Date of Award
5-2023
Document Type
Oral Presentation/Poster
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Mackenzie Feldhacker
Keywords
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP), occupational therapy (OT), infant, neonate, occupation
Subject Categories
Occupational Therapy
Abstract
Current literature identifies the recognizable value of occupational therapy within the NICU; however, not all NICUs utilize therapy services. The purpose of this project was to highlight the role of occupational therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and implement the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) within this setting through a variety of goals, objectives, and produced deliverables. Als’ Synactive Theory of Development and the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) Model guided this capstone project. In addition to in-depth clinical practice, education and program development were the methods utilized to achieve the project’s goals. The results of this project further support existing literature regarding occupational therapy’s value within this highly specialized and demanding setting. Occupational therapists, with their unique abilities and extensive background, offer a developmentally focused perspective to the NICU environment through brain-oriented and neurosensory-focused care, ultimately improving outcomes of infants who require a NICU stay.
Recommended Citation
Keane, Juliana C., "Occupational Therapy in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) & Implementation of the Test of Infant Motor Performance" (2023). Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations. 88.
https://red.library.usd.edu/ot-capstone/88