I guess the OTlist really is DEAD or dying. To bad! In years past, this type of message would elicit tons of dialogue.
Why even bother, right! ----- Original Message ----- From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2007 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] Marketing OT Rehab to MD's???? RC> Hello EVERYONE!! RC> The list has been D E A D!!!!, so let's see if we can't stir up some RC> conversation. Unfortunately for our international members, much of this RC> discussion involves the US health care system. <sorry> RC> For the past three years, I've been in private practice providing ADULT RC> in-home rehab services. I accept Medicare. I have always had a difficult RC> time marketing adult OT services to physicians. In fact, in three years RC> the only direct MD referrals that I've received have been for lymphedema RC> treatment, which is NOT related to being an OT. I have not done a lot of RC> marketing because (1) I can't figure out how to best market my services RC> and (2) the marketing I've done has not been successful (other than for RC> lymphedema treatment). Here's the first question: RC> 1. How is it possible to successfully market ADULT OT services to RC> primary care physicians? ((Please bear in mind that I do NOT specialize RC> in hand/UE treatment. I certainly can treat an UE injury/illness, but RC> that is not how I want to market myself.)) RC> I believe that the profession of PT and outpatient facilities. I am RC> confident that in-home services are a "one up" over traditional RC> outpatient but I can not find a way to market either against or RC> complimentary to the PT profession. FYI, the reason I feel that PT is my RC> competitor is because of nature of providing general rehab. Here's the RC> second question: RC> 2. How can I market OT services as "better" or complimentary to PT RC> services? RC> Now, the caveat to all of this is that when doctor's do not speak the RC> same "language" as OT. So, if I go to a doctor's office and talk with RC> them about occupational deficits, they generally won't understand what RC> I'm saying or if they do, they won't see "functional" deficits as the RC> the problem. Instead, MD's work with medical diagnoses and these are RC> what they see as the problem the needs fixing. Now, the one "functional" RC> area that a doctor may recognize is difficulty walking or falling. RC> Functional mobility is within OT's scope of practice but I am again back RC> to the PT thing. So, here's the third question: RC> 3. How do I build a bridge between a medical doctor and a general rehab RC> occupational therapist? RC> Thanks for reading this long message. And, I REALLY appreciate YOUR help RC> and input!!!! RC> Thanks, RC> Ron RC> -- RC> Ron Carson MHS, OTR/L RC> Hope Therapy Services, LLC RC> www.HopeTherapyServices.com RC> <disclaimer> I hurriedly typed this message [but with a lot of thought] RC> 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 **************************************************************************************
