Thanks EVERYONE.
I just don't get it. I just don't understand how OT is so far
behind...
I don't know if I shared this or not, but one of the other therapists,
a PT, documented over 45 visits in one week. Now, tell me how can a
therapist make 45 visits in one week, especially when they are driving
100+ miles each day? The answer of course, is that each visit is 20 -
30 minutes. How is that quality therapy? Is that even therapy?
I thought about going back to the manager and explaining that OT is
vastly different and that OT takes more time than other professions.
And that I can't do quality OT in 20 - 30 minutes, it's just not
possible. But, like my lovely wife pointed out, the HH agency
obviously cares more about money than quality therapy. I understand
that as a corporation, there are revenue goals to be met but come on.
You know, it would be difficult meeting 30 visits/week. For one, I
routinely drive over 100 miles/day and sometimes 150. That's a LOT of
drive time. So, when is paperwork, phone calls, family calls, etc?
It really is a shame. I give 100% to patient's outcomes, I often leave
patient's homes wringing wet with sweat, and yet my agency is "upset"
because I'm not meeting productivity. Sadly, I could go sit on my
butt, counting exercise reps for 30 minutes and easily make
productivity. But, how much benefit is that?
I am so stinkin' frustrated with OT and AOTA. You know we've got that
"great" centennial vision of OT being:
"a powerful, widely recognized, science-driven, and
evidence-based profession with a globally connected and
diverse workforce meeting society's occupational needs"
At times like this I think some people at AOTA are TOTALLY clueless
just how bad it is. How can we meet society's needs when the VAST
majority of society has no earthly idea what we do. Or when OT's are
practicing so different from our framework that we are seen by almost
EVERYONE working in phys dys as UE therapists. Almost every patient I
meet in home health is either clueless about OT or they know that we
do pegs, cones, etc. Or, I really love it when a patient who does NO
cooking says she "baked brownies" in OT!!! My gosh, people, GET A
STINKIN' CLUE ALREADY!
The situation STINKS !!! and I'm tired of it!!!!!!!!!
OK, time to move on, right?
Ron
-- Ron Carson
MHS, OT
----- Original Message -----
From: Brent Cheyne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subj: [OTlist] Lost my OT job today
BC> Ron,
BC> Sorry to hear of the struggle and I think a lot of us have
BC> been there before...getting the "OT slap in the face." We are the
BC> Rodney Dangerfields of the Rehab worll...we get "no respect...no
BC> respect at all". You have my admiration for your conviction to
BC> your ethics and principles which is all you have in the end. I
BC> often have days of wondering whether I chose the right
BC> profession...just due to the fact that I have to explain myself
BC> and earn respect and justify my serivices...it is hard work Just
BC> stay strong and move on...some good may come from it all.
BC> Brent Cheyne OTR/L
BC> --- On Fri, 10/17/08, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
BC> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
BC> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
BC> Subject: OTlist Digest, Vol 43, Issue 14
BC> To: [email protected]
BC> Date: Friday, October 17, 2008, 6:33 AM
BC> Send OTlist mailing list submissions to
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BC> Today's Topics:
BC> 1. Lost My Home Health Job Today... (Ron Carson)
BC> 2. Re: Lost My Home Health Job Today... (pat)
BC> 3. Re: Lost My Home Health Job Today... (Ron Carson)
BC> 4. Re: Lost My Home Health Job Today... (pat)
BC> 5. Re: Lost My Home Health Job Today... (Marie Henderson)
BC> 6. Re: Lost My Home Health Job Today... (Guy Montague-Smith)
BC> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
BC> Message: 1
BC> Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:18:40 -0400
BC> From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
BC> Subject: [OTlist] Lost My Home Health Job Today...
BC> To: [email protected]
BC> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
BC> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
BC> Well sort of.
BC> I was asked to revert back to PRN status because my productivity is
BC> not high enough. The goal is 30 visits/week and I've only been as high
BC> as 24.
BC> I guess I'm to blame because I give patients ONLY what they need. If a
BC> patient needs 5 day/week, that what they get. If they don't need any
BC> OT, then that's what they get. I guess I could just see all patients
BC> 3x/week and that would take care of the productivity, but I don't feel
BC> that's appropriate.
BC> I told my supervisor that I can not see patients if I don't get the
BC> referrals. I told my supervisor that I've always thought OT should be
BC> the premier discipline but I don't think she agreed. I also had to
BC> counter the OT = upper extremity "thing" at least three times.
BC> It
BC> seems that no matter how many times I explained that my OT is not
BC> about UE, she just didn't get it. She did ask me to do an inservice
BC> for the nurses, but I'm not too optimistic...
BC> I must say that my poor little OT feelings are deeply hurt. The agency
BC> just hired 2 new PTA's. I must say, I do get a wee bit tired of
BC> fighting this battle.
BC> Thanks for listening to me "cry".
BC> Ron
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