I think there are too many specialty areas within our vast field to make a blanket statement about what "we" do. No one graduates from OT school with knowledge in every area of the field. It is rare that anyone can actually be competent in every area of the field (in my opinion).
Think about work hardening/vocational training. Often that is very biomechanically oriented. Does that mean that OT shouldn't do it? I think what is becoming more and more clear is that AOTA needs to state that OTs who have just graduated from school have a foundation in the many areas of the profession. The areas should then be listed and explained. For areas that require in-depth knowledge to do well, we need to explore advanced certification or something along those lines. I think if we can come up with a way to define all the areas that OT can and does cover, we will gain more respect professionally and in the general population. MA Mary Alice Cafiero [EMAIL PROTECTED] 972-757-3733 Fax 888-708-8683 This message, including any attachments, may include confidential, privileged and/or inside information. Any distribution or use of this communication by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the recipient of this message, please notify the sender and permanently delete the message from your system. On Aug 27, 2008, at 9:39 AM, Ron Carson wrote: > I think the earlier message presents good arguments for seeing the > patient in question. However, it seems that this person is suggesting > that advanced training qualifies her for doing the treatment. > > But what about the rest of us OT's who do NOT have ortho expertise? > And, what about referral sources? In my experience, most referral > sources see OT's as UE ortho people, but that is NOT my expertise. So, > once. > > What I'm trying to do is find "common ground" for phys dys OT so that > AOTA promotes what we do and that we do what AOTA promotes. > > Thanks, > > Ron > -- > Ron Carson MHS, OT > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 > To: OTlist@OTnow.com <OTlist@OTnow.com> > Subj: [OTlist] Would You Treat For Refer to PT? > > cac> Does she?not lift?with her right shoulder because of the high > cac> pain level?? If she lives alone how will she take her trash out?? > cac> How will she load and unload her groceries from her car?? How > cac> will she carry her laundry basket to her room to put her clothes > cac> away?? Unless this lady has a fulltime maid, her life is a little > cac> difficult right now.? Perhaps prompting the lady's memory isn't > cac> such a bad idea, considering that her mind is probably focused on > cac> her high pain level, and she is probably thinking to herself "Why > cac> does this guy have to know that information, I just want him to > cac> work on my arm", and she is giving you short answers, probably > cac> unaware that you were going to DC her. ?I would start on goal > cac> oriented compensation techniques to get her through her typical > cac> IADLs and a restorative program for her shoulder involving > cac> modalities, soft tissue mobilization around the coracoid process, > cac> relaxation facilitation techniques for?the shoulder,?and a graded > cac> therapeutic exercise program.? Based on AOTAs position papers > cac> over the years, this is certainly an appropriate?approach.? What > cac> is wrong with a bottom up approach starting with body functions > cac> and gradually improving to graded functional activities when the > cac> pain and the AROM improves significantly.? There is no way a > cac> patient like this would improve based on a top down approach.? > cac> She would learn to compensate, but from your evaluation it sounds > cac> like she wants her pain to improve, and for her shoulder to > cac> improve to her normal baseline.? Why in the world wouldn't a > cac> skilled OT with orthopedic shoulder?experience take this case? > > cac> As OTs it is in our scope of practice to treat shoulders, knees, > cac> backs, hips, whatever, from a compensation and a restorative > cac> approach depending on the state in which you practice.? Now based > cac> on our level of education I would not suggest diving into > cac> restorative techniques for these areas unless you have > cac> had?extensive training, and if your PT partner on the other side > cac> of the clinic is working on the same thing.? Team work and > cac> communication is the key for those situations. > > > > > > -- > Options? > www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > > Archive? > www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
