Brent, to tell the truth, I think the problem starts with AOTA. In my
opinion, our national leaders have their heads in the sand. I've been
engaged in recent discussions with the AOTA's president and other
leaders and I walked away with the following sentiments:
1. AOTA leadership is not to savvy to negative comments about
our profession
2. AOTA leadership thinks that the "crappy PT" standard of care
so prevalent in adult phys-dys is the exception and not the rule
To me, everything from the centennial vision statement to the new
branding campaign is nothing but pure nonsense. AOTA looks through rose
colored glasses at the positive things in our profession but refuses to
draw a hard line about what is wrong. And while there are many things
"right" with adult phys-dys OT, there is much more wrong.
Until AOTA leadership wakes up and smells the coffee, nothing will
change with our profession!
Thanks,
Ron
--
Ron Carson MHS, OT
www.OTnow.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Brent Cheyne <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009
To: Ron Carson <[email protected]>
Subj: [OTlist] What the Heck is Wrong with Our Profession? Read this and comment
BC> Ron,
BC> Such a great question, and I echo your frustration and at times disgust
BC>
BC> This topic has come up numerous times...and could be considered the
BC> Theme of this list serve. Previously we sliced and diced the
BC> problems with the corporations we work for, the productivity, the
BC> medicare system, the menacing "PT" dominance. THe -lack of
BC> identity-problem, the "what is occupation" debate, The "people don't
BC> know what we do" dilemma. And so on, and so on. So as not to rehash
BC> all that, What else could be considered wrong with the profession? What
cause creates this effect?
BC>
BC> My first thought is to go back to education and training of
BC> OT/OTA's. Is there some flaw in the educational component of our
BC> profession leading to a lack of quality occupation-based and client
BC> centered, and relevant treatments? Must be! What could be done to
BC> allow students and new grads to take on a new paradigm? Any ideas?
BC> Sometimes I feel there is a grand disconnect between school/theory
BC> and practice, and the same disconnect between acamdemic and the
BC> clinical world of OT. I have speculated that many practice patterns
BC> of the newly minted OTs are derived from what they are exposed to in
BC> their clinical fieldwork experience and training. Accordingly, they
BC> must not be mentored and guided in a positive or effective way. Do
BC> we blame fieldwork supervisors and educators for the problems?
BC> Another thought that came to mind is that ...hey... aren't all
BC> these new grads getting Masters and Doctorate degrees? Shouldn't the
BC> increase in academic prowess be enhancing and advancing OT practice
BC> and expanding the quality and effectiveness of services? Perhaps the
BC> new grads and students are practicing more appropriately and it is
BC> the older, seasoned therapists that are the problem that you
BC> identify. Can't these old dogs learn new tricks? Shouldn't
BC> thenewest and freshest people entering the profession inherently be
BC> making it better, more effective, philosophically sound and
BC> scientific based on their more advanced education? Or could we
BC> conclude that the welcome wagon of experienced OTs just set a bad
BC> standard of example with a lack of leadership/mentorship?
BC> Could we blame the shortage of OT practitioners for the
BC> problems? There is such a need (i.e. reinbursement) for "OTish"
BC> services and not enough OTs to provide it, that there is no
BC> competitive pressure to "be excellent" amoungst your peers. As the
BC> french philosopher Voltaire is attributed to saying (roughly) " the
BC> good is the enemy of the great". When was the last time you were in
BC> a competitive situation to find a job? Most of the time a copy of
BC> your resume, license and drug test /background check will get you
BC> employed in OT...and fast. Not much weeding down the applications
BC> to the best candidate. Not many industries with that problem these days.
BC> The other thought is that people that are attracted to the
BC> profession are in it for the great flexibility with hours, pay,
BC> benefits, job opportunities, and it give them the lifestyle
BC> comfortable enough to be content with the state of the profession as
BC> it is..no need to be more involved in professional development,
BC> leadership, advocacy, policy, lobby, entrepreneurship, or
BC> professional associations. Check the percentages of OTs in state and
BC> national associations, I believe it to be dismally low. Apathy is my
BC> greatest frustration with our profession. We could make this a
BC> better profession if we got involved and worked together on
BC> supporting eachother and on creating a professional culturer of excellence.
BC> So...thats my rant for the OTList I'd be interested to see in anyone
responds to my comments.
BC> Brent
BC> "The good is the enemy of the great" -Voltaire
BC>
BC> --
BC> Options?
BC> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com
BC> Archive?
BC> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
--
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