In my opinion, of ALL the things that OT should NOT do, going to entry-level doctorate is it! We are so far behind the power curve in having an established presence that is unified, authentic and accurate that the vast amounts of money needed to develop and implement mandatory doctoral degrees will only set us back further.
However, looking at the number of required credit hours for various professions is a bit sobering. I also disagree that OT or PT should be granted Medicare direct access. My opinion, is that a patient needs a gate-keeper that manages their care, and that should be the MD. Granted, most MD's don't do a great job of managing care but effort should be made to change the existing flaws rather than adding another layer of providers. Having Medicare direct access will substantially help PT's business but it wont' do much, if anything for OT. Of course, if PT gets it, we better hope that OT get's it as well! Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Joe Wells <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] Forum of Clinical Occupational Therapists- www.f-cot.org JW> Hi Jimmie: JW> I do strongly believe that OT should go entry level doctorate and be JW> directly accessible. My justifications are- JW> In favor of doctorate- JW> 1. Advances in Occupational Science and healthcare in general necessitates JW> it JW> 2. New graduates are required to be more independent and with more JW> "supervisory" skills JW> 3. The OT masters program already has more credit hours than most regular MS JW> programs. It takes 5-6 years to become a DC or Pharm.D., 5-7 to become a DPT JW> or Au.D, and 5-6 years to be a MOT. JW> 4. Though arguable, educational preparation (usually evidenced by formal JW> degrees) plays an important part in public perception and confidence. When JW> you need counselling, you usually choose a Psy.D. over a LSW and when your JW> back really hurts, you go to the DC (or, better still the Orthopod) versus JW> the massage therapist, mostly without knowledge of the individual provider's JW> skills. JW> 5. Clinical doctorate will generate clinicians with better EBP skills, a JW> must for collaborative health care decision making today more than ever. OTs JW> must embrace the evidence based practice movement, otherwise we will soon be JW> recognized as practicing vodoo or placebo therapy. JW> For direct access JW> 1. I believe this will empower clients to choose OT versus having a JW> gatekeeper ( most often one who does not fully understand the scope of OT or JW> else an understanding that PT can do it all) JW> 2. I believe a professional is one that can make 'independent' decisions JW> and is accountable for his/ her actions. If ours is an "autonomous" JW> profession, why is our start and stop button in others' hands? JW> 3. If we are the expert in identifying and addressing functional/ JW> occupational dysfunctions, deprivations or maladaptations, should n't we be JW> able to do so independently? Don't we all do it anyway except for the JW> certification/ co-signature needs primarily for the payor source? JW> 4. OTs already 'diagnose' the condition they are treating. The diagnosis for JW> pathology is not usually within the scope of OT ( and neither are we JW> treating the pathology directly) and when required must be referred to a JW> physician for the same. In fact,the OT diagnosis process and terminology JW> complement the WHO's ICF, mode for diagnosing clients based upon body JW> functions (physiological), body structures (anatomical), activity and JW> participation.(WHO, 2002). JW> " Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants have knowledge JW> of these body functions and understand broadly the interaction that occurs JW> between these structures and engagement in occupation to support JW> participation. Some therapists may specialize in evaluating and intervening JW> with a specific structure........" (American Occupational Therapy JW> Association (2002). Occupational therapy practice framework. Domain and JW> process. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56, p.626) JW> 5. There are very few side-effects/ contra-indications for OT that would JW> concern direct access. JW> 6. Most countries already have direct access for OT. Aren't we in the land JW> where OT was founded, slightly behind the curve? JW> Dr. Breines, Charles and others: JW> I do agree that unless insurance companies pay for our services, direct JW> access holds no meaning. Kinesiotherapy and Massage therapy has direct JW> access nationwide but certainly it hold no meaning. That is the reason why JW> although we have direct access in 35+ states, we do not have true access in JW> terms of patients, as insurance agencies do not recognize this status. JW> Currently, I practice in Ohio and my practice averages around 5 referrals a JW> month under direct access (Ohio Rehab Services