I also am practicing in a pretty unique niche, so don't often contribute. I am an ATP (Assistive Technology Practitioner) through RESNA and focus on high end wheelchairs and other equipment for both children and adults. I am now doing this as a solo independent contractor and am very much learning as I go. If Medicare in the US follows through with their plans (which is always a crap shoot), by April 2008, they will require a therapist who is a ATP do the W/C evaluation along with an accredited vendor for all wheelchairs of a certain complexity. It is a big change, and there is a lot of scrambling going on.
It does present some unique marketing hurdles for me. I'm not sure who to market. Vendors who are the ones that patients usually call when their doctors give them a prescription for a w/c. Neurologists/ Neurosurgeons/Rehab Docs, etc who need to know of the imperative need for a knowledgeable therapist to be involved. The docs obviously have less time to listen. It's a conundrum. I had the fortune/misfortune of having pretty extensive neurosurgery myself this summer and am just beginning to think about work again. My doctors office was very interested and said they will definitely refer patients to me. I wish I knew how the reception would be other places. Anyway, didn't plan to say that much, but now you know where I'm coming from. Mary Alice On Aug 16, 2007, at 9:49 AM, Christi Vicino wrote: > Pat... > > Please talk more about what you are doing in pain management.... I am > very interested.... > > > Christi Vicino > OTA Program Director > Grossmont College > 619-644-7305 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Pat > Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 6:00 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [OTlist] Why are YOU on this list > > Hi Ron, > > For my part, I am here to learn. Believe me, if there was a topic > I was > well versed on, or even knew enough about to converse on, I would jump > in. > > Take, for example, the recent posts about NDT. Sure, it was gone over > in school, but I have never used it, and have never even seen it used > with a real patient (we role played in school). I think that > someday I > might want to work with stroke patients. So I read, and pay > attention, > and am interested in what others have to say... but I have absolutely > nothing to contribute. > > I also do not do marketing, and wouldn't know where to start. Like > you, > I am still struggling to even put into words lay people could > understand, what we do and how it differs from PT. That is why I > didn't > post anything when you were posting your questions. > > I am not doing traditional OT, and no one else on this list works > in my > field (pain management), nor do I have experience in their fields. I > keep trying to learn all that I can, in case this job ever goes > away and > I end up working in a "traditional" OT job. > > I may not contribute much, but I do enjoy this group when it's active. > > Pat > > At 06:09 AM 8/16/2007, you wrote: >> Hello All: >> >> The OTlist has been around a long time. But I believe this is the >> least amount of participation that I've ever seen. >> >> What is going on? I know that every topic is not important to >> every person, and I know that all of us have busy lives. But this >> list > >> has NO purpose if YOU don't participate! >> >> I don't know if people are scared, uninterested, uninformed or what, >> but this is the only place that I know to discuss the topics >> that > >> have recently come up. >> >> Please put your fingers to the keyboard and share your >> thoughts, questions and opinions. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Ron >> >> -- >> "... as a profession that offers unique services that are ideally >> suited to meet the health, participation, and quality of life needs >> of people of all ages, occupational therapy is well- >> positioned to >> succeed and flourish in the 21st century." [Fred Somers, AJOT, April, >> 2005, p. 127] >> >> "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 >> ********************************************************************* >> ** >> *************** > > > > -- > 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 > ********************************************************************** > **************** -- 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 **************************************************************************************
