That's a bit elitist, Ron. If someone wants to be able to fold clothes
and has impairments preventing them from doing so, then that is an
excellent role for OT. Taken as a single incident or out of context,
much of what we do sounds childish. Walking to the bathroom, counting
money, using a screwdriver, etc, etc. BUT, if someone thinks it is
childish, they most likely have never been in the position of not
being able to do one of the things that matters to them.
Maybe we should worry less about leaving a grand mark and important
name for ourselves in the future world and more about changing
patient's lives, one at a time. If enough of those lives are changed,
the people that matter know what OT is. I'm not saying we shouldn't
publicize what we do. I'm not saying we don't need a better job of
explaining our role and our profession.
I AM saying that there seems to be an awful lot of complaining about
PT and other professionals being competitive and taking over our
territory when many of the OTs (on this board and elsewhere)
perpetuate the competition by repetitively talking about it. Work
where you are. Build a team with other professionals where you are. If
you are successful, the people you work with will take that with them
in future jobs and continue to try to do the same thing.
Yes, I'm a little fed up. I need to post more good stories of things I
experience. I hear them every week. Not putting down other disciplines
but simply expressing appreciation for OT on the part of patients.
This week, I saw a lady for a power wheelchair evaluation. She has a
progressive neurological condition and was very resistant to talking
to me. She finally asked who I worked for. When I told her that I had
my own company, was an OT, and specialized in complex wheelchair
evaluations, she visibly relaxed and smiled. She said, "Thank goodness
you are an OT. Other people I have worked with in rehab places in the
past have not done a good job of listening to what I have to say about
what I want and need. The OTs are always my saving grace because they
start out by asking what I want to work on." Someone along the way,
and it sounds like more than one someone, has done an excellent job!
We had an excellent evaluation, and she was willing to listen to some
of my suggestions for her future needs because she trusted our
profession.
Enough for now,
Mary Alice
Mary Alice Cafiero, MSOT/L, ATP
[email protected]
972-757-3733
Fax 888-708-8683
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On Mar 19, 2009, at 8:26 PM, Ron Carson wrote:
Isn't it a bit "childish" that OT is remembered for "folding
clothes"?
Should we be remembered for something a little more substantial?
----- Original Message -----
From: R. Eren Can <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subj: [OTlist] How NOT to be an OT
REC> gotta agree on the first example Ron, you may be off base ont he
REC> second- folding clothes attacks, balance, endurance,
REC> sequencing.....need I go on- and I imagine she NOW CAN DO IT
REC> because she practiced and likely told an OT she needed to do it
at home so not=stupid on that- Ryan
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:46:40 -0400
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [OTlist] How NOT to be an OT
And as if to add "insult to injury", my clinical director told
me that
we have a mandatory inservice next week. The topic is
orthopedic
referrals and OT is to be involved "especially for the UE". :-(
I do NOT focus OT treatment on any body part, so I think my
director is
not going to be happy when I don't take ortho referrals. Well, at
least
not to focus my treatment on the UE.
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subj: [OTlist] How NOT to be an OT
vcn> Wow...as a graduate student in the OT profession I find myself
vcn> appauled at the below comments. Too many times we are not
vcn> identifying with the patient on their needs, this is found
through
vcn> an easy interview or needs assessment. I have recently done a
vcn> project with the ALC here in stillwater, and the site is
planning
vcn> on implementing the program based on our practice of
addressing the
vcn> needs of the site, the needs of the community as well as the
needs
vcn> and desires of the students. I do not want to graduate with
this
vcn> degree with an image such as the one below. and i will fight to
vcn> change that. I am fortunate to have worked and study under
some
vcn> wonderful OT's! Lets hope that the therapists talked about
below
vcn> realize their failures and make the necessary changes to
embrace
vcn> what OT is really for and how it is incredibly beneficial to
the
vcn> patient. sincerely, sarah croft
vcn> ----- Original Message -----
vcn> From: "Ron Carson" <[email protected]>
vcn> To: [email protected]
vcn> Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 7:04:48 AM GMT -06:00 US/
Canada Central
vcn> Subject: [OTlist] How NOT to be an OT
vcn> For our new members, let me explain that I like
highlighting the
vcn> "stupid" OT experiences that I run across. What follows
are two such
vcn> examples:
vcn> 1. Patient comes home from rehab after a fall with
resultant hip
vcn> pinning. I asked him about what OT did for him in rehab.
He comments
vcn> that they had him working on his arms and doing things
like pegs,
vcn> sander, and shoulder arc, etc. Now, here's the catch, the
patient can
vcn> NOT dress his affected LE and is too scared to take a
shower. Now, I'm
vcn> not saying that his OT's didn't address these issues but the
impression
vcn> the patient walked away with are the "stupid" toys that
many OT's play
vcn> with. I ask, did these OT's do BEST practice? Did they
provide SKILLED,
vcn> medically necessary therapy services? Did they address
the patient's
vcn> most important goals?
vcn> 2. Another patient, just out of rehab. 90 years old,
previously living
vcn> alone and now temporarily living with her son. During my
home health
vcn> eval, I explained to the patient/son that as an OT, I am
there to teach
vcn> the patient how to be safe and independent in their home. I
went on to
vcn> explain that this may include everything from car transfer
to cooking
vcn> and that what I do is based on the needs/desires of the
patient. The
vcn> son, who was very nice, immediately said, "Mom can do those
things like
vcn> folding clothes". Now, I never mentioned folding clothes
but I do know
vcn> that MANY rehab OT's do have patients standing at a
table folding
vcn> clothes. Did this man get the impression that OT is
about teaching
vcn> people to "fold clothes"? If so, what a SAD
statement about our
vcn> profession.
vcn> Thanks,
vcn> Ron
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REC> _________________________________________________________________
REC> Windows Live™ Contacts: Organize your contact list.
REC>
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