Message: 9 
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:52:49 +0000 (UTC) 
From: [email protected] 
Subject: Re: [OTlist] Puposeful activity 
To: [email protected] 
Message-ID: 
< 
779914147.963901235235169749.javamail.r...@sz0065a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net
 > 

Hi Barb, 

I'm glad it helped. No, you are definitely not the only one, there are many of 
us, and while I do think Ron is right about many of the things he answered (not 
the PT threat thing though, I only work with 1 PT and she is wonderful), I too 
get frustrated with the "change jobs" answer. I too feel I contribute to my 
residents in therapy. I do wish though that someone would teach a course on 
bringing function back in today's settings. Is it just me, or does anyone else 
feel that 90% (at least) of all adult-based treatment courses with OT as the 
intended audience, are medical model? 

Ron, I will look into that book, thanks. I think, regarding your MD patient, 
that as another poster said, PT is more valued because most people feel is they 
just get stronger everything else will be fine. I had a parkinson's patient 
once in subacute rehab who could not feed himself, yet refused OT. ALL he 
wanted to do, all he cared about was walking, and felt the "what do you want to 
walk TO, and what do you want to DO there" part would come automatically. I 
also once had a woman with cognitive declines so severe she could not make a 
cup of tea or dial 911 on a phone...yet conversationally you'd never know she 
had a problem, it only came into play with motor tasks involving planning, 
sequencing, multiple steps. I documented like crazy, yet once she was walking 
200 feet independently, her HMO sent her home alone from rehab. I went to her 
care conference and despite my reports to her family and the Dr., she was 
deemed fine to go home. All I could do was write a HUGE cover-my-butt progress 
note in the chart saying I didn't agree with the DC plan and that I told 
everyone concerned. This mindset that if you can walk, you're fine, seems 
almost systemic, and although I wish it would change, I don't hold out a huge 
amount of hope! 

~Ilene Rosenthal, OTR/L 




Hello Ilene, 

Your post was satisfying to me, as I work in the same setting and am faced with 
the same concerns re tx.? Put my reaction down to "misery loves company", 
although I am not miserable in my position.? What I do with patients may not be 
strictly OT as defined by most of those who contribute to this site, but I have 
made peace with that because I know that I am definitely helping my patients 
heal and return to a higher level of function in their daily lives.? I, too, 
have been asking for more concrete suggestions as to how this is done in the 
SNF/subacute world which is so focussed on profit.? Thanks for sharing a 
similar concern.? It is so easy to feel alone, and not good enough with regard 
to the cones and pegs controversy! 

Barb Howard COTA 

--
Options?
www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com

Archive?
www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]

Reply via email to