For our new members, let me explain that I like highlighting the "stupid" OT experiences that I run across. What follows are two such examples:
1. Patient comes home from rehab after a fall with resultant hip pinning. I asked him about what OT did for him in rehab. He comments that they had him working on his arms and doing things like pegs, sander, and shoulder arc, etc. Now, here's the catch, the patient can NOT dress his affected LE and is too scared to take a shower. Now, I'm not saying that his OT's didn't address these issues but the impression the patient walked away with are the "stupid" toys that many OT's play with. I ask, did these OT's do BEST practice? Did they provide SKILLED, medically necessary therapy services? Did they address the patient's most important goals? 2. Another patient, just out of rehab. 90 years old, previously living alone and now temporarily living with her son. During my home health eval, I explained to the patient/son that as an OT, I am there to teach the patient how to be safe and independent in their home. I went on to explain that this may include everything from car transfer to cooking and that what I do is based on the needs/desires of the patient. The son, who was very nice, immediately said, "Mom can do those things like folding clothes". Now, I never mentioned folding clothes but I do know that MANY rehab OT's do have patients standing at a table folding clothes. Did this man get the impression that OT is about teaching people to "fold clothes"? If so, what a SAD statement about our profession. Thanks, Ron -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
