It's scary to hear all the misunderstandings of our profression. I didn't have to worry about it a few years ago when I was working in a bigger community hospital. At the time I really didn't know it, but the doctors were informed with what OT and PT's roles were. Most of the referrals came from rehab doctors who worked closely with therapys.
Now I work in a rural community and it's scary. PT has ruled the roost here for years. PT treated all the patients except for hand patients. I am rocking the boat here and it's slowly changing. I keep the theme during my treatment functional activities, so if I get asked if I am double treating I can state my case. Boy though it's hard and sometimes very frustrating to fight to keep our profession alive. A few comments about cognitive rehab. I have worked with both sides of the spectrum with regards to speech and OT working as a team. I have had to take a stand and discuss with the speech therapist how we can work together. This speech therapist was very relieved with OT taking some of the "burden". So I letted her know what I can do for our patient, Some examples of areas I cover are Visual perception, functional reading such as newspaper, phone book, cook books, writing skills, safety/judgement situations, problemsolving and memory such as time management, phone use, job and school duties. These are just a few examples. Each patient depending on the areas of improvements needed may have different issues. I too feel we are in need of help from AOTA. We have struggled with these issues long enough. We have to adovacate on our daily level, but it's getting too hard, especially when the media and legislation is creating this big wall. Thank you for letting us voice our opinions and concerns. It's nice to come to a place and know I can be heard and feel safe doing it. Cimberly Viken OTR/L This message contains privileged and confidential information intended for the use of the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying or distribution is strictly prohibited. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 2:00 PM To: otlist@otnow.com Subject: OTlist Digest, Vol 24, Issue 30 Send OTlist mailing list submissions to otlist@otnow.com To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can reach the person managing the list at [EMAIL PROTECTED] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of OTlist digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: Orientation and Letter Writing Campaign (Jessica R. Gross) 2. Re: OT and Cognitive Disability (Terrie Odom) 3. Re: OT and Cognitive Disability (Ron Carson) 4. Re: OT and Cognitive Disability (Jessica R. Gross) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 12:53:52 -0500 From: "Jessica R. Gross" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [OTlist] Orientation and Letter Writing Campaign To: <OTlist@OTnow.com> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I definitely think we need some more recognition. In vision rehab this is particularly important with the RT attempting to get Medicare reimbursement. Honestly I think it is absolutely absurd that with the conference being held last year in April (OT month) we had no public awareness campaign in Charlotte. I am happy to help with the letter Jessica -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Carson Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 5:02 PM To: OTlist@OTnow.com Subject: [OTlist] Orientation and Letter Writing Campaign Hello All: Today was my first day of orientation at our local hospital. As we are going around the room identifying ourselves, I of course say that I'm an OT. The leader, a hospital administrator says: "Oh you work in outpatient, oh wait your an occupational therapist". I told a different speaker that I worked in rehab and she said: "Oh, you're a PT". Of course I corrected her. The reason I share these stories is just to reiterate that OT has such little name recognition. I don't care where I go, almost without exception, OT is not recognized!! On a second note, I want to start a letter writing campaign to the AOTA president. It seems that we have a lot of valid concerns (at least I have some concerns) about our profession. And while a lot of those concerns are discussed on this list, I really think the concerns need to be made know to AOTA top leadership. So, I am planning on drafting a letter to the Carolyn Baum, posting it on the OTnow.com website in a format that will allow web readers to fill in their name, credentials, etc and e-mail the letter. What do you think? Ron -- 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 ************************************************************************ ************** ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:26:12 -0500 From: "Terrie Odom" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability To: <otlist@otnow.com> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original I am also one of the "lurkers"...but I do have a topic of discussion I would like to hear some opinions on. I am an OT in the LTC setting and I have always had a passion for working with those with cognitive disability (Dementia - all types, head injuries, some forms of mental illness, etc...) At any rate, I have always incorporated into my treatments( for residents with these and other disabilities with cognitive effects), some of the cognitive type goals. Sometimes I will use the ACL as part of my testing and measurement, but not always. Here is my topic I would like some discussion on: I am noticing that more and more OT's are referring their clients with these issues to the SLP. Now I know, or am assuming that this is part of their practice area as well.....but I am concerned that so many OT's do not touch this area. I was trained back in the early 80's (yes I am one of the"old" therapists) and this has always been an integral part of OT practice area. I am concerned that we are turning it over to Speech to take as their sole domain......remember when OT's used to do the majority of dysphagia (also an 80's practice area!) In my area, SLP's are hard to come by right now and many are getting huge prn rates (which I don't begrudge) however, why should they pay an SLP to come in at $60 an hour when I have a staff OT that could provide the same treatment? Am I off base on this? Are we shying away because the goals are not "functional" enough? Maybe someone could also enlighten me on which areas possibly that a SLP could do that an OT would not be able to cover.......I'd love to hear some of your thoughts because I am getting ready to "retrain" my therapists in how to address cognitive disability. Terrie O. ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:05:04 -0500 From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability To: Terrie Odom <OTlist@OTnow.com> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii When I think of SLP's doing cog rehab, I think of one thing and one thing only - computer! In my experience, SLP's do NO real world cog rehab. When I think of OT's doing cog rehab, I thin of real world stuff like helping client's with cog dysfunction to be able to dress, bathe, etc. In my experience, there's little carry over between computer retraining and real-world living. Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Terrie Odom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 To: otlist@otnow.com <otlist@otnow.com> Subj: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability TO> I am also one of the "lurkers"...but I do have a topic of discussion I would TO> like to hear some opinions on. I am an OT in the LTC setting and I have TO> always had a passion for working with those with cognitive disability TO> (Dementia - all types, head injuries, some forms of mental illness, etc...) TO> At any rate, I have always incorporated into my treatments( for residents TO> with these and other disabilities with cognitive effects), some of the TO> cognitive type goals. Sometimes I will use the ACL as part of my testing TO> and measurement, but not always. Here is my topic I would like some TO> discussion on: I am noticing that more and more OT's are referring their TO> clients with these issues to the SLP. Now I know, or am assuming that this TO> is part of their practice area as well.....but I am concerned that so many TO> OT's do not touch this area. I was trained back in the early 80's (yes I am TO> one of the"old" therapists) and this has always been an integral part of OT TO> practice area. I am concerned that we are turning it over to Speech to take TO> as their sole domain......remember when OT's used to do the majority of TO> dysphagia (also an 80's practice area!) In my area, SLP's are hard to come TO> by right now and many are getting huge prn rates (which I don't begrudge) TO> however, why should they pay an SLP to come in at $60 an hour when I have a TO> staff OT that could provide the same treatment? Am I off base on this? Are TO> we shying away because the goals are not "functional" enough? Maybe someone TO> could also enlighten me on which areas possibly that a SLP could do that an TO> OT would not be able to cover.......I'd love to hear some of your thoughts TO> because I am getting ready to "retrain" my therapists in how to address TO> cognitive disability. Terrie O. ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:01:49 -0500 From: "Jessica R. Gross" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability To: <OTlist@OTnow.com> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" there are some amazing speech therapists that can do real-world cognitive activities. Computer retraining can be effective. Does anyone remember Oregon Trail or Sim City- both are very realistic programs that can help with executive functions such as budgeting, organization etc. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Carson Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 5:05 PM To: Terrie Odom Subject: Re: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability When I think of SLP's doing cog rehab, I think of one thing and one thing only - computer! In my experience, SLP's do NO real world cog rehab. When I think of OT's doing cog rehab, I thin of real world stuff like helping client's with cog dysfunction to be able to dress, bathe, etc. In my experience, there's little carry over between computer retraining and real-world living. Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Terrie Odom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 To: otlist@otnow.com <otlist@otnow.com> Subj: [OTlist] OT and Cognitive Disability TO> I am also one of the "lurkers"...but I do have a topic of discussion TO> I would like to hear some opinions on. I am an OT in the LTC TO> setting and I have always had a passion for working with those with TO> cognitive disability (Dementia - all types, head injuries, some TO> forms of mental illness, etc...) At any rate, I have always TO> incorporated into my treatments( for residents with these and other TO> disabilities with cognitive effects), some of the cognitive type TO> goals. Sometimes I will use the ACL as part of my testing and TO> measurement, but not always. Here is my topic I would like some TO> discussion on: I am noticing that more and more OT's are referring TO> their clients with these issues to the SLP. Now I know, or am TO> assuming that this is part of their practice area as well.....but I TO> am concerned that so many OT's do not touch this area. I was TO> trained back in the early 80's (yes I am one of the"old" therapists) TO> and this has always been an integral part of OT practice area. I am TO> concerned that we are turning it over to Speech to take as their TO> sole domain......remember when OT's used to do the majority of TO> dysphagia (also an 80's practice area!) In my area, SLP's are hard TO> to come by right now and many are getting huge prn rates (which I TO> don't begrudge) however, why should they pay an SLP to come in at TO> $60 an hour when I have a staff OT that could provide the same TO> treatment? Am I off base on this? Are we shying away because the TO> goals are not "functional" enough? Maybe someone could also enlighten me on which areas possibly that a SLP could do that an OT would not be able to cover.......I'd love to hear some of your thoughts because I am getting ready to "retrain" my therapists in how to address TO> cognitive disability. Terrie O. -- 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 ************************************************************************ ************** ------------------------------ -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED] End of OTlist Digest, Vol 24, Issue 30 ************************************** -- 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 **************************************************************************************