GREAT, idea about good stories; Let them roll!!! There is nothing, I mean nothing, stopping anyone from posting "good" messages. Now, back to my "bad" message. <smile>
In all my years, I have no recollection of someone stating that they wanted to be able to fold clothes and this actually becoming a therapeutic goal. However, my experience is that OT's have patient's folding clothes, not for the benefit of patients' stated goals, but because the therapist are focused on UE stuff and run out of creative ideas. So instead of doing the sander, pegs, cones, blocks, dowels, etc, they have patient's standing at a table folding clothes. This sort of "contrived" therapy really reflects poorly on our profession. My experience is that if a patient's balance or endurance is so poor that they can't fold clothes, there are a LOT more higher precedence issues than clothes folding. But, OT's have backed themselves into their little comfort zone and are "afraid" to move away from their proverbial table. Maybe the problem with OT is that they DON'T worry about changing people's lives. Instead, they worry about their comfort zone, or stepping on the other profession's toes. And, I don't think we need to do a better job explaining what we do. Instead, we need to do a better job of DOING what we explain. By the way, I sense NOTHING elitist in my remarks. And for the benefit of new members, these type of "conversations" are common. Even though there are strong personalities on here, we try to not take "things" too personal. Being able to share our different opinions and experiences is a VITAL part of growing our profession. Too many times, OT's neither form an opinion or don't express it. So, please don't get run off by this thread. Lastly, Mary Alice is right about the "good" messages. I tend to post what some members consider negative stuff, so the list really NEEDS people to post positive things!!! Thanks, Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Alice Cafiero <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] How NOT to be an OT MAC> That's a bit elitist, Ron. If someone wants to be able to fold clothes MAC> and has impairments preventing them from doing so, then that is an MAC> excellent role for OT. Taken as a single incident or out of context, MAC> much of what we do sounds childish. Walking to the bathroom, counting MAC> money, using a screwdriver, etc, etc. BUT, if someone thinks it is MAC> childish, they most likely have never been in the position of not MAC> being able to do one of the things that matters to them. MAC> Maybe we should worry less about leaving a grand mark and important MAC> name for ourselves in the future world and more about changing MAC> patient's lives, one at a time. If enough of those lives are changed, MAC> the people that matter know what OT is. I'm not saying we shouldn't MAC> publicize what we do. I'm not saying we don't need a better job of MAC> explaining our role and our profession. MAC> I AM saying that there seems to be an awful lot of complaining about MAC> PT and other professionals being competitive and taking over our MAC> territory when many of the OTs (on this board and elsewhere) MAC> perpetuate the competition by repetitively talking about it. Work MAC> where you are. Build a team with other professionals where you are. If MAC> you are successful, the people you work with will take that with them MAC> in future jobs and continue to try to do the same thing. MAC> Yes, I'm a little fed up. I need to post more good stories of things I MAC> experience. I hear them every week. Not putting down other disciplines MAC> but simply expressing appreciation for OT on the part of patients. MAC> This week, I saw a lady for a power wheelchair evaluation. She has a MAC> progressive neurological condition and was very resistant to talking MAC> to me. She finally asked who I worked for. When I told her that I had MAC> my own company, was an OT, and specialized in complex wheelchair MAC> evaluations, she visibly relaxed and smiled. She said, "Thank goodness MAC> you are an OT. Other people I have worked with in rehab places in the MAC> past have not done a good job of listening to what I have to say about MAC> what I want and need. The OTs are always my saving grace because they MAC> start out by asking what I want to work on." Someone along the way, MAC> and it sounds like more than one someone, has done an excellent job! MAC> We had an excellent evaluation, and she was willing to listen to some MAC> of my suggestions for her future needs because she trusted our MAC> profession. MAC> Enough for now, MAC> Mary Alice MAC> 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? -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
