Perspectives Summer/Fall 2016

COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES • 13 Occupational therapy stu- dents with fins up, front row, from left, are Giselle Alvarez, Scott Morris, Danielle Innis, Natalie Snow, Kim-Oanh Le, Sharon Razla, and Chase Lane. Second row, from left, are Danielle Beauchamp, Tammy Pham, Grace Avakian, and Adrienne Lauer, Ed.D., OTR/L. Third row, far right, are Annie Liu and Amy Rus. Fourth row, in the middle, are Ari Lewitt and Kris Winston, Ph.D., OTR/L. Fifth row, from left, are Kaylee Gardiner, Lauren Howe, and Jerrica Ballard. Back row, from left, are Jennifer Kang, Misagh Dorost, and Joshua Pace. there is a higher risk of diabetes in the Hispanic population; early screening helps facilitate identification of risk factors and the provision of education regarding prevention and early intervention. Miami-Dade County has recognized the CHCS and the diabetes screening program for their interprofessional commitment to community health. The college’s efforts have helped save several lives, as issues were identified that would have resulted in severe health problems, including potential death, in more than one instance. A variety of screening services are performed with appropriate consent. NSU students in each program performed screening consistent with their educational training and professional roles. Orientation for all programs occurred through a recorded presentation in order to learn about the roles and responsibilities of the other participating health science students. The physical therapy students completed screenings for height, weight, body mass index, percentiles for age, and waist-to-hip ratio. Occupational therapy students performed a lifestyle screening after the anthropometric assessment to help the high school students understand and identify their levels of risk and offer educational information on apps available for them to reference. Based on percentiles for age and sex, physician assistant students performed blood pressure, blood glucose, and pulse screenings. Both physical therapy and occupational therapy stu- dents conducted exit consultations, reviewing the findings with the MLEC students to ensure they knew if they were at risk for diabetes or other conditions. The screening forms were provided to the students directly to share with their parents, guardians, or caregivers. MLEC health academy nursing students checked students in and observed the NSU students during exit consultations under the supervision of MLEC faculty members Glenda Algaze, R.N., and Ramses Gonzalez. The health academy students also facilitated the overall screening. Over the years, an efficient and effective system of screenings has developed. The NSU student participants have learned that, although they assume specific roles in the screening activity, many practice areas overlap. Because it is rare for CHCS students to have the oppor- tunity to interact with adolescents on a large scale in any of the academic programs, this is truly a singular interprofessional opportunity. Dealing with issues of stress and body image is challeng- ing for teens. This year, with the occupational therapy department’s addition of an app card, the hope is that