In a message dated 2/14/2004 8:19:29 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> I really don't think that there are a lot of practitioners who > practice > occupational therapy in a way our profession advertises itself. One of > AOTA's greatest slogans is that OT "Teaches skills for the job of living". > Personally, I have met very few OT's who address the job of living. By far, > most are addressing skills needed to move arms and then leaving it up to > clients to figure out how to put their lives back together. > > You know, I think that as a profession we need to get our ducks lined up. I > have been an OT since 1997 and I have never once felt that our professional > organization, academicians and clinicians were ever on the same page or > even > in the same book. > > I don't think my displeasure with OT is about being a good or bad > therapist. I have met OT's who were good at what they did but what they were > doing was NOT OT. A person can be good at something but it doesn't > necessarily mean that it is something that they should be good at. > > Ron > How many clinics, OT depts. in hospitals, etc. have you visited, Ron? You are *once again* making sweeping generalizations about the entire profession. While I'm sure there are OTs only working on upper extremities in any vicinity, I doubt the majority of OTs make it their sole mission. I manage a department, and every OT that works for me, as well as every OT I've ever interviewed for a job(over the last 17 years) has been able to articulate and/or demonstrate an approach that addresses the patient's needs and interests in ADL's, IADL's, and life roles. We have an apartment in our department that includes a kitchen, bath, bed and living room, and the folks in my department spend many hours with the patients working on activities that have nothing to do with upper extremity exercise. This is not to say they never address UE strengthening, just that it is secondary to the primary goals they have established with their patients. We have a community re-entry program, working with the patient on buying groceries, going out to lunch, etc. We have a driver assessment program, to address an occupation that is very relevant to any person with limited access to public transportation. We occasionally do home visits, to assess and assure that the patient will be able to function in their home environment safely and as independently as possible. We are not alone in these programs - there are other rehab. hospitals in the region who address the same issues we do, as do the therapists working in the local home care agencies. I'm not sure what you are hoping to accomplish by continually denigrating the rest of the people who happen to have chosen the same profession you have, but I can't envision anything constructive emerging from it. I'd much rather see OT's work together to build on our unique, holistic approach to our patients, and figure out how to make the reimbursement entities better recognize our vital role in the rehabilitation process. Ann _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, visit: http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com The OTnow Mail Archive: www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ===============================================
