Hi Ron and OTs from around the world, I think the problem simply comes down to referrers, OTs, other allied health professional etc getting used to just oversimplifying definitions of OT to what has been used in the past in a particular facility. E.g. For this Cancer Centre, yes the OT would have addressed ADLs as they can be objectively measured from an outsider. However, as we all know, OTs can do much more than that in the overall context and wider picture of 'occupation' and 'occupation-focussed practice'. No wonder issues of referring still exist.
I'm an Aussie OT and while doing a search, i came across these definition of OT and PT which are not bad. You start global and then get into specifics relating to a particular study area: "Occupational therapists assess and treat people who, because of illness, injury or circumstance, are limited in their ability to undertake the activities of everyday life. They assist people to regain lost functions, develop their abilities and social skills, maintain and promote independence in their everyday tasks, thereby enhancing the person's health and well-being." See http://jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/jobdetails.cfm?jobid=348 for the extended description of OT. And for PT: "Physiotherapists assess, treat and prevent disorders in human movement caused by injury and disease." See http://jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/jobdetails.cfm?jobid=350 for the extended description of OT. Kind regards, Robert Pereira BOccThy (Hons), AccOT, MOTA Occupational Therapist, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [OTlist] Comparative Descriptors of OT and PT Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 07:48:29 -0500 >While investigating information for a low-vision patient, I came across >something called the "Self Reported Screening For Occupational and >Physical Therapy Referrals" [SPOTR]. I download the form from: > >www.mdanderson.org/pdf/rehab_selfassess.pdf > >At the top of the form are the following descriptions of OT and PT: > > >A occupational therapist is a professional who can address issues of >activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, eating, hand >function, home management and safety. > >A physical therapist is a professional who can address issues such as >weakness, loss of balance or coordination, difficulty walking and >moving, sensory changes and pain. > > >These types of comparative descriptions leave me scratching my head >because they just don't make sense. For example, isn't "issues of >activities of of daily living" frequently caused by "weakness, loss of >balance or coordination"? Or isn't "home management and safety" >frequently affected by "difficulty walking and moving"? Why would an OT >address dressing bathing eating, etc without addressing weakness, loss >of balance, walking, etc? > >And, how does a consumer interpret these types of descriptors? How many >patients see loss of daily living skills as the problem versus weakness, >loss of balance, difficulty moving as their problems? > > >Ron > > >-- >Unsubscribe? > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Change options? > www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > >Archive? > www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > >Help? > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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