I'm a fairly new member and this is the first time I've attempted to post something. I'm just a student and have been reading your messages to each other with interest.
I found this question especially interesting and will be looking for how you professionals answer this one! Elayne Nashville, TN -------------- Original message -------------- From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Hello EVERYONE!! > > The list has been D E A D!!!!, so let's see if we can't stir up some > conversation. Unfortunately for our international members, much of this > discussion involves the US health care system. > > For the past three years, I've been in private practice providing ADULT > in-home rehab services. I accept Medicare. I have always had a difficult > time marketing adult OT services to physicians. In fact, in three years > the only direct MD referrals that I've received have been for lymphedema > treatment, which is NOT related to being an OT. I have not done a lot of > marketing because (1) I can't figure out how to best market my services > and (2) the marketing I've done has not been successful (other than for > lymphedema treatment). Here's the first question: > > 1. How is it possible to successfully market ADULT OT services to > primary care physicians? ((Please bear in mind that I do NOT specialize > in hand/UE treatment. I certainly can treat an UE injury/illness, but > that is not how I want to market myself.)) > > > I believe that the profession of PT and outpatient facilities. I am > confident that in-home services are a "one up" over traditional > outpatient but I can not find a way to market either against or > complimentary to the PT profession. FYI, the reason I feel that PT is my > competitor is because of nature of providing general rehab. Here's the > second question: > > 2. How can I market OT services as "better" or complimentary to PT > services? > > Now, the caveat to all of this is that when doctor's do not speak the > same "language" as OT. So, if I go to a doctor's office and talk with > them about occupational deficits, they generally won't understand what > I'm saying or if they do, they won't see "functional" deficits as the > the problem. Instead, MD's work with medical diagnoses and these are > what they see as the problem the needs fixing. Now, the one "functional" > area that a doctor may recognize is difficulty walking or falling. > Functional mobility is within OT's scope of practice but I am again back > to the PT thing. So, here's the third question: > > 3. How do I build a bridge between a medical doctor and a general rehab > occupational therapist? > > Thanks for reading this long message. And, I REALLY appreciate YOUR help > and input!!!! > > Thanks, > > Ron > > -- > Ron Carson MHS, OTR/L > Hope Therapy Services, LLC > www.HopeTherapyServices.com > > > I hurriedly typed this message [but with a lot of thought] > so please forgive typos, grammo's, etc.... > > > -- > 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 > ******************************************************************************** > > ****** -- 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 **************************************************************************************
