Thanks Terrianne for your comments and insights! I agree with your comments, especially about rehab under Med A and the attitude of many OT staff that come to work for the paycheck. I've been an OT 18 years and there have been times I have felt a bit bored--I have always come to the decision that it was something I was or wasn't doing--and I'd make changes which always bettered the therapy I was providing. I have noticed an even greater desire to engage in evidence based practice and really look at what I am doing since going back to school. Being educated in the early 1980's ( at least at my school) there wasn't a push per se for research beyond the one class or research statistics) and the goal was to to become a clinician. Having gone to conference in the last few years, talking to and becoming a student again myself, I see the shifts made in education and it is definitely for the betterment of the profession. I hope to see this translate more into practice. It is hard for many new therapists to "buck the system" so to speak especially in rehabs that are so unit/time/PPS oriented. I applaud those who right out of school have the vision and do it differently then in the past and beyond what is the status quo.
I have had clients in the hospital adamantly say NO to OT initially (but then they continue to want to chat with me). I then learn that their negative experiences were related to a SNF experience and most times, using the reciprocal bike (interestingly enough, most of these people were elderly kyphotic women who really didn't need to posture themselves in the way a reciprocal bike would -increasing back pain) . Having by this time developed more of a relationship with them ( people are drawn to talking to me I have found) I use the opportunity to explain my "brand" of Occupational Therapy and assure them they will not be put on a reciprocal bike. I have also experienced the client that had no clue they were to receive OT in home-care--I loved Home Health---I could really engage the client in real time, real life occuapation. Sometime in the acute hospital it is more difficult and I work hard with my COTA to keep her from falling into the doldrums of T band. I also believe that OT's as a profession have allowed their services in rehab to be defined by the payer, not by the scope of practice and the OT framework. If this continues, OT will not be seen as a vital service different the PT...... Jeanne Marie -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
