Bill, I am still digesting your message, but I want to make a quick comment.
Earlier, someone asked how OT became cornered into UE treatment. I don't KNOW the answer but now I'm wondering if productivity demands aren't part of the reason. Any opinions out there? Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Maloney <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2008 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] OTlist Digest, Vol 43, Issue 17 BM> OK, time for me to chime in. Been reading long enough, and felt the need to BM> offer some thoughts, hopefully insightful and helpful but more than anything BM> else just an "amen", to this thread. BM> The productivity "problem" isn't unique to HH, or any other profit-driven BM> setting. And, let's not kid ourselves here people....we hear all the fancy BM> mission statements and "recruiter speak" from any/all organizations; and, BM> while they sound good, at the end of the day the ONLY mission that matters BM> is PROFIT. Like it or not, agree or not, that is the FACT. It's no wonder BM> that those clinicians (of whichever discipline) who support that mission are BM> the stars. So, there obviously is no solution to this situation. BM> I've been fortunate enough over the years to dodge disciplinary action due BM> to low productivity (which is almost a forgone conclusion if you focus on BM> quality of care, or if the employer has low OT census). And, for what it's BM> worth Ron, my current HH employers productivity standard for OT is 32 BM> points/week (OT initial evaluation counts as 1.5 points and subsequent BM> visits are weighted as 1). I have, for the past year and a half of BM> employment, consistently run around 20 to 25 points. Of course, many of my BM> PT colleagues run higher than that for the same reason you mentioned, they BM> do 10 to 15 minute visits (yes, this is verified and factual). I have BM> personally witnessed nurses do 5-minute visits. BUT, I literally cannot BM> tell you how many patients say, unsolicited, to me things like, "I get so BM> much more out of your visits than that other guy/gal." Duh! Of course they BM> do!!! I am actually taking the time to listen, intervene, teach, treat, BM> care...provide a valuable and obviously relevant (to them) service. This BM> gets back to my employers, via various avenues, and I guess the positive PR BM> in some ways outweighs the productivity deficit. I can relate to what you BM> said, Ron, when you leave a patients home sweating and exhausted from your BM> beautiful efforts, and the only feedback you get from the boss is that your BM> productivity is low. All the while, the clinicians who exceed the quota, BM> yet SUCK clinically and ethically, get the praise! It's honestly so BM> disgusting at times, I wonder why I/we bother. But then I remember that BM> little man/woman who looks me right in the eye and tells me, in their own BM> words how much they appreciate what I do. That may not immediately impact BM> others' knowledge of "what OT is" but I truly believe it's a start. I know BM> that doesn't "solve" our plight, but isn't that why we do what we do BM> anyway? At some point, I/we have to believe that we'll impact a difference BM> in this grass-roots way. BM> There is a new OT publication beginning circulation, "Today in OT" (GHG BM> Gannett Healthcare Group, a subsidiary of Gannett Company, Inc. [USA Today]) BM> which ended up in my mailbox this week. I also get "Advance for BM> Occupational Therapy Practitioners" but not sure how these find me since I BM> am not a current member of AOTA, or the Texas OT Assn. (a story for another BM> time I suppose). I am not a literature snob, but know that these are not BM> the benchmark references for evidence-based practice. But some of the BM> articles are interesting, informative and thought-provoking nonetheless. BM> Interestingly enough, one article in particular in "Today in OT" entitled BM> "Improving Your Ability to Think Critically" was written by an RN who was BM> highlighting OTs in particular for this being a leader in this skill. Also, BM> the cover article was entitled, "By Leaps and Bounds - OT gains momentum as BM> one of the best professions." I have to believe that at some point OT will BM> evolve into what we all want and so richly have earned through our daily, BM> grass-roots struggles. BM> While I acknowledge my posting has not solved or resolved anything, I hope BM> that I have placed at least a small amount of "hoorah" in your day. Hang in BM> there. By the read of these postings, our profession is in good hands. I BM> believe there are enough of us out here who practice sound, evidence-based BM> and relevant Occupational Therapy to advance our profession. I enjoy BM> reading these posts, so keep 'em coming. BM> Bill Maloney, OTR BM> Dallas, Texas -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
