Hello Chuck: Thanks for the link, I hope other OTlisters will read the letter.
It sort of highlights my previous message about AOTA not making anything public regarding the dissension between the professions!! Ron =============================================== Wednesday, April 19, 2006, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Ron, > Check out this page on APTA's website: > http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8895 > Click on the link "letter." > Chuck >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 04/19/06 10:03 PM >>> > 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? > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -- > 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? [EMAIL PROTECTED]
