I have learned that OT is a hidden gem in the healthcare arena and I assume that every patient that I encounter does not understand what I do.? That is why I try to make a special point to educate every patient that I work with about OT.? There are many professions that I know that have unclear names and roles, take being a lawyer for example.? I have a vague sense of what lawyers do, but I would have no clue what an intellectual property lawyer does, unless I really need?one.? Same case with doctors.? I have no clear?idea what a?otolaryngologist does, but I'm sure I would learn real quick if I needed one.
I think it is hard to quantify ourselves with other professions, because you can't compare apples to oranges.? PT has a practical name and you can find a PT clinic on every street corner nowadays.? Of course people are going to have a vague sense of what they do.? Basically, I have accepted to teach the medical community what OT does, not by my words but my actions.? I have done countless in services about what OT does, but that only primes the pump.? What you have to do is become an valued expert in what you do and the medical team around you will most certainly identify your area of value.? Continuing education is a prime example of how one can better there self and there profession.? I take several course per year and then in service the entire team, so they know that I have some special knowledge in an area.? One can't sit around and expect referrals to come in, you have to build it yourself. Chris Nahrwold MS, OTR -----Original Message----- From: Kelly Hunt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: OTlist@otnow.com Sent: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 8:13 pm Subject: Re: [OTlist] Lost my OT job today.... plus.... Ron, etc., I admit I am a lurker, and generally a more subtle advocate for our profession, but even I get irked into irritation at times with the blatent disregard for our profession by our Association, the medical community, and other OTs. Case in point. I was called in to work at a rural outpatient clinic today at a hospital system that I work at PRN. On the wall there is a newspaper article for the local paper with the title "New Physical Therapist" and a picture next to it of someone I know to be an OT. The article was welcoming her to her new post (it was a few years dated) and in honor of OT month. YET TITLED AS A NEW PT!!!!!!! Now maybe the paper made a mistake, but the clinic chose to prominantly display this article for all the patients to see. And many of her pts called me a PT or asked, "what is OT again? What's the difference?" I was shocked! How as a profession can we expect to move forward and gain identity when our own colleagues don't distinguish us from other disciplines? Humbly, Kelly the OT! On Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 6:21 PM, Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Thanks EVERYONE. > > I just don't get it. I just don't understand how OT is so far > behind... > > I don't know if I shared this or not, but one of the other therapists, > a PT, documented over 45 visits in one week. Now, tell me how can a > therapist make 45 visits in one week, especially when they are driving > 100+ miles each day? The answer of course, is that each visit is 20 - > 30 minutes. How is that quality therapy? Is that even therapy? > > I thought about going back to the manager and explaining that OT is > vastly different and that OT takes more time than other professions. > And that I can't do quality OT in 20 - 30 minutes, it's just not > possible. But, like my lovely wife pointed out, the HH agency > obviously cares more about money than quality therapy. I understand > that as a corporation, there are revenue goals to be met but come on. > You know, it would b e difficult meeting 30 visits/week. For one, I > routinely drive over 100 miles/day and sometimes 150. That's a LOT of > drive time. So, when is paperwork, phone calls, family calls, etc? > > It really is a shame. I give 100% to patient's outcomes, I often leave > patient's homes wringing wet with sweat, and yet my agency is "upset" > because I'm not meeting productivity. Sadly, I could go sit on my > butt, counting exercise reps for 30 minutes and easily make > productivity. But, how much benefit is that? > > I am so stinkin' frustrated with OT and AOTA. You know we've got that > "great" centennial vision of OT being: > > "a powerful, widely recognized, science-driven, and > evidence-based profession with a globally connected and > diverse workforce meeting society's occupational needs" > > At times like this I think some people at AOTA are TOTALLY clueless > just how bad it is. How can we meet society's needs when the VAST > majority of society has no earthly idea what we do. Or when OT's are > practicing so different from our framework that we are seen by almost > EVERYONE working in phys dys as UE therapists. Almost every patient I > meet in home health is either clueless about OT or they know that we > do pegs, cones, etc. Or, I really love it when a patient who does NO > cooking says she "baked brownies" in OT!!! My gosh, people, GET A > STINKIN' CLUE ALREADY! > > The situation STINKS !!! and I'm tired of it!!!!!!!!! > > OK, time to move on, right? > > Ron > > -- Ron Carson > MHS, OT > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Brent Cheyne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 > To: otlist@otnow.com <otlist@otnow.com> > Subj: [OTlist] Lost my OT job today > > BC> Ron, > BC> Sorry to hear of the struggle and I think a lot of us have > BC> been there before...getting the "OT slap in the face." We are the > BC> Rodney Dangerfields of the Rehab worll...we get "no respect...no > BC> respect at all". You have m y admiration for your conviction to > BC> your ethics and principles which is all you have in the end. I > BC> often have days of wondering whether I chose the right > BC> profession...just due to the fact that I have to explain myself > BC> and earn respect and justify my serivices...it is hard work Just > BC> stay strong and move on...some good may come from it all. > BC> Brent Cheyne OTR/L > > BC> --- On Fri, 10/17/08, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > BC> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > BC> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > BC> Subject: OTlist Digest, Vol 43, Issue 14 > BC> To: otlist@otnow.com > BC> Date: Friday, October 17, 2008, 6:33 AM > > BC> Send OTlist mailing list submissions to > BC> otlist@otnow.com > > BC> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > BC> http://otnow.com/mailman/listinfo/otlist_otnow.com > BC> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > BC> [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > BC> You can reach the person managing the list at > BC> [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > BC> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > BC> than "Re: Contents of OTlist digest..." > > > BC> Today's Topics: > > BC> 1. Lost My Home Health Job Today... (Ron Carson) > BC> 2. Re: Lost My Home Health Job Today... (pat) > BC> 3. Re: Lost My Home Health Job Today... (Ron Carson) > BC> 4. Re: Lost My Home Health Job Today... (pat) > BC> 5. Re: Lost My Home Health Job Today... (Marie Henderson) > BC> 6. Re: Lost My Home Health Job Today... (Guy Montague-Smith) > > > BC> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > BC> Message: 1 > BC> Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:18:40 -0400 > BC> From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > BC> Subject: [OTlist] Lost My Home Health Job Today... > BC> To: OTlist@OTnow.com > BC> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > BC> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 > > BC> Well sort of. > > BC> I was asked to revert back to P RN status because my productivity is > BC> not high enough. The goal is 30 visits/week and I've only been as high > BC> as 24. > > BC> I guess I'm to blame because I give patients ONLY what they need. If a > BC> patient needs 5 day/week, that what they get. If they don't need any > BC> OT, then that's what they get. I guess I could just see all patients > BC> 3x/week and that would take care of the productivity, but I don't feel > BC> that's appropriate. > > BC> I told my supervisor that I can not see patients if I don't get the > BC> referrals. I told my supervisor that I've always thought OT should be > BC> the premier discipline but I don't think she agreed. I also had to > BC> counter the OT = upper extremity "thing" at least three times. > BC> It > BC> seems that no matter how many times I explained that my OT is not > BC> about UE, she just didn't get it. She did ask me to do an inservice > BC> for the nurses, but I'm not too optimistic... > > BC> I must say that my poor little OT feelings are deeply hurt. The agency > BC> just hired 2 new PTA's. I must say, I do get a wee bit tired of > BC> fighting this battle. > > BC> Thanks for listening to me "cry". > > BC> Ron > > > > -- > 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 -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
