Ron, It is my understanding that in 2009, the OASIS scores for bathing will be more closely scrutinized, with greater focus being on improving levels from start of care to end of cert.
The need for OT will be greater now that there is a greater emphasis on improvements in certain ADL areas and agencies are beginning to realize this. Does your agency spend much time educating staff on completing the OASIS, interpreting the questions and answering them accurately? Really knowing your way around the OASIS is very helpful and is a good way for a home health OT to demonstrate the positive impact and contribution this discipline makes with respect to patient outcomes. Perhaps because my agency does such a good job with educating the staff on CMS expectations and requirements, I do not feel as though I have been painted into a corner at all. I feel that my contributions as an OT are valued and valuable to both the patient and the agency. Sue ________________________________ From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 8:20:03 AM 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]
