It's scary to hear all the misunderstandings of our profression. I didn't
have to worry about it a few years ago when I was working in a bigger
community hospital. At the time I really didn't know it, but the doctors
were informed with what OT and PT's roles were. Most of the referrals came
from rehab doctors who worked closely with therapys.
Now I work in a rural community and it's scary. PT has ruled the roost
here for years. PT treated all the patients except for hand patients. I am
rocking the boat here and it's slowly changing. I keep the theme during my
treatment functional activities, so if I get asked if I am double treating I
can state my case. Boy though it's hard and sometimes very frustrating to
fight to keep our profession alive.
A few comments about cognitive rehab. I have worked with both sides
of the spectrum with regards to speech and OT working as a team. I have had
to take a stand and discuss with the speech therapist how we can work
together. This speech therapist was very relieved with OT taking some of
the "burden". So I letted her know what I can do for our patient, Some
examples of areas I cover are Visual perception, functional reading such as
newspaper, phone book, cook books, writing skills, safety/judgement
situations, problemsolving and memory such as time management, phone use,
job and school duties. These are just a few examples. Each patient
depending on the areas of improvements needed may have different issues.
I too feel we are in need of help from AOTA. We have struggled with
these issues long enough. We have to adovacate on our daily level, but it's
getting too hard, especially when the media and legislation is creating this
big wall.
Thank you for letting us voice our opinions and concerns. It's nice to come
to a place and know I can be heard and feel safe doing it.
Cimberly Viken OTR/L
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-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 2:00 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: OTlist Digest, Vol 24, Issue 30
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Orientation and Letter Writing Campaign (Jessica R. Gross)
2. Re: OT and Cognitive Disability (Terrie Odom)
3. Re: OT and Cognitive Disability (Ron Carson)
4. Re: OT and Cognitive Disability (Jessica R. Gross)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 12:53:52 -0500
From: "Jessica R. Gross" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [OTlist] Orientation and Letter Writing Campaign
To: <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I definitely think we need some more recognition. In vision rehab this
is particularly important with the RT attempting to get Medicare
reimbursement. Honestly I think it is absolutely absurd that with the
conference being held last year in April (OT month) we had no public
awareness campaign in Charlotte. I am happy to help with the letter
Jessica
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Ron Carson
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 5:02 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [OTlist] Orientation and Letter Writing Campaign
Hello All:
Today was my first day of orientation at our local hospital. As we are
going around the room identifying ourselves, I of course say that I'm
an OT. The leader, a hospital administrator says: "Oh you work in
outpatient, oh wait your an occupational therapist". I told a
different speaker that I worked in rehab and she said: "Oh, you're a
PT". Of course I corrected her. The reason I share these stories is
just to reiterate that OT has such little name recognition. I don't
care where I go, almost without exception, OT is not recognized!!
On a second note, I want to start a letter writing campaign to the
AOTA president. It seems that we have a lot of valid concerns (at
least I have some concerns) about our profession. And while a lot of
those concerns are discussed on this list, I really think the concerns
need to be made know to AOTA top leadership. So, I am planning on
drafting a letter to the Carolyn Baum, posting it on the OTnow.com
website in a format that will allow web readers to fill in their name,
credentials, etc and e-mail the letter.
What do you think?
Ron
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------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:26:12 -0500
From: "Terrie Odom" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability
To: <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
I am also one of the "lurkers"...but I do have a topic of discussion I would
like to hear some opinions on. I am an OT in the LTC setting and I have
always had a passion for working with those with cognitive disability
(Dementia - all types, head injuries, some forms of mental illness, etc...)
At any rate, I have always incorporated into my treatments( for residents
with these and other disabilities with cognitive effects), some of the
cognitive type goals. Sometimes I will use the ACL as part of my testing
and measurement, but not always. Here is my topic I would like some
discussion on: I am noticing that more and more OT's are referring their
clients with these issues to the SLP. Now I know, or am assuming that this
is part of their practice area as well.....but I am concerned that so many
OT's do not touch this area. I was trained back in the early 80's (yes I am
one of the"old" therapists) and this has always been an integral part of OT
practice area. I am concerned that we are turning it over to Speech to take
as their sole domain......remember when OT's used to do the majority of
dysphagia (also an 80's practice area!) In my area, SLP's are hard to come
by right now and many are getting huge prn rates (which I don't begrudge)
however, why should they pay an SLP to come in at $60 an hour when I have a
staff OT that could provide the same treatment? Am I off base on this? Are
we shying away because the goals are not "functional" enough? Maybe someone
could also enlighten me on which areas possibly that a SLP could do that an
OT would not be able to cover.......I'd love to hear some of your thoughts
because I am getting ready to "retrain" my therapists in how to address
cognitive disability. Terrie O.
