This document summarizes an occupational therapy internship completed by Margaret Stacy at Greenville Memorial Hospital. The internship involved shadowing occupational therapists in acute care, completing data entry and analysis projects, and attending meetings. Stacy also had opportunities to shadow at the hospital's rehabilitation facility and children's hospital wing. The internship provided valuable experience that confirmed Stacy's interest in becoming an occupational therapist working in an inpatient setting.

1. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNSHIP
PRISMA - GREENVILLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Margaret Stacy
HLTH 4200
Clemson University

2. HLTH 4200 –
CLEMSON
UNIVERSITY
I am a Health Science major at Clemson.
• Built into the major is a semester-long,
180-hour internship under the class
name HLTH 4200.
• Each student participates in a
preparation seminar for a semester
where they improve resumes and learn
interview and professional skills.
• Clemson helps connect students with
potential preceptors and then it is up
to the student to interview and secure
an internship.

3. INTERNSHIP SITE
My internship site was Greenville
Memorial Hospital with PRISMA
Health Upstate.

4. SITE DEPARTMENT
I interned with the manager of Acute
Inpatient Therapy, Dr. Rusty Campbell.
So, I shadowed occupational therapists
(OTs) and certified occupational therapy
assistants (COTAs) in acute care. I also
did special projects involving
organization and data collection and
input.
Mission: The acute inpatient therapy
program provides spinal cord, brain
injury, amputee, pediatric, stroke, and
orthopedic therapies. And, other
diagnostic groups may include any
physically debilitating condition or
neurologic impairment.

5. PROJECTS - ACUTE
I completed many special projects as an intern:
• I created spreadsheets to track productivity within
the acute inpatient therapy department.
• I created spreadsheets that calculated the values of
the services the therapists were providing.
• I handled input of data into those spreadsheets for
each pay period.
• I compiled survey results from therapists throughout
the hospital system on preferred documentation
templates and formats in the Epic program.

6. SPECIAL MEETINGS
I got to attend interesting meetings with Dr. Campbell, my
preceptor.
• Every morning, a representative from each department of the
hospital attended a meeting to report any safety incidents in the
past 24 hours and any anticipated incidents in the coming 24
hours. This was a fascinating time to see each part of the hospital
working together to find solutions.
• Dr. Campbell is on a task force to study and research solutions and
ideas for the increasing number of bariatric patients being
admitted to the hospital. I got to attend meetings about this with
him and hear how the hospital is and isn’t equipped to treat this

7. Here, I am demonstrating wearing
personal protective equipment (PPE).
Cleanliness and protection is very
important for the healthcare providers
and patients.
Here, you can see a Droplet Advisory.
This is a sign that would be posted on
the door to a patient’s room to let the
healthcare provider know that PPE
must be worn because the patient or
provider is at risk from contact with
droplets from the other.

8. Occupational therapists show
patients how to use adaptive
equipment to make their lives
easier and more safe.
In these pictures, am sitting on
a shower chair that is used to
aid patients who cannot stand
in the shower.
I am also demonstrating the use
of a long-handled sponge
which would mostly be used by
amputees and stroke patients
but could be given to any
patient who lacks mobility and
flexibility.
EQUIPMENT

9. EQUIPMENT
The first picture shows a Sara
Steady which allows caregivers
to assist in sit to stand transfers
as well as relocation. This one is
mostly used for bariatric
patients (patients 400lbs and
over).
The second picture shows a
high-backed wheelchair used
mostly for spinal cord injury
patients. The high back
provides stability for the
patient’s back. This chair can
also recline for necessary
pressure reliefs.

10. OTHER LOCATIONS:
ROGER C. PEACE REHABILITATION
HOSPITAL (RCP)
My preceptor also outsourced me to other
hospital wings and department that
needed help with special projects. This
meant I got to shadow in and experience
many different settings.
One setting that I spent a lot of time in
was RCP.
The entrance to RCP.

11. ROGER C. PEACE
REHABILITATION HOSPITAL
Mission: to provide these
inpatient CARF-accredited
programs: spinal cord,
brain injury, amputee and
stroke.
Often, I would observe a
patient’s evaluation in
acute care where they
would be prescribed
inpatient rehab and later
observe their treatment
once they were moved to
RCP.
A fun fact is that Roger C. Peace was my great-great uncle
and without even knowing this, my preceptor sent me to
RCP to shadow! Roger C. Peace’s portrait is at the entrance
to RCP, so I just had to take a picture with him!

12. PROJECTS - RCP
• I organized cognitive tests into easy-access binders
for the TBI unit.
• I created a filing system for the new-hire
competencies for the amputee unit.
• I copied, filed, and labeled CARF standards to have
ready for the department’s upcoming CARF
recertification.
• The neighboring subacute unit closed so I sorted
through equipment and papers to determine what
RCP could use.

13. OTHER LOCATIONS:
KIDNETICS AT THE
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Another amazing opportunity was
being sent to the Children’s Hospital
wing to shadow occupational
therapists. I want to work in
pediatrics, so it was very exciting for
me.
One day, I even got to shadow in the
NICU. It was incredible!

14. KIDNETICS AT THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Mission: Kidnetics provides therapeutic services for children
with varying diagnoses. The team is made up of
occupational therapists, physical therapists, and
speech/language pathologists and strongly believes in
family-centered care.

15. KIDNETICS AT THE
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
A resource utilized by therapists
all over the hospital but especially
in the Children’s Hospital is
service/ therapy dogs. Beowulf
and the other dogs are so sweet
and such a comfort to the
children and their families!

16. INTERNSHIP REFLECTION
I will forever be grateful for this internship. I am
more passionate than ever about becoming an
occupational therapist and know for sure that I
want to work in an inpatient setting and one day, in
the NICU.
Unfortunately, my experience was cut short by the
Covid19 pandemic. Regardless, this internship gave
me such valuable knowledge and experience that
changed my life!