Yes, PT's skill set is much superior to OT's in the domain and manner in which they are applied.
While on one hand, OT is often seen as UE experts, I am constantly amazed at the number of OT's who ask how to treat a rotator cuff injury (not that I know how). And beyond the actual skill set, PT has earned, developed and marketed itself as EXPERTS in physical function. Also, there is general consistency from one phy-dys PT to another phy-dys PT. And, not only is what they similar, it's what doctors expect and it's what patients expect. Basically, PT provides well know solutions to perceived problems. They are like car mechanics. When the car breaks and you can't fix it yourself, you take it to a mechanic, right. Same thing with the human body; you take it to a PT. Now, it's not PT's NAME that has brought them recognition and "fame". It the entire package of being a profession that they have successfully "grown" over the years. There name helps, but it's only a small part of why others see them "superior" to OT. Now, I personally don't think PT is superior to OT. I think we each have our domains. However, when an OT operates outside the domain of "occupation", then I generally think they are less effective than PT. The same is true for PT. When they start operating in the domain of occupation, they are generally less effective than PT. Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Ed Kaine <aloft....@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 To: OTlist@otnow.com <OTlist@otnow.com> Subj: [OTlist] Over Utilization of PT in Home Health EK> If not in a name... then what? Is PTs service and skill set that EK> much superior to OTs that it warrants about a 3 to 5 fold bias from EK> OT to PT in nearly every setting? Your facility is probably fairly EK> average in the 3 to 15 ratio... and that is home care. -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
