Future Frontline

from The OT Magazine – Nov / Dec 2022

What’s New

FUTURE

FRONTLINE

Discover more about the multidisciplinary learnings offered through this not-forprofit community interest company that is bringing allied health professionals together

Future Frontline was founded in August 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, by two medical students Natasha Binnie and Nikki Kerdegari. Future Frontline is a not-for-profit community interest company supported by the Healthcare Leadership Academy with the aim of inspiring and supporting today’s and tomorrow’s NHS workers. After only two years, Future Frontline has over 7,000 followers across a variety of social media platforms including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and its work supports thousands of students and professionals. Presently, Future Frontline is composed of 35 healthcare students and professionals across the United Kingdom; consisting of students from nineteen universities as well as professionals from over six different NHS Trusts. The professions represented include occupational therapy, nursing, medicine, dental hygiene and therapy, physician associates, podiatry, nursing, paramedicine, dietetics and speech and language therapy. The organisation looks forward to representing more professions in the future. Future Frontline aims to raise awareness of the multitude of healthcare roles within the NHS, widen the participation of people in healthcare degrees and professions, support current healthcare students and qualified professionals, and provide career advice for those in or pursuing healthcare roles. To achieve these aims, Future Frontline runs a variety of free initiatives including multidisciplinary casebased webinars, work experience webinars, interprofessional webinars to support students and professionals, and publishes informative social media content and website articles.

On 25 September, Future Frontline hosted our latest virtual multidisciplinary webinar on Motor Neurone Disease (MND). MND is an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves, causing weakness, slurred speech, swallowing difficulties, weakened grip and muscle cramps and twitches, as well as weight loss and behavioural changes. MND primarily affects individuals in their 60s and

Future Frontline runs a variety of free initiatives including multidisciplinary casebased webinars, work experience webinars, interprofessional webinars

70s, but may impact adults of any age, according to the National Health Service (2021). The multidisciplinary event was attended by over 50 participants. In this webinar, the Future Frontline team, in partnership with guest speakers, highlighted the lived experiences of those with MND. In addition, through presentations by a number of healthcare students and professionals, this webinar identified how interprofessional teamwork can support patients with MND and their caregivers to manage the condition to ensure quality of life is maintained throughout its progression. Seven different teams provided insight into their role in supporting people with MND, including: dieticians, doctors, dental workers, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech and language therapists. Through their involvement in this webinar, the Future Frontline occupational therapy professionals and students emphasised the important role of occupational therapy in the care of individuals with MND. The presentation emphasised the value of occupational therapists in the maintenance of enjoyable social and leisure activities, home environment modification, fatigue and posture management, specialist seating, the provision of adaptive equipment, as well as psychological support strategies. One of the most unique roles of occupational therapists in MND care is fatigue management and energy conservation techniques. People with MND typically experience an increased level of fatigue which may result in reduced quality of life. This fatigue is not often cured by rest and this can cause decreased functional ability, diminished motivation and psychological symptoms as well. One participant commented: “[it is] fantastic to see the variety of areas [in which occupational therapists work] as I did not know that OTs [held such diverse roles]… [acquiring] general knowledge on how they function as a profession and what they bring to the wider healthcare team was really useful”. The webinar also increased average confidence ratings by two points on a five-point Likert scale.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY SUPPORT

Similarly, multidisciplinary health professionals also presented their role in the care of patients with MND. Through multidisciplinary teams, occupational therapists work collaboratively to support patients with MND in coping with their condition. This is true for most clinical conditions experienced by patients and individuals. Through multidisciplinary workshops, Future Frontline helps healthcare students and professionals identify how they can work together to better support patients with a variety of lived experiences and medical conditions. Attendees are provided with handson experiences to learn that multidisciplinary teams enable practitioners and other health and social care professionals to collaborate successfully in order to support and advocate for patient health and wellbeing. This webinar and other multidisciplinary webinars hosted by Future Frontline are also incredible learning opportunities for the speakers and team members involved. For students, these webinars are an opportunity to learn about the power and contribution of occupational therapy to multidisciplinary discussions and allow students to gain confidence engaging in diverse environments. For professionals at the beginning of their occupational therapy career, these webinars provide opportunities to learn about occupational therapy in diverse settings and provide a mentorship opportunity as well. Future Frontline is always searching for new occupational therapists to share their experiences in such multidisciplinary webinars and urge anyone who may be interested in dispensing their knowledge to reach out today. This article was authored by Future Frontline OT Officers Melissa Chieza and Shir Grunebaum, and CEOs of Future Frontline Natasha Binnie and Nikki Kerdegari. Find out more at: