Thanks Mary In Alberta under Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL - how confusing is that?) OTs are the prime assessors for wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment. Adaptive equipment is meant to enhance occupational performance so it must be prescribed by an assessor who is knowledgeable about a client's current and potential occupational performance as well as the possibility of future decline. We also assess for some veteran's benefits which provide equipment (such as scooters) not provided by AADL and both provincial and national programs for home adaptations. On occasion I have been able to consult to community groups and churches about accessibility issues, washrooms, stair lifts, ramps and temporary wheelchair/walker access to the field for Highland Games. I am always sad when I see well-meaning efforts in public washrooms with badly placed bars, toilets too close to the wall, sometimes privacy vestibules where the doors absolutely preclude independent wheelchair access, ramps that end up in puddles that freeze, to name just a few. I always use the big cubicle and report problems to the management. It is amazing how many 'wheelchair' cubicles have non-functioning the door latches. I definitely consider all of this occupational therapy. Joan
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mary Alice Cafiero Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2007 2:59 PM To: OTlist@OTnow.com Subject: [OTlist] Just a word about w/cs I don't get a chance to post often just because in addition to being an OT with a sort of widely varied practice I also have three fairly young kids (10,7, and 4). You can imagine my vast amounts of free time! :) I do enjoy reading the posts though, and manage to pop in now and then to get my two cents heard! I wanted to point out that I am also an ATP which is an Assistive Technology Practitioner through RESNA the Rehab Engineering Society of North America. I do lots of wheelchair evaluations and modifications. Primarily this is for custom wheelchair for kids and adults who have pretty involved injuries or diagnoses (i.e. CP, Spinal cord injury, MD, MS, Spina Bifida, etc). I do both power and manual chairs and work very closely with the actual DME providers. I do actually carry tools around and do repairs at times. Now, it is rare that I do things to a standard issue Medicare geriatric chair. Although I have been known to switch a standard chair to hemi height when a CVA patient is stuck going in circles cause their left arm doesn't work at all and their feet won't touch the floor! The point being, there is a time and a place for lots of things to be appropriate for OT. I personally think that if it is not possible of both an OT and a PT to be involved in a comprehensive wheelchair evaluation, that most often OT has more to offer. We tend to be better problem solvers and are better at thinking of all the possibilities and planning well. Medicare is changing many of the rules that apply to wheelchairs and the reimbursement that affects wheelchairs, so for anyone doing geriatrics, it is something to pay attention to. Once Medicare has it in place, it will most likely trickle over and affect private insurance and eventually state Medicaid programs. Gotta run watch the Saints and the Bears second half. Just wanted to mention this. Obviously it is a passion of mine, and it is not a huge area of practice in OT. I do think it is very important. Go Saints!! Mary Alice -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com **************************************************************************** ********** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************** ********** -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