Commission and private JW> payors). JW> P.S.: Please note that, I do not believe that we should go for the JW> doctoral or direct access just due to competition issues. I do feel that we JW> should have taken this step irrespective of what PT is doing because this I JW> believe is a societal demand. I believe our approach should not be of "if JW> PT gets this then we should, too" but rather because we deserve it. JW> Sorry for the long mail. Just feel there is so much to say on this topic. JW> Joe JW> ----- Original Message ----- JW> From: "Jimmie Arceneaux" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> JW> To: <[email protected]> JW> Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 9:13 AM JW> Subject: RE: [OTlist] Forum of Clinical Occupational Therapists- JW> www.f-cot.org JW> Thank you for the link Joe. I checked it out and it seems from my read that JW> you are clearly pro movement toward both entry level doctorate and direct JW> access. Do you think that direct access will fly with OTs current status as JW> a consumer product? What can change that? JW> Jimmie JW> -----Original Message----- JW> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] JW> Behalf Of Joe Wells JW> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2005 8:40 PM JW> To: [email protected] JW> Subject: [OTlist] Forum of Clinical Occupational Therapists- JW> www.f-cot.org JW> Ron et al: JW> No I wasn't retired from the list completely. Just as most of us, was in my JW> corner with my own frustrations. I guess forums like this and one that I JW> just co-founded with a few others,most of whom are in private practice still JW> serve the purpose to allow a place to exchange ideas or simply vent at JW> times. I am hoping that OTs will participate more in discussing what there JW> future seems like now and what it could be. While we all may not agree, JW> however, it would still be representative of the perspectives out there. JW> I am sure, we are all following the trends relating to medicare direct JW> access and move to endorse doctoral entry by the American Physical Therapy JW> Association. This move has created quite an uproar and confusion in the OT JW> community. Ofcourse, the way I see it, it will effect us. The current status JW> is- JW> 1. Status-quo on what actually should be the right entry for OTs (while more JW> than 50% of PT schools are already giving-out entry-level doctorates and by JW> 2013, 85% are estimated to move to a doctoral entry). According to a couple JW> of attendees at this year's AOTA national conference, schools that already JW> offer entry level OT doctorates were even hinted at possible forced revertal JW> to MOT. In my opinion, this is certainly a step backwards and the 5 schools JW> with entry-level OTDs were obviously not happy. JW> 2. AOTA and APTA do not seem to agree over direct access and doctoral-entry JW> issues. AOTA does not support APTA's views. JW> Keeping this in view, the Forum for Clinical Occupational Therapists (F-COT) JW> was formed. As in the name, this forum hopes to serve the interests of the JW> OTs in medical settings. This forum seeks to- JW> 1. Facilitate discussion amongst therapists at all levels, especially at the JW> grass-root,on vital issues facing the profession. JW> 2.Be able to represent the true views of the "field" therapists to bodies JW> such as AOTA and WFOT. JW> 3. Be what the "members" want it to be! JW> Please visit the site www.f-cot.org and REGISTER YOURSELF AS A MEMBER TODAY. JW> Membership is free. Pass it on to any OTs/ OTAs that you know. PLEASE GET JW> INVOLVED! JW> The website again is www.f-cot.org JW> Joe Wells JW> -- JW> Unsubscribe? JW> [EMAIL PROTECTED] JW> Change options? JW> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com JW> Archive? JW> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] JW> Help? JW> [EMAIL PROTECTED] JW> *** NOTICE--The attached communication contains privileged and confidential JW> information. If you are not the intended recipient, DO NOT read, copy, or JW> disseminate this communication. Non-intended recipients are hereby placed JW> on notice that any unauthorized disclosure, duplication, distribution, or JW> taking of any action in reliance on the contents of these materials is JW> expressly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, JW> please delete this information in its entirety and contact the Amedisys JW> Privacy Hotline at 1-866-518-6684. Also, please immediately notify the JW> sender via e-mail that you have received this communication in error. *** JW> -- JW> Unsubscribe? JW> [EMAIL PROTECTED] JW> Change options? JW> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com JW> Archive? JW> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] JW> Help? JW> [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Unsubscribe? 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