A description of fieldwork in the home care setting

There are few opportunities for fieldwork education in the home health setting and no available references or resources for establishing a home health fieldwork program. Home health practice involves issues that must be considered when establishing a fieldwork program. These issues include the focus or content of the fieldwork experience, supervision requirements and logistics, and how time is used and structured. This article describes a program that offers Level II fieldwork in home care. During the program refinements over the past 6 years, issues about content, supervision, and time use were addressed and resolved. Fieldwork in the home health setting prepares occupational therapy students for community practice and can increase their awareness of the issues clients face upon returning home after acute medical intervention. Fieldwork in home care also offers a partial solution to the shortage of fieldwork sites in which to train occupational therapy students.