Ron,
Such a great question, and I echo your frustration and at times disgust
This topic has come up numerous times...and could be considered the Theme of
this list serve. Previously we sliced and diced the problems with the
corporations we work for, the productivity, the medicare system, the menacing
"PT" dominance. THe -lack of identity-problem, the "what is occupation"
debate, The "people don't know what we do" dilemma. And so on, and so on. So as
not to rehash all that, What else could be considered wrong with the
profession? What cause creates this effect?
My first thought is to go back to education and training of OT/OTA's. Is
there some flaw in the educational component of our profession leading to a
lack of quality occupation-based and client centered, and relevant treatments?
Must be! What could be done to allow students and new grads to take on a new
paradigm? Any ideas? Sometimes I feel there is a grand disconnect between
school/theory and practice, and the same disconnect between acamdemic and the
clinical world of OT. I have speculated that many practice patterns of the
newly minted OTs are derived from what they are exposed to in their clinical
fieldwork experience and training. Accordingly, they must not be mentored and
guided in a positive or effective way. Do we blame fieldwork supervisors and
educators for the problems?
Another thought that came to mind is that ...hey... aren't all these new
grads getting Masters and Doctorate degrees? Shouldn't the increase in academic
prowess be enhancing and advancing OT practice and expanding the quality and
effectiveness of services? Perhaps the new grads and students are practicing
more appropriately and it is the older, seasoned therapists that are the
problem that you identify. Can't these old dogs learn new tricks? Shouldn't
thenewest and freshest people entering the profession inherently be making it
better, more effective, philosophically sound and scientific based on their
more advanced education? Or could we conclude that the welcome wagon of
experienced OTs just set a bad standard of example with a lack
of leadership/mentorship?
Could we blame the shortage of OT practitioners for the problems? There is
such a need (i.e. reinbursement) for "OTish" services and not enough OTs to
provide it, that there is no competitive pressure to "be excellent" amoungst
your peers. As the french philosopher Voltaire is attributed to saying
(roughly) " the good is the enemy of the great". When was the last time you
were in a competitive situation to find a job? Most of the time a copy of your
resume, license and drug test /background check will get you employed in
OT...and fast. Not much weeding down the applications to the best candidate.
Not many industries with that problem these days.
The other thought is that people that are attracted to the profession are in
it for the great flexibility with hours, pay, benefits, job opportunities, and
it give them the lifestyle comfortable enough to be content with the state of
the profession as it is..no need to be more involved in professional
development, leadership, advocacy, policy, lobby, entrepreneurship, or
professional associations. Check the percentages of OTs in state and national
associations, I believe it to be dismally low. Apathy is my greatest
frustration with our profession. We could make this a better profession if we
got involved and worked together on supporting eachother and on creating a
professional culturer of excellence.
So...thats my rant for the OTList I'd be interested to see in anyone
responds to my comments.
Brent
"The good is the enemy of the great" -Voltaire
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