Hello Chuck, thanks for writing. There are so many things in your message that it's difficult to respond to them all. So, I guess that I will just pick a couple topics.
For one, I don't blame AOTA for everything wrong with our profession. I don't really blame them for anything, I just don't agree with some of what does and doesn't go one. Obviously, I know NOTHING about the inner workings of AOTA, all I know is what I read, either as official documentation or through non-official channels. I base my opinion of AOTA on these sources. I have no doubt that AOTA is full of hard working people, and I am not knocking anyone for doing their job. But, I do have a difference of opinion about some things and I certainly feel that voicing that opinion is appropriate. Your below message reiterates that OT is ideally suited to meet the needs of people of all ages, however, I again take great exception to this statement. Many factors stand in the way of OT being able to meet peoples needs. Off the top of my head, here are a couple: 1. Lack of unity within our profession 2. Lack of name recognition among payers and referral sources 3. Lack of consistency in service delivery 4. Lack of consistency between philosophical base and service delivery environment Chuck, I don't think that AOTA is to blame for these problems. I do think, however, that when AOTA leaders continually focus on the positive aspects of our profession to the exclusion of the negative, then they are painting a false picture and doing a disservice to our profession. For example, a while back, APTA was pushing hard to gain Medicare direct access. In the process, AOTA took a stand basically saying that if PT gets direct access, then so should OT and SLP. APTA took this as AOTA was not supporting them. The APTA president really came down hard on AOTA saying that they were reevaluating their relationship with AOTA. Now, AOTA was great about disseminating information about what how they had gone to bat for our profession but they never once publicly mentioned the dissension between APTA and AOTA. I think this is wrong and that AOTA should have let us know the entire story, but they didn't. PT's knew about it because it was on their web page. Thus, PT's in the work force knew. I'm sure there were many OT's who were caught off guard by the situation, whereas had AOTA told us about it and posted some information, then OT's could have probably taken a more informed stand. Thanks, Ron ========================================== Monday, April 17, 2006, 11:13:56 AM, you wrote: > Ron, > I hope that you will reconsider renewing your membership in AOTA and your > state association. > For $80/year, I think the Florida Occupational Therapy Association does quite > a bit for your dues. > http://www.flota.org/member.html > As you probably know, your dues go to support a lobbyist and an > association management company in Tallahassee. > This year FOTA created a political action committee to strengthen its > influence. > http://www.flota.org/FOCUS/FOCUS%20March-April%202006.pdf > Three years ago AOTA worked with FOTA to defeat a proposal that > would have tripled licensure fees. > Certainly AOTA and the profession faces many challanges. I think > it's easy to blame AOTA for everything that isn't going right in the > profession. But is AOTA a building in Bethesda, Maryland or is AOTA > its individual members? There are 115,000 occupational therapists > and occupational therapy assistants in the US. AOTA has about > 35,000 members (including students). The more members we have, the > more that we can do to move the profession forward. > I terms of your quote from a leader in the profession, I think you > are refering to the AJOT article From the Desk of the Executive > Director: Charting a Path for the Future which was published in AJOT > March/April 2005 Volume 59 / Number 2. I will paste more from that > article to provide readers with some additional context. > http://www.aota.org/ajot/getpdf.asp?doc=5921.pdf In viewing the > prospects that lie ahead for occupational therapy, I am optimistic > and enthused about the opportunities the future holds. There is no > question that we face a difficult environment. Changes in the > organization and delivery of health care services and reforms in > reimbursement systems driven by federal and state budget pressures > have profoundly affected occupational therapy practice. All health > care professionals are increasingly being required to demonstrate > the effectiveness and appropriateness of their services. Resource > constraints have fostered challenges to the traditional domains of > many professions. Nonetheless, as a profession that offers unique > services that are ideally suited to meet the health, participation, > and quality of life needs of people of all ages, occupational > therapy is well-positioned to succeed and flourish in the 21st > century. The philosophy and conceptual models of occupational > therapy and the needs of society are intersecting to create great > opportunities for the future. The full realization of occupational > therapy's potential however will depend on vision, strategy, and > unity of effort within the professional community. > AOTA's Representative Assembly will consider a Proposed Centennial > Vision Statement at its 2006 meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. > Detailed background information is available on AOTA's website > including information about how the proposed statement came about. > I will paste an excerpt below. Elements to a shared vision were > identified, as were barriers. Strategic directions emerged from additional > discussions. > http://www.aota.org/members/area6/2006-ra/ce_VP2.pdf > http://www.aota.org/members/area6/2006-ra/ce_centennial.pdf > Here is the proposed statement: > "We envision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely > recognized, science-driven, and evidence-based > profession with a globally connected and diverse workforce meeting society's > occupational needs." > Here is the excerpt: > "During this process the participants considered member and > nonmember feedback, and generated shared vision > elements, identified important underlying barriers, and defined > four strategic directions to support the proposed > shared centennial vision. > The eight elements viewed as relevant to a shared vision included: > 1. Expanded collaboration for success > 2. Power to influence > 3. Membership equals professional responsibility > 4. Well-prepared, diverse workforce > 5. Clear, compelling public image > 6. Customers who demand occupational therapy > 7. Evidence-based decision making > 8. Science-fostered innovation in occupational therapy practice > Six barriers were identified: > 1. Rigid adherence to the status quo > 2. Misalignment between the current OT priorities and the external environment > 3. Limited appeal of AOTA membership > 4. Inconsistent competencies for education and practice > 5. Overemphasis on a "helping culture" in the OT workforce > 6. Unclear professional language and terminology > Four strategic directions emerged after a careful analysis of barriers and > opportunities: > 1. Building the capacity to fulfill the profession's potential and mission. > This includes: > * Ensuring an adequate and diverse workforce for multiple roles > * Preparing OTs and OTAs for the 21st Century. > * Increasing research capacity and productivity > * Strengthening our capacity to influence and lead > 2. Demonstrating and articulating our value to individuals, organizations, and > communities. > This includes: > * Meeting societal needs for health and well-being > * People understanding who we are and what we do > 3. Building an inclusive community of members > 4. Linking education, research, and practice > Chuck Willmarth > Director, State Affairs > AOTA >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 4/16/2006 4:08 PM >>> > For one, I have not considered my State association membership to be > worth the money. Even though I recently joined, I am not sure that I > will renew. > Regarding AOTA, I am not pleased with the way our leaders present our > profession. I sometimes feel that some AOTA leaders have a PollyAnna > perspective. > For example, a while back one of our leaders stated: > "In the United States, occupational therapy is ideally suited to > meet the health needs of people of all ages." > Personally, I think the above quote is far off-base and should read > something like: > "In the United States, OT is missing the mark on being able to > best meet the needs of patients who most need our services." > This is just one example of why I am questioning my financial support of > AOTA. Granted, AOTA has personally helped me but I am unsure of the cost > benefit of continued support. > Ron > -- > Unsubscribe? > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Change options? > www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > Archive? > www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > Help? > [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- 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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