I disagree that our profession as a whole is good about stepping away from worrying about what other professions think of us.
Many times on this list, I've read that an OT has good working relationship with PT and they aren't going to jeopardize that. Well, that's all well and fine, but I'm willing to bet that in general, the only reason OT has a good relationship with PT (DON'T think individuals, think as a profession) is because OT is in "their place", doing exactly what PT wants. The moment OT begins challenging PT, you watch the claws come out. Not long after I started working in home health, one of the PT's went so far as to look at the OT practice act to see if I was practicing beyond my scope. She even involved clinical directors. When I was called to a meeting, I was armed with my practice act, which is VERY vague about what is and isn't OT. There was nothing they could really do, but I'm confident they would call me out if they could. I am not looking for a fight with other professions, but I am not going to back down from my treatment simply because PT feels threatened. I feel the same way about UE/hand therapy. PT's are supposed to be the musculoskeltal experts, so I defer all such treatment to them. Most of them are not skilled in the UE/hand so they get all "freaky" about things. They typically refer these patients to another OT who does do hands. While MD's in Canada may recognize OT, such is NOT the case here in USA, at least in adult phys-dys, UNLESS it's for an UE issue. Most MD's working with adults have NO, and I mean NO, idea of occupation or occupational therapy. Like I said, if they do it typically relates to either: 1. UE ortho injury 2. In conjunction with PT for general rehab I'm sure there are OT's who have forged good working relationships with MD, but these are far and few between. OT just does NOT have standing in the world of medicine. Sad and difficult to admit, but it is so true, in my experience. Thanks, Ron ~~~ Ron Carson MHS, OT www.OTnow.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Joan Riches <jric...@telusplanet.net> Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 To: OTlist@OTnow.com <OTlist@OTnow.com> Subj: [OTlist] Standing JR> Maybe trying to focusing more on the good things will - the way this JR> list has developed - where are all these new people coming from? I like JR> your list below especially number 4. I have seen evidence on the list JR> that many of us are doing this. Don't we count as much as the ones who JR> aren't? JR> In this area we have the respect of the docs. They know and acknowledge JR> us. We don't take this for granted. We've worked hard to make it so. JR> Joan Riches B.Sc.O.T., OT(C) JR> Specialist in Cognitive Disability JR> High River, Alberta, Canada JR> -----Original Message----- JR> From: otlist-boun...@otnow.com [mailto:otlist-boun...@otnow.com] On JR> Behalf Of Ron Carson JR> Sent: August 30, 2009 5:57 AM JR> To: Joan Riches JR> Subject: Re: [OTlist] Standing JR> Thanks! :-), but a hug won't really help with my "problem". JR> What I really "need" is for OT to: JR> 1. Move to the forefront of healthcare JR> 2. Get its head out of the sand JR> 3. Recognize the reality of our situation within healthcare and do JR> something JR> positive and directional to change JR> 4. Step away from worrying about what other professions think of us JR> and JR> instead do what is right and best for patients and OUR profession JR> 5. Practice in a manner which is consistent with AOTA's Framework JR> 6. Stop giving "occupation" a bunch of lip service JR> 7. Learn to stand on our own two feet. To defend our practice JR> Hugs won't help with ANY of these :-) JR> Ron JR> ~~~ JR> Ron Carson MHS, OT JR> www.OTnow.com JR> ----- Original Message ----- JR> From: Joan Riches <jric...@telusplanet.net> JR> Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 JR> To: OTlist@OTnow.com <OTlist@OTnow.com> JR> Subj: [OTlist] Standing JR>> Shirley JR>> I think Ron needs a hug. I hope you are close enough. JR>> Blessings, Joan JR>> -----Original Message----- JR>> From: otlist-boun...@otnow.com [mailto:otlist-boun...@otnow.com] On JR>> Behalf Of Ron Carson JR>> Sent: August 29, 2009 2:35 PM JR>> To: cmnahrw...@aol.com JR>> Subject: Re: [OTlist] Standing JR>> Oh Chris, I sooooo value what I do, and I KNOW that other OT's JR> value JR>> what JR>> they do. But the PROBLEM, at least in my experience, is that JR> almost no JR>> one JR>> else TRULY values our contribution. Why? JR>> No virus found in this outgoing message. JR>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com JR>> Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.71/2333 - Release Date: JR>> 08/29/09 06:39:00 JR>> -- JR>> Options? JR>> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com JR>> Archive? JR>> www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com JR> -- JR> Options? JR> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com JR> Archive? JR> www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com JR> No virus found in this incoming message. JR> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com JR> Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.71/2334 - Release Date: JR> 08/29/09 17:51:00 JR> No virus found in this outgoing message. JR> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com JR> Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.71/2334 - Release Date: JR> 08/29/09 17:51:00 JR> -- JR> Options? JR> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com JR> Archive? JR> www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
