Thanks for the rant Ron. It is a great way to get some ideas rolling on defining who we are and what we do. It used to be harder, but I think that the new models have made it easier to describe what we do. Two visuals of the OT model that I like are: 1) The Canadian Model of Occupational Performance 2) The Occupational Performance Process Model They are a great way to show people visually the holistic way OTs approach healing and health. When I get a job (please may it be soon) I plan on having both of those models framed in my office.
Also I am a great believer in stories that describe what an OT does. I was living in Ireland for six years recently and the best publicity for OT that I saw there was a TV story about an OT and her disabled brother. He had been brain damaged in a car accident and could no longer live alone independently. He owned a house but was in danger of losing it just because he could not maintain it or remain there on his own. His OT sister, recognised that the house was an important asset, but also an important part of his environment and identity. She developed this house into a group home for about five men including her brother, all of whom had head injuries. She had worked out the economics and was able to sell the government on the fact that it was cheaper to have these men live in this community house and was healthier and more acceptable to the men themselves than institutional care which was the alternative. She was able to get the support staff and services to set the house up on a long term basis. This "story/case history" was the best publicity for OT that I have seen for a long time. There is also that inspiring story by Mary Feldhaus-Weber, an excerpt of which is chapter four of the 10th edition of Willard and Spackman We all have these stories from our practice history which make what we do understandable to people outside the profession. But we probably need people from the public relations and media fields to turn them into pieces which can be shown on TV or published in newspapers or magazines. This is turning into one of my, "If I ruled the world" pieces so I should quit before I get too carried away. Aine Suttle, Toronto on 3/7/05 11:20 PM, Ron Carson at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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]
