Bravo, Mary Alice. With all the new members there must be lots more good stories out there? Let's hear them. Let's celebrate.
Joan Riches B.Sc.O.T. President ACA/ACN High River, Alberta, Canada 403 652 7928 [email protected] Allen Cognitive Advisors Ltd./Allen Cognitive Network PO Box 3214 Cuyahoga Falls Ohio, USA 44223 [email protected] www.allen-cognitive-network.org -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mary Alice Cafiero Sent: March 19, 2009 7:57 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [OTlist] How NOT to be an OT 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 This message, including any attachments, may include confidential, privileged and/or inside information. Any distribution or use of this communication by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the recipient of this message, please notify the sender and permanently delete the message from your system. 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 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Options? >>> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com >>> >>> Archive? >>> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > REC> _________________________________________________________________ > REC> Windows Live Contacts: Organize your contact list. > REC> http://windowslive.com/connect/post/marcusatmicrosoft.spaces.live.com-Bl og-cns!503D1D86EBB2B53C!2285.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_UGC_Contacts_032009 > REC> -- > REC> Options? > REC> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > > REC> Archive? > REC> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > > -- > 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] No virus found in this incoming message. 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