Hi Veronica, I believe we have a responsibility to educate the referrers to our service, as well as the clients of the service. It takes time, but each time we get a referral asking for a specific item of equipment, or adaptation to the environment, i go back to the referrer, explaining how as they have come to a solution- they don't need us. Clients have expectations from their OT if specific solutions have been discussed with them prior to our visit. Over time ( and it does take time) the standard of referral, and the understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy does occur. Staff turnover is always a factor to consider, both within my team, and from the referring agency , so it is a constant process. The acute hospital based team here has similar issues to you. Our teams role is similar to Social Services. Cheers, Jane
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Veronica Sent: Wednesday, 14 March 2007 01:55 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT in SNF/Home Health etc Hi Jane, within the NHS there is a big drive to rapidly discharge patients. That means that the amount of time that OTs within the hospital setting have to spend with patients is severely limited. There has more recently been a drive to shift the focus away from a purely 'equipment' focus but it will take time to educate others about the fact that OTs are not there as purely providers of equipment. ----- Original Message ---- From: Jane Wilson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, 13 March, 2007 11:12:37 PM Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT in SNF/Home Health etc Hi Paul, I was interested in your comments. I am a team leader of a Community Occupational Therapy service in New Zealand. One of the challenges i have in orientating new staff and students to our service is to get them thinking beyond outcomes of adaptations and equipment, and looking a the provision of an "Occupational Therapy" service rather than limiting themselves to purely looking at being an assessor of equipment. Cheers, Jane Wilson -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Paul Middleton Sent: Wednesday, 14 March 2007 11:29 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT in SNF/Home Health etc Hi All I am a first year mature student at Hallam University and have just finished a placement of 8 weeks in the community on equipment and adaptations. Having read your comments i too think some OT,s are out there just for a pay cheque and most scared of voicing much of an opinion. We talk about looking at the whole person the Holistic view but i find in reality its just a numbers game a one stop wonder shop. Sure we make a difference but we should be able to do more. Communication seams quite lacking between the NHS hospital OT,s and the Social Service OT,s occasionly over laping, but never Holistic. I hope things change in the right direction and as a profession we are able to treat the whole without the constraints and political pratices which are put apon us. Thanks for reading Hope it makes sence Paul Middleton Sheffield Hallam University >From: JM <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: [OTlist] OT in SNF/Home Health etc >Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 03:42:05 -0700 > >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 >************************************************************************************** _________________________________________________________________ Get Hotmail, News, Sport and Entertainment from MSN on your mobile. http://www.msn.txt4content.com/ -- 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 ************************************************************************************** Notice of Legal Status and Confidential Information: This electronic mail message and any accompanying attachments may contain information that is privileged and CONFIDENTIAL. 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Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn ************************************************************************************** ___________________________________________________________ Inbox full of unwanted email? Get leading protection and 1GB storage with All New Yahoo! Mail. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html -- 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 ************************************************************************************** Notice of Legal Status and Confidential Information: This electronic mail message and any accompanying attachments may contain information that is privileged and CONFIDENTIAL. If you are not the intended recipient you are advised that any use, review, dissemination, distribution or reproduction of the information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this document in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy the message. From 31st May 2004, all Bay of Plenty District Health board grounds, buildings and vehicles will be smokefree. Anyone wishing to smoke after 31st May will need to go outside the BOPDHB boundaries and gateways to do so. -- 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 **************************************************************************************
