I view hand therapy as a special career path that some interested occupational therapists or physical therapists can take.? Just like other special career paths in OT a) driving evals/ training b) visual OT therapy c) etc. Now for some reason OT has in a sense took over the interest in that area perhaps because we had several courses in school focusing just on hands and splinting, and placement in fieldwork for hand therapy?might be easier for an OT versus a PT to find, because a OT cannot supervise a PT student.? I believe that what OTs do as hand therapists is OT, because number one the hand therapist is an OT and that is the credentials that follow their name.? Number two body structures and body functions?are certainly in our domain of practice written by AOTA.?The traditions of our profession have changed in some areas, and that is driven by patient needs. ?I can certainly understand Ron's point of view as viewing hand therapy as not being OT, but try to look at the big picture.? We are making a huge impact in the care of the patient,?using a bottom up approach versus a top down approach, ?which in turn leads to a positive functional outcome in hand OT.? I don't think we have to be so rigid with our definitions, but learn to respect and apprectiate?our places in healthcare.? Patient's will naturally learn what we do as OTs if we educate them the right way, and if we do a stand up job for them,?one patient at a time.? And no I am not a hand therpist or an OT practicing as a hand therapist.? Thanks for the discussion.
Christ Nahrwold MS, OTR St. John's Hospital Anderson, Indiana -----Original Message----- From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Mary Alice Cafiero <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 7:16 pm Subject: Re: [OTlist] Do You Agree with This Statement? Mary, I think that's ONE of the problems I have with the brochure. It does NOT specify hand therapist, it simply says occupational therapy. And as we all know, hand therapy and occupational therapy are not the same thing, right? ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Alice Cafiero <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, August 25, 2008 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] Do You Agree with This Statement? MAC> I certainly don't see myself as a hand therapist in any way, shape, or MAC> form -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
