I didn't make a referral to PT and I didn't screen the patient. I told the therapy director that if the primary complaint was physical function rather than occupational function, then PT would be more appropriate. In the end, the director (a PT) made the decision to send the patient to PT.
As an OT and an educator, I took the opportunity to reinforce to the therapy director, that as an OT, my primary concern is occupation. Please bear in mind that I have previously discussed with the director about occupation, occupational therapy and my perceived and desired role in the hospice continuum of care. As such, the director was not surprised by my suggestion that PT could better handle this case. While some have said that I missed an opportunity, I also think that I gained an opportunity for more appropriate referrals. Additionally, I belive that accepting this client, will have only reinforced the ill-perceived notion that OT is above-the-waste therapy. I don't know how other practitioners are going to understand about occupation and occupational therapy unless we begin taking referrals because of occupational dysfunction. Taking a referral because of upper extremity tightness seems to only reinforce the concept that I believe is in error. Ron ================================================ On 10/3/2002, [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: Jac> Ron: Jac> Did you screened the patient first before making the referral to P.T.??? Jac> Have you ever seen a patient with bilat muscular tightness have difficulty Jac> washing or putting a shirt on or the caregiver having difficulty secondary Jac> decreased rom. I hope as an Occupational Therapist and educator you took the Jac> opportunity to demonstrate what OT can do even if you just made an Jac> appropriate referral to physical therapy. Jac> *********��*********** Jac> Unsubscribe? Send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jac> In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist Jac> ** List messages are archived at: Jac> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Jac> *********��*********** *********��*********** Unsubscribe? Send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message's *body*, put the following text: unsubscribe OTlist ** List messages are archived at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] *********��***********
