Maybe the disconnect is more setting-specific Vs. a generalized problem. I work in Sub-acute-SNF/LTC; the referrals are biomechanical and medical in nature ( underlying impairments per our old terminology); we immediately make the correlation for the client re: occupational self performance, and use occupationally relevant assessments/activities to either restore/compensate/adapt and discharge to prior living environment. I don't do PT treatments when I use modalities to help alleviate pain so my client can proceed to cook/bake a cake; I don't do PT just because I am using spasticity-inhibiting techniques with their hand/wrist/shoulder to facilitate dressing at end of session. I have to address these anatomical/physiological factors to maximize self-performance. Why isn't that occupational therapy. I feel that I'm missing your point...I just don't get your conflict with Occupation. Help carmen ----- Original Message ----- From: Ron Carson<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Carmen Aguirre<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 6:00 PM Subject: Re: [OTlist] Occupation
Yes, we see a dentist because of the toothache, not so we can eat corn on the cob! We call the electrician because we have an electrical short, not so we can watch TV. We take our care to a mechanic because it's broken, not so we can drive to a movie. We call an OT because because we can't wash our feet.... Now, who thinks of OT like that?? NO ONE, well almost no one! About the only time that I hear mention of OT (keep in mind that I work in an outpatient private practice setting) is for fine motor, UE, and cognition. Once, I had a referral from a chiropractor to do a home safety assessment for his Dad, also a chiropractor. But by far, OT is normally referred to for anything OTHER than occupation. And that's a problem! In my opinion, we MUST: 1. Change our message 2. Change our delivery 3. Or a combination of the two ----- Original Message ----- From: Carmen Aguirre <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Subj: [OTlist] Occupation CA> Ron... CA> When we get sick, have a tooth ache, bleeding, etc we seek a CA> doctor to stop/cure/remediate the cause in order to restore "normal" CA> life (occupation). Why would it be different for patients who need CA> our services...I truly don't see the dis-articulation. Help? CA> Carmen CA> ----- Original Message ----- CA> From: Ron Carson<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> CA> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> CA> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 11:17 AM CA> Subject: Re: [OTlist] Occupation CA> Yes, I agree 100% with your statement. BUT most patients that I see are CA> not at the point of compensation. And besides, I don't think that CA> compensation is really a big part of medicine. I just can't see me going CA> to a doctor and saying; CA> " If you have any patients who can't use their arms, hands, legs, CA> etc. then send them to me so I can teach them how to compensate" CA> Maybe this SHOULD be the role of OT but it is one role that in my CA> opinion is not highly promoted, practiced or warranted for many of our CA> patients. CA> Ron CA> ----- Original Message ----- CA> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> CA> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> CA> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 CA> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> CA> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>> CA> Subj: [OTlist] Occupation CA> Enrc> Ok - I understand what you're saying, but let's just say that it was CA> Enrc> not possible that this person receive a lens replacement and everything CA> Enrc> did not get better and the problem could not be fixed. In this case, CA> Enrc> occupation and compensation WOULD come to the forefront, no? CA> Enrc> ----- Original Message ----- CA> Enrc> From: Ron Carson CA> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>> CA> Enrc> Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 7:34 am CA> Enrc> Subject: [OTlist] Occupation CA> Enrc> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> CA> >> Hello All: CA> >> CA> >> Recently Biraj pointed out that I: CA> >> CA> >> > always championed and advocated, very strongly I might CA> >> add,> occupation-based practice but now it seems [I am] CA> >> extremely> disappointed of anything the term has to do with in the CA> >> OT profession. CA> >> CA> >> Biraj is correct about my past vocalizations but today I don't CA> >> feel that CA> >> I am disappointed about occupation. I still feel the same CA> >> aboutoccupation but I think that I am becoming a bit jaded CA> >> at trying to CA> >> integrate occupation into my private practice. You see, CA> >> occupation is CA> >> important, it's important to ALL of us, but what I am CA> >> discovering is CA> >> that treating occupational deficits does not fit well with my CA> >> clientsbecause clients don't consider occupational deficits to be CA> >> the problem. CA> >> Here's a non-OT story to make my point. CA> >> CA> >> Recently, someone I know was diagnosed with cataracts. The CA> >> cataractsaffected his vision to the point that modifications were CA> >> needed to read, CA> >> work and play. Now, what do you think this person saw as the CA> >> problem;cataracts or occupations. Obviously, the impact on his CA> >> occupation is CA> >> what brought the cataracts to the forefront and motivated him to CA> >> seek a CA> >> lens replacement, but cataracts are the problem, not the CA> >> loss of CA> >> occupation. So, the person received a lens replacement and CA> >> everything is CA> >> getting better. Well, how does this 'story' apply to OT. CA> >> CA> >> Simple, our clients are seeking answers to problems. They want CA> >> theseproblems fixed. But the problems are not occupation, the CA> >> problems are CA> >> things like weakness, loss of balance, developmental delay, CA> >> depression,etc. Clients see these 'components' as the problem and CA> >> this is what they CA> >> expect their therapist to address. This is the way the entire CA> >> world of CA> >> medicine works and for OT to be any different just doesn't work. CA> >> CA> >> What I think needs to be done is for our patients to recognize CA> >> loss of CA> >> occupation as the primary problem. Then, they recognize the need CA> >> for an CA> >> occupational therapist. And as far as I can tell, the ONLY way CA> >> that this CA> >> is going to happen on a large scale is for AOTA to put CA> >> together a CA> >> NATIONAL ad campaign directed at educating people about CA> >> occupation and CA> >> thus occupational therapy. CA> >> CA> >> Finally, there are settings were occupation is the concern but CA> >> about the CA> >> only one that I know of is long-term mental health. And CA> >> given that CA> >> therapeutic occupation is rooted in mental health, this makes CA> >> perfectsense. But for the majority of OT's working in the US, CA> >> I think that CA> >> trying to integrate occupation as our main form and outcome is CA> >> a lost CA> >> battle, unless patients are EDUCATED, INTEGRATE and CA> >> EXPERIENCEoccupation-based therapy. CA> >> CA> >> Ron CA> >> CA> >> CA> >> CA> >> CA> >> -- CA> >> Unsubscribe? CA> >> CA> [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> CA> >> CA> >> Change options? CA> >> CA> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com<http://www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com<http://www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com<http://www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com>> CA> >> CA> >> Archive? CA> >> CA> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]<http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]<http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]<http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]>> CA> >> CA> >> Help? CA> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> CA> >> CA> -- CA> Unsubscribe? CA> CA> [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> CA> Change options? CA> CA> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com<http://www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com<http://www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com<http://www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com>> CA> Archive? CA> CA> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]<http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]<http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]<http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]>> CA> Help? 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