Ethics, Laws and Regulations: An Overview for the Occupational Therapist in Massachusetts
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About the Course
Health care professionals, such as occupational therapy practitioners, are entrusted with a patient's physical and mental well-being during the rehabilitation process; with this trust comes a great responsibility. Although occupational therapy practitioners learn about ethics – including values, attitudes, principles, and standards of conduct – during their academic preparation, they often fail to grasp the true complexities until ethical dilemmas arise during their direct work with clients or during their performance of other work-related responsibilities. Not only do patients physically rely upon occupational therapy practitioners (which includes occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants) to provide safe, appropriate, and effective treatment techniques, but they often also rely emotionally upon occupational therapy practitioners throughout the continuum of care. Occupational therapy practitioners can violate ethical principles and standards, whether the violations are intentional or not. The consequences of the violations may have a significant impact on their clients, their reputations, their careers, and their livelihoods, depending on the violation’s severity. Such potential consequences underscore the importance of maintaining knowledge about the profession’s ethical principles and being vigilant in following the standards based on those principles. Understanding and abiding by regulations established and enforced by national and state regulatory boards is the professional and ethical responsibility of the occupational therapy practitioner. In addition to an overview of ethics and moral values, this course will provide an overview of Section 259 CMR 3.00 which emphasizes regulations governing occupational therapy practitioners in Massachusetts.
Learning Objectives
About the Author
Elizabeth D. DeIuliis, OTD, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist for over 18 years and is currently a clinical associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Duquesne University, where she has been a faculty member for over 12 years. Dr. DeIuliis attended Duquesne University and graduated with a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 2004. In December 2009, she completed a post-professional doctorate of occupational therapy degree at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She continues to practice clinically on a per-diem basis at UPMC Shadyside Hospital within Centers of Rehab Services in Pittsburgh. Dr. DeIuliis has had various leadership roles within academia and the occupational therapy profession, such as serving on the Board of Directors within the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association. She has presented at state, national, and international conferences on topics related to fieldwork education, professionalism (including ethics and professional responsibilities), interprofessional education, and teaching methodologies.
How to Receive Credit
Colibri Healthcare, LLC implemented mechanisms prior to the planning and implementation of the continuing education activity, to identify and resolve conflicts of interest for all individuals in a position to control content of the course activity.
Sponsorship/Commercial Support and Non-Endorsement
It is the policy of Colibri not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.
©2022: All Rights Reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without the expressed written permission or consent of Colibri Healthcare, LLC. The materials presented in this course are meant to provide the consumer with general information on the topics covered. The information provided was prepared by professionals with practical knowledge of the areas covered. It is not meant to provide medical, legal, or professional advice. Colibri Healthcare, LLC recommends that you consult a medical, legal, or professional services expert licensed in your state. Colibri Healthcare, LLC has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that all content provided in this course is accurate and up to date at the time of printing but does not represent or warrant that it will apply to your situation nor circumstances and assumes no liability from reliance on these materials. Quotes are collected from customer feedback surveys. The models are intended to be representative and not actual customers.
Health care professionals, such as occupational therapy practitioners, are entrusted with a patient's physical and mental well-being during the rehabilitation process; with this trust comes a great responsibility. Although occupational therapy practitioners learn about ethics – including values, attitudes, principles, and standards of conduct – during their academic preparation, they often fail to grasp the true complexities until ethical dilemmas arise during their direct work with clients or during their performance of other work-related responsibilities. Not only do patients physically rely upon occupational therapy practitioners (which includes occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants) to provide safe, appropriate, and effective treatment techniques, but they often also rely emotionally upon occupational therapy practitioners throughout the continuum of care. Occupational therapy practitioners can violate ethical principles and standards, whether the violations are intentional or not. The consequences of the violations may have a significant impact on their clients, their reputations, their careers, and their livelihoods, depending on the violation’s severity. Such potential consequences underscore the importance of maintaining knowledge about the profession’s ethical principles and being vigilant in following the standards based on those principles. Understanding and abiding by regulations established and enforced by national and state regulatory boards is the professional and ethical responsibility of the occupational therapy practitioner. In addition to an overview of ethics and moral values, this course will provide an overview of Section 259 CMR 3.00 which emphasizes regulations governing occupational therapy practitioners in Massachusetts.
Learning Objectives
- Differentiate applications of the Participatory Occupational Justice Framework (POJF) and the Framework of Occupational Justice (FOJ).
- Explain the impacts of systemic oppression in the form(s) of racism, sexism, ableism, heterosexism, colonialism, cisgenderism, and gender binarism.
- Distinguish what it means to use disability studies as a methodology and explain for whom disability studies methodological approaches apply.
- Articulate several assessment tools, the constructs they measure, and their relationships to occupational justice.
About the Author
Elizabeth D. DeIuliis, OTD, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist for over 18 years and is currently a clinical associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Duquesne University, where she has been a faculty member for over 12 years. Dr. DeIuliis attended Duquesne University and graduated with a master’s degree in occupational therapy in 2004. In December 2009, she completed a post-professional doctorate of occupational therapy degree at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She continues to practice clinically on a per-diem basis at UPMC Shadyside Hospital within Centers of Rehab Services in Pittsburgh. Dr. DeIuliis has had various leadership roles within academia and the occupational therapy profession, such as serving on the Board of Directors within the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association. She has presented at state, national, and international conferences on topics related to fieldwork education, professionalism (including ethics and professional responsibilities), interprofessional education, and teaching methodologies.
How to Receive Credit
- Read the entire course online or in print.
- Answer the final examination questions at the end of the course. A passing grade of 75% is required. Test questions link content to learning objectives as a method to enhance individualized learning and material retention.
- Provide required personal information and payment information.
- Complete the mandatory course evaluation.
- Print your Certificate of Completion.
Colibri Healthcare, LLC implemented mechanisms prior to the planning and implementation of the continuing education activity, to identify and resolve conflicts of interest for all individuals in a position to control content of the course activity.
Sponsorship/Commercial Support and Non-Endorsement
It is the policy of Colibri not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.
©2022: All Rights Reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without the expressed written permission or consent of Colibri Healthcare, LLC. The materials presented in this course are meant to provide the consumer with general information on the topics covered. The information provided was prepared by professionals with practical knowledge of the areas covered. It is not meant to provide medical, legal, or professional advice. Colibri Healthcare, LLC recommends that you consult a medical, legal, or professional services expert licensed in your state. Colibri Healthcare, LLC has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that all content provided in this course is accurate and up to date at the time of printing but does not represent or warrant that it will apply to your situation nor circumstances and assumes no liability from reliance on these materials. Quotes are collected from customer feedback surveys. The models are intended to be representative and not actual customers.