---------------------------------------------------------------------- What follow is a copy of my response to a message that was posted on an AOTA listserve about a marketing company claiming that PT's are experts in human function. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
WARNING! LONG RANT WITH LOTS OF PERSONAL OPINION FOLLOWS - PROCEED WITH CAUTION.... In my opinion, PT's are much more expert at human function (what ever that means) than OT's ever will be. Generally, PT's are better trained in human function than OT's because PT's receive training in more modalities and body areas than the vast majority of OTs. Some will say that PT's aren't trained in phsych-soc, but from my teaching experience that is no longer true! I think it's time for OT to realize our place compared to PT! PT' have clout, they have recognition and most importantly, they have ACCESS!!!! They have clout because they have tons of research supporting what they do! They have recognition because they have a bunch of PT's running around tooting their horns! They have access to home health (often times when OT doesn't), they have access to CORF's (where OT is NOT a required therapy) and I believe that they will soon have direct access to Medicare patients! In the field of medicine/rehab, PT's rule the roost! How did it get this way? What were AOTA, State organizations and individual practitioners doing during this past 100 years to let this happen? I don't know! Does it need to be this way? Nope! What can we do? I say that we focus on our expertise! What is that, you say? Our expertise is occupation! If you don't believe me, look at what AOTA say's in the new Framework! quote> Occupational therapists� and occupational therapy assistants� quote> expertise lies in their knowledge of occupation and how engaging quote> in occupations can be used to affect human performance and the quote> effects of disease and disability. But, almost no where else in the world, does anyone recognize the term occupation as it relates to the significance of doing daily human activity. We are experts in something that on the surface, doesn't seem to mean a whole lot to a whole lot of people. So, what do we do! I often feel that OT is stuck between a rock and hard place.... in my mind there is NO perfect solution. However, it does seem that right now, the OT profession is spinning lots of mud and getting nowhere fast! I am staunch believer in OT, but I am also a realist! I have a company called HOPE Therapy. HOPE = Health, Occupational Performance and Empowerment. I have the words "OT" and an OT logo emblazoned on my shirt sleeve and on my chest. Everyday, I go to see clients, I face the same battle. "So you're a PT". I use the COPM as frequently as I can; I talk about occupation and I try to practice occupation. I don't have equipment, I don't use cones, putty, thera-band, etc. But everyday, it's the same battle - trying to practice occupation in a non-occupational world! I just doesn't seem to fit!!! At least it doesn't seem to fit in the medical, third-party payment system! Well, this is the end to a long rant from the middle of nowhere! Ron C. ===============<Original Message>=============== On 3/7/2005, admin-sis Listmanager <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: asL> "[PT's] know they are the experts in human function". -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED]
