title: Implementation of a new model of clinical education for regional occupational therapy student clinical placements.
abstract: Expansion of occupational therapy education programs has resulted in increased student numbers and demand on clinicians to host clinical placements while also maintaining the delivery of high-quality, safe clinical services to patients. Much of the research about innovative placement models, including student contributions to service delivery, has been conducted in metropolitan areas. Therefore, there is a need to develop models that are suited to regional settings that face diversity of caseload, more generalised occupational therapy roles and variations in patient flow. The aim of the present study was to describe the initial application of the Calderdale Framework in student education in a regional context and look at lessons learnt. The Calderdale Framework provided a structured, clinically governed process whereby occupational therapists were able to determine which tasks could be allocated to students and provided a framework to support student training and competency development. The Calderdale Framework has been used successfully to implement allied health models involving professional skill sharing and delegation of tasks to allied health assistants, but it has not been used in clinical education. Pilot implementation of the Calderdale Framework showed that the model supports quality and safety of student-provided occupational therapy services and that the teaching method provides a platform for student skill development. These results warrant further investigation and are potentially transferrable to student education in other health professions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allied Health, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Pechey Street, Toowooomba, Qld 4350, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Furness
authors.affiliation: Mackay Hospital and Health Service, Bridge Road, Mackay, Qld 4740, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Alison C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pighills
authors.affiliation: The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Cnr Ellerton Drive and Court Road, Wacol, Qld 4076, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ducat
authors.affiliation: Division of Allied Health, Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Pechey Street, Toowooomba, Qld 4350, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tynan
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000193:education*; D011231:Preceptorship