Promoting Occupational Therapy via “Exploring Hand Therapy: Beyond the Basics”

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Prof Peh Suat Cheng, Dean of Healthcare & Medical Sciences, in her Opening Speech said that the Department of Allied Healthcare is one of the four Departments under this School and was started in September 2018. There are plans to conduct Bachelor Degree (Hons) courses in Medical Imaging, Radiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. The BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy is a 4-year course which encompasses the study of occupational assessment and intervention for patients, contributing towards achieving the “Activities of Daily Living “after an injury or surgery and the need for rehabilitation. This profession is one of the 23 types of Allied Health Professions, which will be required to register to practise in the very near future, when the Allied Health Professions Act 2016 (Act 774) is implemented. The Malaysian Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA) and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) are professional bodies that ensure quality and safe practice in patient care.

the talk

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This course was well attended by 72 participants, comprising occupational therapists, physiotherapists and nurses from public and private hospitals, community centres, rehabilitation homes. Feedback from participants showed they have benefited very much from the various speakers, who are experienced hand & microsurgeons, occupational therapists and physiotherapists who shared their skills and challenges in managing such cases for optimal patient care.

On the whole, this course has achieved its objectives, stimulated valuable discussion on the aspects of clinical, therapeutic, rehabilitative, current technology in a holistic team approach of care and promoted networking among participants.