Hi Ron & others: What are your thoughts on PTs working on standing tolerance with the client's favorite leisure- a game of checkers, or, a homemaker working in PT stacking dishes in overhead cupboards working on standing balance post THR .... are they working on physical functions with an 'occupational' modality? What about OTs using contrast-bath treatments in preparation to self care, since it helps decrease stiffness/ pain in the clients hands before holding on to their toothbrush? 'Physical ' modalities for occupational purposes? Again, do or don't art/ music therapists use art/ music as an 'occupational' modality (ofcourse, not calling it that), even if it is mainly diversional in nature. I have heard of music therapists working with autistic, ADHD kids that helps 'occupy' the kids in a more constructive ways rather than their rather 'mis' or 'dis' occupation. I am not convinced that by law or, in actual practice we have a true domain that's not been shared by others. Again, I do not believe PTs have one either. At least, not in the US. Again, I do not believe that this con'fusion' leading to the 'fission' amongst the professionals is just limited to the US. I believe the OT product is undersold and under-recognized throughout the world, i.e, wherever it is.
Our product is like a liquid, it takes the form of the container- the flexibility is what makes it an art to conform to the uniqueness of the individual that goes beyond the science of pathology. The product is holistic- aimed at health in terms of physical, mental, emotional and social well-being. I agree it is not a product that can be defined, rather it has several definitions based upon different settings. In fact, not too long ago there was an article in Advance or, OT Practice ( just not sure which) and, it depicted analogy of a few blind men describing an elephant with no one having ever seeing one before, and each described it based on what part they came in contact with. Each of them were right, just not complete.... Think of gasoline- it has no form of its own, yet it makes different cars run from concept to vintages, luxury to economy....the power behind the drive! To me that is OT or, that could be. Human bodies are the vehicles- life the journey! (...disregard my bad poetry) :-) p.s: In the above analogy (bad poetry), the tires of the car is PT, as the body of the car is borne on it and, it helps to move/ run it. Just kidding!!!!! Everybody have a great labor day weekend. Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron Carson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Joe Wells" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, August 29, 2003 7:31 PM Subject: Re[2]: [OTlist] PT does it all!! > Hello Joe: > > The OT's profession true and unique domain is that of occupation. In my > little world, it's as simple as that. > > You also mention that we have an excellent product. I believe that our > 'product' is so laterally flattened by different practice patterns and > theories that is hard to even define our product. > > Ron > > ============================================= > > On 8/28/2003,[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > JW> Re: [OTlist] PT does it all!!Amanda: > > JW> I agree. We have an excellent product, just have a lesser brand > JW> name. A few weeks ago, I had posted how a show on Discovery channel > JW> kept showing OTs and called everything PT. Although, both > JW> professions developed almost side by side, it is interesting to see > JW> the difference in the public perception and acceptance that comes > JW> from it. > > JW> Ron, it is a reality. Though not all PTs practice what we OTs > JW> thought or still think is our domain, but more and more are, > JW> especially since it's been published under their practice acts by > JW> APTA. The PT profession does aim at being a wholesome 'rehab/ > JW> therapy' provider. And, it is highly endorsed by APTA. Although, > JW> AOTA endorses a similar stance, I just don't see enough enthusiasm/ > JW> confidence within the profession, let alone public education. Would > JW> we be phased out of public image further with PT's expanded scope? > JW> Is it truly an expansion of PT's scope now, or as they claim, just > JW> given the right words for what they have always been doing? What is > JW> our true unique domain then, something that only we can and only we > JW> are allowed to do ( restricted acts)? Or, is there one? What is PT's > JW> compared to ours? These questions are hopefully being answered by > JW> someone at APTA and AOTA as these professions are heading towards a > JW> very interesting decade or two ahead of us. I expect some major > JW> changes not only in how the way we practice and our professions end > JW> up by 2020, but also how the outside world perceives us as we > JW> struggle in this interesting healthcare market. Joe > > JW> ----- Original Message ----- From: Amanda K. Dobyns To: > JW> [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 8:00 PM Subject: > JW> Re: [OTlist] PT does it all!! > > JW> Unfortunately, the young girl who was quoted in the story probably > JW> did not understand the difference between the two types of therapy > JW> she received during her rehabilitation. In my limited clinical > JW> experience, I have been called a PT more times than you would > JW> believe. I think it goes to show that more client education is > JW> necessary if our profession is to be better understood. > > JW> Amanda > > JW> on 8/28/03 7:20 PM, Ron Carson at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > JW> > Hello: > > JW> > Today, at a medical supply company, I picked up the Spring 2003 > JW> edition > of a magazine called "FAAST Access". The magazine has > JW> something to do > with assistive technology. On page 19 there's a > JW> story line about a young > girl with a spinal cord injury and how > JW> her life was made better by a > piece of technology. Now, here's > JW> the really unfortunate part of the > story. > > JW> > I quote: > > JW> > "As soon as I was able, I started physical therapy to improve my > JW> > independence with daily activities. The therapists were able to > JW> teach me > how to dress and perform all of my daily activities, > JW> except getting in > and out of my chair from the floor." > > JW> > So, not only is the PT profession saying that they teach > JW> self-care, > magazine articles are doing it as well. By the way, > JW> this is not the > first time I read about PT teaching daily > JW> activity. > > JW> > Ron > > JW> > > JW> *****************************??********************************** > > JW> > To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, send a message to: > > JW> > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > JW> > In the message's *body*, put the following text: > > JW> > unsubscribe OTlist > > JW> > - > > JW> > List messages are archived at: > > JW> > http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > JW> > > JW> *****************************??*********************************** > > > *****************************��********************************** > > To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, 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] > > *****************************��*********************************** > *****************************��********************************** To remove yourself from the OTnow mail list, 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] *****************************��***********************************
