Joe, I'm curious what setting(s) you envision the entry level doctorate OT to best fill. Many of your arguments in support of this and direct access seem to be directed toward a private practice setting. In medical settings, including acute care, rehab. hospitals and nursing homes, as well as school settings, I doubt you could find many or any patients who would be able to identify for you who in the dept. had a bachelor's vs. a masters, and in some settings, who was a COTA and who was an OTR. I know as a former manager of an OT dept., the degree that an applicant had was no guarantee of the subsequent skill displayed once hired - I have hired both masters prepared and bachelors prepared, and the degree did not determine the quality of the employee. I also had no ability to pay a higher salary to the more advanced degrees, and in this age of pressure to reduce health care costs, the ability to pay more for an even more advanced degree is highly unlikely. I too believe in EBP, but am not convinced that spending more time learning about it in college results in its regular practice or promotion in the clinic. An environment needs to exist that allows the resources, time and support for research. Unfortunately, in this age of productivity standards and diminishing resources and reimbursement, that environment is difficult to come by. Ann
In a message dated 7/6/2005 3:36:12 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > 4. Though arguable, educational preparation (usually evidenced by formal > degrees) plays an important part in public perception and confidence. When > you need counselling, you usually choose a Psy.D. over a LSW and when your > back really hurts, you go to the DC (or, better still the Orthopod) versus > the massage therapist, mostly without knowledge of the individual provider's > > skills. > -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED]
