Hell All:
Recently, I received this message and with the author's permission am
sending it to the list. Izabel has just joined OTnow so please address
any responses to the list.
I think she raises good points about the different way in which OT is
practiced. Although her experience is about regional differences I think
her question may be a good discussion for all of us.
Ron
----- This is a forwarded message -
From: Marcel & Izabel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: 04/10/2001
Subject: OT in The Netherlands
-----
=================Original message text===============
Hello,
My name is Izabel Wesdijk. I have been working as a COTA in N.Y. City
for the past five years. 2 years ago I enrolled in an OT program
especially for COTAS who want to become OTR's. Due to personal
circumstances I am no longer in this program.
Today I came across with your website and I was really happy to find
issues about many questions I've been asking myself since I graduated
from the COTA program. After browsing through the articles and letters
on your site, one letter called my attention. The letter with the
subject "The Dichotomy of Physical vs. Occupational Function". I read
the letter as well as all the answers to it and the reason I'm writing
to you is that just last week I encountered myself in a very awkward
situation which has a lot to do with this subject.
I am spending some time in The Nederlands and I have been going once a
week to a sort of a nursing home which it has a rehab department. I was
given this opportunity in order to observe how OT is provided here in
The Netherlands. I observe the OTR's handling patients on the site and I
also accompany them on home visits. Well, I'll get to the point.
At this place all the treatment is focused on functional activities. I
found a bit different than in N.Y. because the patients here don't do
any physical exercises in OT. For exemple, muscle strengthening
exercises, progressive resistive exercises, exercises involving sitting
balance and so on. They are totally focused on training/retraining of
ADL's , home adaptation, training of motor wheel chairs, different types
of walkers etc. Tools such as over the head pulleys, thera-bands for MS,
arm-bike, ROM arc, weights, hydrocollator do not exist in their OT
department.
When I asked one of the OTR's for these tools she said that these tools
are for PT and not for OT. I felt really stupid and confused because
since I started working and also during my internships these tools were
present and I was instructed to use them with the patients. I worked
under the supervision of an OTR in N.Y. and there were always goals
written by the OTR where I was required to address and measure the
outcome of MS, ROM, grip strength, sitting/standing balance. Of course
we also addressed ADL's but we had to include a variety of physical
exercises as part of the patient's treatment as well.
I find it really nice the work the OTR's do here in The Netherlands but
I also feel that something is missing. I don't know why, maybe because
I'm used to approach patients in a different way. The OTR's here found
it strange that we in America go for continue education courses in
Myofascial Release and other physical training courses. They feel that
they are of no use in the practice of OT. I really don't know who's
right or who's wrong in their way of practicing OT and that's why I am
writing to you.
I felt in your articles and letters a sense of direction and maybe you
can share a few words with me on this subject. Basically my question is:
Should OT's address MS, ROM, in a separate context? meaning using
different tools such as weights, bikes and so on?? I would really
appreciate an answer from you. Thank you so much for your time and I'll
look forward to hearing from you.
Izabel Westdijk / COTA.
==============End of original message text===========
********************
Unsubscribe by sending a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's body, put
the following text:
unsubscribe OTlist
------
OTnow messages are archived at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] (and)
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
********rC***********
