Ron, when I told my surgeon that I was an OT, he didn't mention upper extremities at all. He said "Oh you're one of those people that does stained glass." !!!!! This is a man who works just down the hall from the OT dept in a military hospital.
I told him that I couldn't speak for what other OTs do, but that I personally do not do stained glass, or any crafts, with my patients. (We do collages, but that's for part of the psych component of the pain management program). Pat -----Original Message----- >From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Oct 22, 2008 7:20 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: [OTlist] We've Already Backed Oursleves Into a Corner! > >I am getting ready to do my first home health Medicare recert. While >previewing the form, I notice the following outcome measures: > > * Dressing UB > * Dressing LB > * Bathing > * Toileting > * Transferring > * Ambulation/Locomotion > >Honestly, my mouth just about hit the floor! In my HH facility, there >are now about 5 full-time/prn therapists. This breaks down to 4 >PTs/PTAs and 1 OT. Why in the world are there so many PT's and only 1 >OT????. Why isn't OT the PREMIER home health discipline? > >My answers are really just a bunch of question: > > Isn't it because OT has already painted itself into this silly > corner of focused treatment on the UE? > > Isn't it because OT lacks respect and understanding? > > Isn't it because in rehab, OT's stand or sit with their > patients doing silly games with bean bags, balloons, pegs, > cones, shoulder arcs, etc? > > Isn't it because our patients don't demand OT services? > > Isn't it because doctor's don't understand or respect our > services? > > Isn't it because we've delegated functional mobility to the > the PT's? > >There really is no one to blame but ourselves for this situation!!! > >You know, I'm going to give an inservice to the home health staff, but >I'm NOT going to say this is what OT does or doesn't do. Instead, I'm >going to say that this what *I*, as an OT, do. Why? Because I can't >say this what my profession does when in reality it isn't. In fact, >that's a HUGE problem for us! Our professional literature and ad >campaigns say something and yet many of us do something totally >different. Why? I don't know but I do know it's a HUGE white elephant >that needs to be shot! > >Ron >-- >Ron Carson MHS, OT > > >-- >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]
