amazing and effective project for many to benefit from!
