----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2001 9:38
PM
Subject: why is no one writing?
I wonder if maybe people aren't writing because
the topics tend to be very deep, and may not be a reflection of what
practitioners want to discuss. For example, when I joined, what I hoped
I would find, and what I unfortunately haven't found, is an exchange of
treatment ideas for a variety of disabilities/conditions our patients have,
and ways to improve our technical skills. As I'm saying this, however, I
do have to ask the group a "deeper" question. So, I'd like to start
dialogues in 2 different directions. The first is something I really
need, asap, as I've got a student coming soon and a form to fill out.
The second dialogue, however, is of far more interest to me. Here
goes:
1. I've got a Level 1 student coming
sooooon, and the school wants to know what Frames of Reference I am
using. Now, I really hesitate to ask this question of you all, as I
really, really do no want to get into philosophical discussions. I'm
leaving these issues to the theorists. I presume Ron is rolling is eyes
right now - I'm really not picking on you Ron - but I don't want to get into a
discussion about this - I just need some fast, quick help. I work in
home health with a variety of paitents with a variety of conditions. Can
anyone tell me what Frames of Reference they use in this type of
setting?
2. How about we talk about an area that is
one of my favorite directions for OT to go into - pulmonary rehab. For
the longest time, I really didn't have a good handle on how to treat these
patients, beyond energy conservation. But a couple of years ago, I found
this fabulous website (see attachment above) and which has specific treatment
ideas for various conditions - one of the best OT websites around, I
believe. I used this site as a springboard for doing further reading and
research into this condition, and it has totally changed the way I work with
patients, and has really made me a much more effective practitioner.
Now, whenever I work with a patient with a pulmonary (and often cardiac)
diagnosis, I give them an information packet, rich with information, and
especially teach them to really listen to what their bodies are telling them
(by way of symptoms) and to act accordingly. For example, if they are
cognitively intact, we discuss SOB - what makes them SOB, what makes it worse,
better, etc, so they can really start thinking about it. Very often,
they have been SOB for so long, they don't think about it, and only notice it
when it is really bad. However, they can make real changes in their
lives if they recognize the early stages of SOB, and learn to "nip it in
the bud" right away before it gets worse, by performing proper breathing
techniques. We then discuss the Levels of SOB (I've whittled the levels
down to 3 is it is much more user friendly for the elderly) and teach how to
apply them. We actually practice many different ADLs and leisure
activities, teaching the patient self-monitoring skills, until they can
control their breathing, without my intervening. I can't tell you what a
powerful difference this has made in patients lives, and it was all through
this website, jumpstarting ideas and getting me excited about
possibilities.
This is what I hope this forum will produce - a
real dialogue ideas. What do you all think? In exchange for
sharing this wonderful website with you, please, please, please, help me with
#1 - Frames of Reference - please, please, please!!!
Donna
