Level-II Fieldwork

“The goal of Level-II fieldwork is to develop competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapists. Level-II fieldwork …must include and in-depth experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of purposeful and meaningful occupation and research, administration, and management of occupational therapy services. It is recommended that the student be exposed to a variety of clients across the lifespan and to a variety of settings” (ACOTE, 2011).

Two full time 12 week (or equivalent) Level-II Fieldwork rotations will occur as a final requirement of the program. Students will also complete online coursework during these final 24 weeks to synthesize classroom and fieldwork experiences.

Level-II fieldwork supervisors must be currently licensed occupational therapists with a minimum of 1 year full time clinical experience. It is permissible that the supervising therapist be a part of Cox College and/or a combination of other contracted fieldwork sites. The educational experience of the student must meet the ACOTE standards for Level-II fieldwork. More information about Level-II fieldwork from AOTA may be found at Level-II FieldworkLinks to an external site.

Students must complete Level II Fielwork within 24 months of seated coursework.  Students wishing to complete level 2 fieldwork on a halftime basis must make their plan known and establish a progression and delayed graduation plan that is acknowledged by the AFWC, the registrar, financial aide, and the department chair. 

Level-II Placements

Availability of Level-II Fieldwork placements can often be competitive. In order to assure all students have placements for Level-II fieldwork, we will begin placement process up to one year prior to the assignment. Students should plan well in advance and communicate effectively with their faculty adviser and with the academic fieldwork coordinator. Students will have opportunity to provide input for desired sites and rank them in order of desire. Once a placement is confirmed, it cannot be changed. Students may have to relocate and are responsible for all aspects of making living arrangements. Students must make every effort possible to successfully complete their assigned placement. Requested changes to fieldwork can delay graduation and incur additional tuition and fees. 

Example: Level II 12 Week Schedule/Progression of Fieldwork developed by fieldwork site:

Checklist example from CoxHealth Branson:

Example Level II Fieldwork Site Specific Objectives Developed by Fieldwork Site:

The student will perform assessments in an ongoing and systematic manner, focusing on physiologic, psychological, and cognitive status of patient.

The student will interpret data from the assessment and formulate and follow goal directed plan of care based on clinical reasoning, patient’s specific goals, preferred roles, available resources, and relevant time constraints.

The student will implement care in a knowledgeable, skillful, and consistent manner focusing on achieving functional outcomes, maintaining a therapeutic relationship with the patient, setting appropriate limits to undesirable behaviors, and accurately evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention and modifying as needed.

The student will document services in a way that is consistent with facility and insurance guidelines. Documentation will accurately reflect the treatment provided and patient involvement in treatment.

The student will demonstrate safe practice by providing service in a environment that promotes safety for self and patient and that follows all established procedures for safety.

The student will communicate and collaborate with other health care professionals in a professional manner using effective methods and lines of authority.

The student will demonstrate professional behaviors including strict adherence to confidentiality, ethical behavior, responsibility for professional competence, constructive response to feedback, effective time management skills, and reliable work habits.

AOTA Resource for site specific objectives: http://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Fieldwork/SiteObj.aspxLinks to an external site.

AOTA Fieldwork Data Sheet

The fieldwork coordinator must maintain up to date information about each site. Specific information is collected via the AOTA Fieldwork Data Sheet via Exxat software. There is an electronic version below. 

Attendance

Students are expected to complete all 12 weeks of level 2 fieldwork without a single absence or tardy. Professional behavior is of primary importance during your fieldwork experience. Showing up on time, prepared for your day, and on a dependable, consistent basis is at the core of professionalism. If you must miss level 2 fieldwork due to contagious illness or other excused absence then you must:

• contact your supervisor as soon as you know you will be absent
• email or text your AFWC 

For our purposes at Cox College, you may miss up to 2 days of excused absences and not have to make up the time. But if your fieldwork supervisor expects you to make up the missed days, then you must follow their expectation. Unexcused absences will not be tolerated and will result in immediate dismissal from the MSOT program. 

State or National Conference Attendance

State or National Conference attendance is an excused absence according to Cox College MSOT program. However, you must clear this first with your supervisor. Your supervisor may not want to allow attendance or may want you to make up the time. Additionally, occasional continuing education courses or special lectures have been offered in supplement to your experience. These are excused at the discretion of your fieldwork supervisor. 

During Level II Fieldwork, students must follow the fieldwork site’s calendar regarding working days and hours and holidays. For example, certain clinics do not follow the normal working day; evening or weekend hours may be scheduled. Attendance at all fieldwork experiences is mandatory. Every effort must be made to avoid absences during fieldwork experiences. Illness or unusual emergencies are the only acceptable reasons for clinic absences.

If students must be absent due to illness or an emergency, the following procedure must be followed:

• If an absence is anticipated, students must to report this in advance to the site Fieldwork Educator and to the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Cox College so that arrangements for making up missing time can be made.
• If an absence is sudden in nature, students must inform the Fieldwork Educator. Students should call their fieldwork educator at the site 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start of the day. If students must leave a message, they should call again later to ensure the messages was received. Students should notify the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator of the day missed and the scheduled makeup date.
• Students may not use email to inform the Fieldwork Educator of absence or late arrival
• Punctuality is of critical importance in clinical practice. If students must be late, telephone the supervisor 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start of the day to inform the supervisor of arrival time.
•  The Cox College occupational therapy program permits up to a maximum of two days of absence from Level II fieldwork due to illness or emergency. An absence of more than two days requires a doctor’s note or written approval through the AFWC (i.e., unusual emergencies such as natural disaster, family death, accident, etc.). The attendance policy of the fieldwork site may differ and must be followed for all Level II fieldwork.
• Absences for attending professional conferences are approved at the discretion of the Fieldwork Educator.
• In cases where time must be made up, a grade of ‘incomplete’ will be given for the fieldwork experience. All time must be made up within 4 weeks of the scheduled end of the experience.

Students wishing to complete level 2 fieldwork on a half time basis will need to make a special request well in advance of fieldwork placement to the AFWC. Students who complete level 2 fieldwork on a half time basis will be responsible for their respective college student fees and tuition. In addition, students would graduate later if they complete the level 2 fieldwork on a half time basis.