Preparing for Acute Rehab (ARU) – Level II Fieldwork / Your First ARU Job

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Congratulations on your next big step! Here are some helpful hints to help you prepare for ARU.

Familiarize yourself with:

(in no particular order)

  • Common conditions and treatment planning for them (and their progression):
  • Various transfers sequences, and equipment associated with them
  • Precautions & Weightbearing status
  • Medications (pain, sleep, hypertension, psych, muscle relaxants, DVT prophylaxis, diuretics, bowel care, diabetes, etc.)
  • Lab values
  • Abbreviations accepted by the facility
  • DME/Adaptive equipment – which is covered under Medicare?
  • Donning/doffing orthotics commonly used, e.g. Cervical collars, TLSO, PRAFO
  • Donning/doffing equipment, aids, personal devices (e.g., SCDs, embolic stockings)
  • Outcome Measures:
  • Chart Reviewing
  • Checking for orders
  • OT Evaluation
  • OT Progress Note
  • OT Reassessment
  • OT Discharge Summary
  • Documenting a Medical Exception (and what is considered one vs. not)
  • ADLs:
    • Safety concerns for team
    • Transfer sequence for nursing
    • Toileting method for nursing
    • When is a shower appropriate, what needs to be covered/protected from water?
  • Vital signs and abnormal values
  • Dysphagia levels, aspiration risks, head of bed elevation
  • Managing lines and medical devices

Nice to know

  • Theoretical frameworks (depending on your facility’s background/culture):
    • Neurofunctional approach
    • Biomechanical model
    • NDT
    • CBT
    • GMI
  • Roles of each discipline: MD (hospitalist, physiatrist, rheumatologist, etc), RN, CNA, PT, SLP, SW, respiratory, dietician, spiritual care, psych, imaging, EVS/custodial
  • Insurance: Medicare, Medicaid, VA, Worker’s comp, no insurance
  • Discharge planning: Home health vs. Outpatient OT
  • Discharge destinations: Home vs. SNF vs. board and care vs. memory facility/LTAC vs. CNS, etc.
  • Estimated length of stay and discharge date
  • Referral sources: driving evaluations, psych, neuropsych, opthamalogist, CNS
  • Hospital emergency codes (blue, red, green, white, etc.)
  • Diagnostic imaging & tests: CT, MRI, ultrasound, panels, x-ray, lumbar punctures, etc.
  • Operation of vitals machines, Hoyer lifts, bariatric equipment
  • Location of equipment, supplies, tools, etc.
  • Department meeting agenda
  • Department fall risk protocol