Case 1: Beth is an occupational therapy student in her 11th week of her 1st Level II Fieldwork. She has a full caseload of her own that she is responsible for on a daily basis. Her fieldwork educator, Corinne, has a few patients that she sees on her own, without Beth in the room. At the end of the day, Corinne states that she has to leave early that day and asks Beth to write all the treatment notes, even for those clients that Beth did not see.
Corinne states that she wrote down what she did with each client, and Beth can base her notes on that. Corinne will then sign the notes the next morning. When Beth says she is not comfortable writing the notes, Corinne states that no one will ever know that Beth wrote them, and if anyone asks, to just lie.
-
Corinne wants Beth to lie, which
can detriment the patients,
the company, and acts as
fraud towards insurance.
Ways to resolve
- Beth explain to Corrine
that she doesn't want to risk
her future license by lying.
Beth at risk for not speaking
to higher authority, if situation
does not resolve. A patient could be hurt
or sue company, and Beth and Corrine could
lose licenses for being involved in documentation
fraud.
- Beth talk to her fieldwork
coordinator for help
resolving issue.
Fieldwork coordinator must
take action to discuss appropriate
action/consequences for company.
Beth may temporarily lose
placement if unresolved.
- Beth talk to Corrinne's
supervisor to help
resolve issue
Corinne could be fired/lose
license OR company at stake
if supervisor does not take action.
Possible consequences for Beth if she
does not talk to her fieldwork educator.
Chosen Action: Combination of ways to resolve 1, 2, and 3. Beth can speak with her fieldwork coordinator first to ensure that she completes appropriate actions in correct manner and timing.
-
Corinne is teaching her student
to put convenience, ease and
self before ethics.
Ways to resolve
- Supervisor immediately
fire Corinne.
-
- Supervisor or FE warn Corinna
about future consequences.
Warning without consequences or action
could put company at stake for not
treating situation with more serious actions.
Chosen Action: Supervisor warn follow policy
to take pre-specified action associated with issue.
This could mean immediate removal of Corinne,
passing student on to different OT on site, or providing
warning of consequences if actions continue.