Question: Do we look at how a patient is able to use their foot or leg to complete functional tasks i.e. brushing teeth, combing hair, pulling up pants, etc? OT addresses occupation and the ability to functionally use any extremity (being simplistic again) to complete the same. I agree with LeeAnn that OTs are perceived as the primary providers i.e. splinting and adaptive equipment, but this does not identify us, because other providers can and do provide this service as well. The UE thing is, I believe a corporate thing/description, used to easily explain billing practices. It has easily become a mantra for many a "practicing" OT. Working with a LE condition does not make one a PT or OT. I'm quoting AOTA, but I believe the practice framework list motor demands and client factors as a constituent of occupation. It does not, by the way, state UE motor demands or client factors limted to the UE. This would leave service lacking if one did not address all deficits associated with an occupational impairment. Jim
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: To state that OT focuses on the UE is a simplistic view However, I do believe that OT's do focus on the UE better than PT. Simply because we look at how a patient is able to use their hand or arm to complete functional tasks i.e. brushing teeth, combing hair, pulling up pants, writing,opening jars etc.. We are also the primary providers of joint protection, splinting, and adaptive utensils and all which require hand and UE functions. Physicians have come to rely on OT's to provide this information and if we are not skilled in evaluating UE function in relationship to strength, sensation, ROM, tone and spasticity we are doing a disservice to our clients by not being able to give their physicians the appropriate information. Payors also want this information because they can understand it better. If giving that simplistic definition gets an OT in the door to providing treatment we can then show them how much more we can offer. Don't get defensive about it. Use it to your advantage! LeAnn Lee, OTR/L Albany General Hospital Albany, OR -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 12:00 PM To: [email protected] Subject: OTlist Digest, Vol 31, Issue 8 Send OTlist mailing list submissions to [email protected] To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can reach the person managing the list at [EMAIL PROTECTED] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of OTlist digest..." Today's Topics: 1. OT's and Upper Extremity (Ron Carson) 2. Re: OT's and Upper Extremity (Johnson, Arley) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 07:34:41 -0400 From: Ron Carson Subject: [OTlist] OT's and Upper Extremity To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Why do some therapists think that OT focuses on the upper extremity? I received a brochure from an OT in private practice and it states: "[OT] focuses on treatment of upper extremity injuries, disorders and disease" Where does this come from? It certainly is not our practice framework? Is it from OT/COTA schools? If so, why? This seems like another example of the dichotomy of our profession. In other words, we "say" one thing but then do something totally different! Argh...... Ron -- "In the United States, occupational therapy is ideally suited to meet the health needs of people of all ages." [Fred Somers, AJOT, April, 2005] "The part of convalescence that I found most profoundly humiliating and depressing was [OT]... I was reduced to playing with brightly colored plastic letters ... like a three-year-old..." [AJOT, April, 2005, p. 231] ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 10:49:04 -0400 From: "Johnson, Arley" Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT's and Upper Extremity To: Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I think I know why. OT things are functionally based. Most of our functional daily activity originates with the use of our hands. Therefore, basic observation of our profession and the medical model's need to simplify everyone's role for the average Joe dictates a simplistic and narrow explanation of our profession. Is it right? Of course not. But it gives our profession relevance to the outsider who may only get a cursory glance of what we do and it may draw them in for the full experience. Let's be honest, OT covers the spectrum of life and it entails a lot of information. Our charge to be the profession that rehabilitates you back into your life roles is not an easy task. Neither is explaining it in a manner that is understood by the public. Arley Johnson MS, OTR/L ? -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Carson Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 7:35 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [OTlist] OT's and Upper Extremity Why do some therapists think that OT focuses on the upper extremity? I received a brochure from an OT in private practice and it states: "[OT] focuses on treatment of upper extremity injuries, disorders and disease" Where does this come from? It certainly is not our practice framework? Is it from OT/COTA schools? If so, why? This seems like another example of the dichotomy of our profession. In other words, we "say" one thing but then do something totally different! Argh...... Ron -- "In the United States, occupational therapy is ideally suited to meet the health needs of people of all ages." [Fred Somers, AJOT, April, 2005] "The part of convalescence that I found most profoundly humiliating and depressing was [OT]... I was reduced to playing with brightly colored plastic letters ... like a three-year-old..." [AJOT, April, 2005, p. 231] -- 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 ************************************************************************************** The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. 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