DIANE FINLAYSON, DEPARTMENT CHAIR, YOGA THERAPY

MARYLAND UNIVERSITY OF INTEGRATIVE HEALTH

Yoga Therapy in Hospitals: Practicum/practice considerations for programs and practitioners

(There’s something for everyone here!)

We’ll work with Programs first

• MUIH Yoga Therapy PracticumoMUIH MS Yoga Therapy practicum takes place, primarily in our Natural Care

Center.

• Students may also take part in for Acute Care practicum experience.oNot required.

• Considerations for working in a health care environment with your students.oBackground checks

oVaccinations

oFlu shots

oIDs

Ewww…What’s that smell?

There are sick people in hospitals; it is not for everyone.

Integrating Practicum Experiences

• Why take students outside of the school?

o This will determine where you may wish to take them

o Define if your program is more structural in nature or more integrated in approach

o Do you want them in a physical rehab, acute care, oncology?

• What is available in your area. (Who are your bridge builders/friends?)

• Larger metro areas may have more options.

o Smaller metros, or rural areas, may have fewer, but more fertile, options

• With what institutions do you (or your students) already have partnership?

But I wear these clothes to teach in.

Going to the hospital requires professional clothing (include a consultation coat)

Finding a Hospital System

• First, identify any teaching hospitals in your area.

oTeaching hospitals already have a system for moving students through their patient population.

• Find the Clinical Nurse Educator or the Director of Education and Professional Development.

• Have a case prepared that will show benefit for the patient population.

oMany institutions are looking for ways to improve patient satisfaction.

oHoward County General Hospital has reported that when Yoga Therapy students are on the ward everything goes better.

• Be thoroughly prepared. Show up on time and do not run over the time you’ve been allotted.

You/your students need to be multicultural in approach

You need to speak “Yoga,” biomedical and have a host of cultural competencies to succeed.

But what if they say “No”?

• “No” simply means the person does not yet fully understand the benefit to their client base.

• Ask if they can specify, exactly, what is off in the model you have proposed.

• Ask for more information about how you can make it work within their system.

• Ask to return once more with the model re-defined.

• If the objections are such that the school may not be able to re-work the proposal consider approaching from another angle/through another department(i.e. employee health) or consider another type of institution.

Teaching Hospitals in University Systems

• If the hospital you have approached is in a University system try this:

oAsk for an introduction to someone in the benefits department and try an employee wellness program as part of practicum.

oAsk for an introduction to someone in the Occupational health department.

oOffer staff educational (lunch and learn) sessions to create rapport with those who could become your allies within the system.

Practicum Considerations for Hospitals

• You will need to have a supervisor on site with your student(s).

• They will need to have the same level of clearance (or higher) than the students.

• At HCGH, only the MUIH supervisor is allowed to enter information in the Electronic Health Record System so you will need to create a way to work with the student(s) to chart in a consistent manner to facilitate supervisor entry of notes.

Solo Practitioners in Institutions

• Some of the same tips apply

• Start with some free “Lunch & Learns” to build rapport with allies.

• Find out from allies what they need/want in the system.

• Consider approaching the Employee Benefits or Occupational Health department(s).

• Have your pitch prepared (See IAYT website for member resources)

• Be willing to hear what the administrator has to say and to work within what their system will bear.

Types of Institutions to Try

• Medical

oCommunity hospitals

oTeaching hospitals

oCommunity clinics

oSubstance use treatment centers

Institutions

• Colleges/Universities

oOccupational Health

oEmployee benefits/Wellness

oStudent health/clinic

oContinuing Education

Partnerships

• Some schools have greater access to institutions.

• Consider partnering with a larger school for an enhanced practicum experience for your students.

• Visit with other C-IAYT schools/providers in your area.

• Check IAYT Continuing Ed for other skill building practical opportunities that may enhance your student’s (or your own) experience.

The Yoga Therapy in Healthcare Team!

You now have some strategies for partnering. Let me know how it goes!