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:05:04 -0500
From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability
To: Terrie Odom <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
When I think of SLP's doing cog rehab, I think of one thing and one
thing only - computer! In my experience, SLP's do NO real world cog
rehab. When I think of OT's doing cog rehab, I thin of real world
stuff like helping client's with cog dysfunction to be able to dress,
bathe, etc. In my experience, there's little carry over between
computer retraining and real-world living.
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Terrie Odom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subj: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability
TO> I am also one of the "lurkers"...but I do have a topic of discussion I
would
TO> like to hear some opinions on. I am an OT in the LTC setting and I have
TO> always had a passion for working with those with cognitive disability
TO> (Dementia - all types, head injuries, some forms of mental illness,
etc...)
TO> At any rate, I have always incorporated into my treatments( for
residents
TO> with these and other disabilities with cognitive effects), some of the
TO> cognitive type goals. Sometimes I will use the ACL as part of my
testing
TO> and measurement, but not always. Here is my topic I would like some
TO> discussion on: I am noticing that more and more OT's are referring
their
TO> clients with these issues to the SLP. Now I know, or am assuming that
this
TO> is part of their practice area as well.....but I am concerned that so
many
TO> OT's do not touch this area. I was trained back in the early 80's (yes
I am
TO> one of the"old" therapists) and this has always been an integral part of
OT
TO> practice area. I am concerned that we are turning it over to Speech to
take
TO> as their sole domain......remember when OT's used to do the majority of
TO> dysphagia (also an 80's practice area!) In my area, SLP's are hard to
come
TO> by right now and many are getting huge prn rates (which I don't
begrudge)
TO> however, why should they pay an SLP to come in at $60 an hour when I
have a
TO> staff OT that could provide the same treatment? Am I off base on this?
Are
TO> we shying away because the goals are not "functional" enough? Maybe
someone
TO> could also enlighten me on which areas possibly that a SLP could do that
an
TO> OT would not be able to cover.......I'd love to hear some of your
thoughts
TO> because I am getting ready to "retrain" my therapists in how to address
TO> cognitive disability. Terrie O.
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:01:49 -0500
From: "Jessica R. Gross" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability
To: <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
there are some amazing speech therapists that can do real-world
cognitive activities.
Computer retraining can be effective. Does anyone remember Oregon Trail
or Sim City- both are very realistic programs that can help with
executive functions such as budgeting, organization etc.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Ron Carson
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 5:05 PM
To: Terrie Odom
Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability
When I think of SLP's doing cog rehab, I think of one thing and one
thing only - computer! In my experience, SLP's do NO real world cog
rehab. When I think of OT's doing cog rehab, I thin of real world
stuff like helping client's with cog dysfunction to be able to dress,
bathe, etc. In my experience, there's little carry over between
computer retraining and real-world living.
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Terrie Odom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subj: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability
TO> I am also one of the "lurkers"...but I do have a topic of discussion
TO> I would like to hear some opinions on. I am an OT in the LTC
TO> setting and I have always had a passion for working with those with
TO> cognitive disability (Dementia - all types, head injuries, some
TO> forms of mental illness, etc...) At any rate, I have always
TO> incorporated into my treatments( for residents with these and other
TO> disabilities with cognitive effects), some of the cognitive type
TO> goals. Sometimes I will use the ACL as part of my testing and
TO> measurement, but not always. Here is my topic I would like some
TO> discussion on: I am noticing that more and more OT's are referring
TO> their clients with these issues to the SLP. Now I know, or am
TO> assuming that this is part of their practice area as well.....but I
TO> am concerned that so many OT's do not touch this area. I was
TO> trained back in the early 80's (yes I am one of the"old" therapists)
TO> and this has always been an integral part of OT practice area. I am
TO> concerned that we are turning it over to Speech to take as their
TO> sole domain......remember when OT's used to do the majority of
TO> dysphagia (also an 80's practice area!) In my area, SLP's are hard
TO> to come by right now and many are getting huge prn rates (which I
TO> don't begrudge) however, why should they pay an SLP to come in at
TO> $60 an hour when I have a staff OT that could provide the same
TO> treatment? Am I off base on this? Are we shying away because the
TO> goals are not "functional" enough? Maybe someone could also
enlighten me on which areas possibly that a SLP could do that an OT
would not be able to cover.......I'd love to hear some of your thoughts
because I am getting ready to "retrain" my therapists in how to address
TO> cognitive disability. Terrie O.
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