Wow! Thanks for that reality check Brent! It's amazing how a single e-mail can totally change the direction of a person's thought. I've been so "overwhelmed" for so long about trying to define our profession, including separating from PT, that I've really gotten bogged down. Your message sort of took a LOAD off my back.
Ron -- Ron Carson MHS, OT ----- Original Message ----- From: Brent Cheyne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 To: Ron Carson <otlist@otnow.com> Subj: [OTlist] I still can't explain OT BC> "I've been an OT for a long time and I still can NOT explain my BC> profession in a way that is: BC> * Concise BC> * CLEARLY differentiates OT from other professions BC> * Makes sense to other people (i.e. patients, MD's, nurses, etc) BC> * Consistent: BC> - With others BC> - Across patient populations BC> - Supported by practice BC> - Supported by documentation BC> * Satisfies me" BC> BC> Other professions with identity crisis, (job the club) BC> BC> Physical Therapist vs athletic trainer vs massage therapist vs BC> chiropractor, vs exercise physiologist,vs kinesiologist, vs BC> personal trainer vs body worker, yoga instructor vs pilates BC> instructor vs "fitness personality" BC> BC> Chiropractor vs Osteopath vs Naturopath vs Homeopath vs BC> Acupuncturist vs Oriental Medicine Specialist vs Natural Healer BC> BC> Psychiatrist vs Psychologist vs Mental Health Counsellor vs BC> Psychotherapist vs addiction cousellors vs Personal Coach vs BC> Personal Shopper vs Personal Assistant :) BC> BC> Physicians assistant vs Nurse Practitioner, Nurse BC> Anasthestatists, Nurse Midwives, BC> BC> Nutritionist vs Dietitian vs Sports Nutrition Counsellor vs Dietary services manager BC> BC> Nurse Case Manager vs Social Worker vs Geriatric Care Manager vs BC> Life Care Managers vs Disablilty Managers BC> BC> Speech Language Pathologist vs Audiologists vs Special Education BC> Teachers vs Learning Disabled Specialist vs Educaitonal Psychologist BC> BC> BC> Computer Engineer vs Software Engineer vs Network Management BC> specialist vs information technology manager, vs systems analyst BC> vs data base manager vs website developer. BC> BC> Engineers: Civil vs Mechanical vs Electrical vs Structural vs BC> Chemical vs Biomedical vs Architects vs Urban Planners BC> BC> Optometrists vs Opthamologists BC> BC> Lawyers: Corporate Lawyers vs Environmental Lawyers vs Estate BC> Lawyers vs Criminal Lawyers vs Constitutional Lawyers vs Personal BC> Injury Lawyers vs Entertainment and Intellectual Property Lawyers BC> BC> Business: CEO, COO, CFO, CIO, Chairman, President, Owner, Majority Holder BC> BC> CIA vs FBI vs Department of Homeland Security vs Sheriffs BC> Department vs City Police Department vs NSA,vs FEMA BC> BC> Publicist vs Public Relations Specialist vs Advisor/handler vs Agent BC> BC> Journalist vs Columnist vs Pundit vs Blogger vs Poparrattzzi vs TV/Radio Talk Show Host BC> BC> Rabbi vs Priest vs Pastor vs Guru vs Eman vs Shaman vs Minister vs Spiritual Advisor BC> BC> Compassionate Social Conservative Republican vs Fiscally BC> Responsible Progressive Liberal Democrat vs...dare I go on? BC> BC> Sorry, this was just a fun mental exercise for me, there are a BC> lot of professions that overlap in areas of expertise and infuence BC> and turf...the boundries can be social, legal, or cultural, and even political. BC> OT is not alone in the search for a universally understood BC> definition. Stay relevant by being useful and effective with your BC> clients. I try to remain content in my career and enjoy my work BC> despite a lack of concrete and defined professional boundries. BC> BC> Brent BC> BC> BC> BC> BC> BC> BC> BC> -- BC> Options? BC> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com BC> Archive? BC> www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
