Ron, I have to disagree with your statements about OT education. I suppose some schools may limit their OT education to UE matters; however my basic classes (anatomy, orthopedics, physiology, neuroanatomy, pathology, etc) were with the PTs. When we did have OT only classes it was also not limited to the UE (i.e. several days of drudgery building lower extremity orthotics and countless nights of studying to understand the whole body movement patterns of children with different forms of CP.) It seems to me that if your statements about your previous place of work are true, they are performing a disservice to their students and the profession of occupational therapy.
I believe the root of the OT profession is in the way we treat as you called it "physical dysfunction." It is in the use of goal directed activity that OT has its roots. JImmie -----Original Message----- From: Ron Carson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 7:50 PM To: Joe Wells Subject: Re: [OTlist] what is OT? Hello Joe: I imagine that the number of PT's billing under self-care and community re-entry is very small. But maybe you are correct. Everything done to occupy ourselves is not occupation. Much of what we do during our days/nights is not significant or personally meaningful. I whole-heartedly disagree that OT's are equally trained to handle physical dysfunction. I how for a fact, that PT students at the University that I previously taught at received much more advanced training in physical dysfunction. I may be wrong, but I bet that the OT and PT students on this list will confirm my statement. Also, OT's at my previous place of employment are primarily trained in the upper extremity, not the pelvis, spine or lower extremity. So, in my experience, OT's are less trained in physical dysfunction than PT's and especially in LE's. Which lends further stamina to my disagreeing with Estelle B. about OT's treating the whole body. Ron As for mock cases I can pretty much tell you how I will treat. 1. Use the OPPM (occupational perfomance process model) to guide intervention, outcomes and treatment 2. Use the COPM as my outcome measure. 3. Accordingly, if the client doesn't have occupational issues, send them to someone else. Ron ============================================= On 8/7/2003,[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: JW> I believe that the use of the word 'function' in the realms of PT is JW> strictly related to physical/ physiological functioning. PTs use CPT JW> codes 97535, 97537 for their clients as well, as they do address JW> self care needs or community/ work integration needs with activities JW> such as, donning/ doffing a BK prosthesis, or wheelchair mobility at JW> work/ mall, etc.. JW> However, the very word "occupational" added to therapy, should JW> enable us and the public to view it as interventions to facilitate JW> any and all activities/ functions done to "occupate" one-self JW> appropriately in selfcare, work, play or leisure.....this includes JW> not only physical functioning, but mental and emotional functioning JW> as well, to live life wholly. I do not believe that OTs are any less JW> trained to handle the physical dysfunctions than any other JW> professionals. OTs are equipped with the skills and, must look JW> further than the physical aspects of dysfunctions that lead to JW> occupational limitations/ deprivation. By sheer census, most OTs JW> today work with physical dysfunctions versus psychiatry or JW> developmental disorders. To address the "occupational dysfunctions" JW> due to physical causes, one has to address those as well. JW> I am with Jimmie and Lori and agree that modalities/ tools of any JW> kind- exercise, PAMS, splinting, AE should be encompassed to JW> facilitate the client to function in an "occcupationally JW> independent" and safe environment. Modalities/ tools are just JW> that...they cannot be the sole treatment by themselves. JW> Ron et al: maybe we can discuss mock cases and then put forward our JW> arguments as why or why not OT is needed and how to diffferentiate JW> between an OT and an UE PT? ( How come LE OTs do not exist?) JW> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jimmie Arcenaux" JW> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: JW> Thursday, August 07, 2003 1:56 PM Subject: RE: [OTlist] what is OT? >> Lori, I too use modalities infrequently (approximately less than 10% >> of my patients), but feel the use of modalities can be incorporated >> into OT practice. In fact, at my work site I am in the process of >> training our PT staff to properly utilize therapeutic modalities. We >> have had a JW> reoccurring >> problem with patient's requesting early d/c from therapy secondary to pain >> complaints. Under further review I noted that the PTs and OTs were not >> addressing the pain prior to attempting tasks which would undoubtedly >> increase the severity of pain complaints. I am addressing this with pain >> management instruction which includes the use of modalities, relaxation >> training, energy conservation, work simplification, joint protection, >> posture, and body mechanics. >> Jimmie >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 11:21 AM >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Subject: Re: [OTlist] what is OT? >> Dear Jimmie- I told you this was an issue in the past. Now, you see >> what I mean. I JW> say >> we are trained in school and licensed in our states to do it, then it is JW> OT. >> AOTA approves, NBCOT approves, states approve(of course some require >> additional training). So, it is OT!!!! >> Lori >> In a message dated 8/7/2003 8:07:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time, >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: >> > I really struggle with OT's using thermoelectric modalities. >> > Please understand that I have used e-stim, tens, hot/cold, etc as >> part > of my treatment plans. And as you say, all of these were >> intended to > improve function. Of course, the PT's doing similar > >> treatments also > said that they were trying to improve function. >> *****************************��********************************** >> To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, send a message to: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> In the message's *body*, put the following text: >> unsubscribe OTlist >> - >> List messages are archived at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> *****************************��*********************************** >> *****************************��********************************** >> To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, send a message to: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> In the message's *body*, put the following text: >> unsubscribe OTlist >> - >> List messages are archived at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> *****************************��*********************************** JW> *****************************��********************************** JW> To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, send a message to: JW> [EMAIL PROTECTED] JW> In the message's *body*, put the following text: JW> unsubscribe OTlist JW> - JW> List messages are archived at: JW> http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] JW> *****************************��*********************************** *****************************��********************************** To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist - List messages are archived at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] *****************************��*********************************** *****************************��********************************** To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist - List messages are archived at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] *****************************��***********************************
