I agree with you. See previous response related to the concept of function. The Health Science Center in nearby LaCrosse, Wisconsin has OT, OTA, PT, and PTA students learning adjacent to and, sometimes, with, each other. It is a powerful set up in creating increased understanding and cooperation. I was lucky to have worked as a nursing assistant in a variety of settings as well as completed two years of a four year nursing program before going into OT. Walking in the shoes of other health care providers has helped me understand their rhythm, perspective, and priorities. It also helps me explain my own.
Deb Becker-Galewski, OTR-Disabled -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lehman, David Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 9:32 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [OTlist] Long Rant about OT Hello my friendly OTs. Did you think I could sit through this long ranting session and be quiet? :) I actually interpret this whole discussion as being a problem with two things: 1. Ignorance 2. A disconnect between the academic world and the clinical world PT has the same problem! David A. Lehman, PhD, PT Associate Professor Tennessee State University Department of Physical Therapy 3500 John A. Merritt Blvd. Nashville, TN 37209 615-963-5946 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jimmie Arceneaux Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 8:05 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [OTlist] Long Rant about OT Hey Ron, An equally long and possibly offensive rant: I hate the term function! What exactly does that denote? You see a multitude of people now harping on such terms as "functional ambulation", "functional memory", functional mobility". functional range of motion, etc. It is silly. If there is such a thing as functional ambulation, would someone care to take a stab at defining non-functional ambulation? I would not say that PTs are better trained at function because I don't believe anyone can define function in a way that it would make any sense. It is impossible to be an expert in something that doesn't truly exist. I would also disagree that PTs are trained in more "body areas" than OTs. The multitude of PTs I se practicing (Don't get me wrong. I'm not putting down PTs. There are many PTs out there that I respect and feel do a fine job) perform the same tired exercises with each patient then walk with them. I must add that I see a lot of OTs doing similar "shake and bake" treatments. In terms of modalities, there are many PTs that are performing treatments in a way that does not reflect the proper usage of the modality. I will agree that PT does hold all the cards in the rehab community. They are what people immediately think of when one mentions rehabilitation services. Is that reflective of their marketing strategy or is it due, at least in our part, to lingering confusion over the term occupation. The way OTs define occupation and the way the community at large (including physicians, nurses, the average Joe on the street) defines the same term are two completely different things. In fact when the Medicare outpatient OT regulations were first written, they just copied the PT regulations and added OT. It doesn't help that there are frequently OTs practicing in the field that encourage the "myths" (i.e. OTs do the UEs, OTs deal with fine motor, OT is about function) of OT. If you are a nurse working in a hospital SNF, and your experience with OT on a daily basis is that the OT shows up to do UE exercises and helps you get the patients dressed and bathed every morning, what do you think that persons impression of what OT does will be. It will be most difficult to put a public spin on OT that will produce a definition that will be so digestible to lend itself to no further confusion. I would assume that we will continue to need to explain who we are and what we do, however I believe that it would be a really good thing if we could first get a true consensus from OTs who we are and what we do. It does only limited good to develop a practice framework if the common practicing OT continues to practice in a way that lends itself to the above mentioned myths. Jimmie -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Ron Carson Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 10:20 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [OTlist] Long Rant about OT ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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? 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