Extreme Makeover: OT Edition

Pamela E. Toto, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, FAOTA

Assembly of Student Delegates

April 25, 2012

Acknowledgement

• Parts of this presentation are an excerpt from my 2011 presentation at the 2011 AOTA Annual Conference (SC 216) and OT Practice article published April 23, 2012

Occupational Therapy in the beginning…….

Proto-type of the average OT practitioner

Nice

Goes with “the flow” Doesn’t need to be in charge

Gets along with everyone

Helps people “get dressed”

Has lots of cool gadgets

Kind

Common Sense

Exercises peoples’ arms

Teaches handwriting

External Threats to OT (as we know it today)

Shrinking Reimbursement

• Increased scrutiny for necessity of services

• Arbitrary limits on coverage– Reimbursement source– Management

• Increased competition for $$ from other healthcare services

Shift to Focus on Function• Increased interest in

activity and participation– World Health

Organization ICF – Chronic health

conditions

• Adoption of ADL terminology and focus by multiple disciplines

• Varying definitions

ADLs

OTR

Lack of Occupational Therapy Awareness

Occupational Therapy: The Misunderstood Monster

Challenge of Defining Occupational Therapy

• Takes too long to explain• Term “occupation” is confusing• Confused with other rehabilitation services• Varies greatly by population and setting

Internal Threats to OT (things WE could do better….)

“Sin” of Omission

• Accepting “status quo”

• “Following the herd”

• The “devil” made me do it (aka “the boss”)

“Short-selling” the Value of Occupational Therapy

• Attributing skill to “common sense”

• Lack of evidence in communication and documentation

• Deferring our clinical judgment to other disciplines

Happy to be another face in the crowd...

• Representation by disciplines other than occupational therapy

• Avoiding the “limelight”– More comfortable interacting with clients

than decision-makers– More comfortable advocating for others

than yourself

• Who are "they”?

The Occupational Therapy Practitioner of Today

Client-centered

Unique and Necessary

Gets client back to living

Creative Problem-solver

Collaborative

Advocate

Facilitator/Group leader

Empowering

Changing IMPOSSIBLE…..

…to POSSIBLE!

Own our identity

Names Matter• Call yourself an occupational therapist

or occupational therapy assistant– Avoid use of the terms “OT” or “COTA”

• Correct those who identify you as something else– Examples: Physical therapist, therapist,

nurse, aid

• Nametags and business cards• Other

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me!”

Define what you do

• The “elevator” definition– Brief (20 sec)– One to two

sentences– Word choice

depending on your audience

• The “unabridged” version– 2 minutes– Don’t limit to one

population– Use examples– Word choice

depending on your audience

“Don’ts” for defining what you do…

• Don’t be too narrow in focus• Don’t describe OT by relating how it is

different from another profession (i.e. physical therapy)

• Don’t use too much OT jargon– Who else “doffs” their socks except

occupational therapy practitioners?

• Don’t be too wordy – make your point!

Expand the “Army” of Occupational Therapy Adovcates

• Clients as advocates for occupational therapy– Must know who provided the service– Must understand how the intervention has

impacted their occupations and participation– Encourage to promote and talk about the

benefits of occupational therapy– Apply to family and friends

Practice OCCUPATION

Practice Consistency

As an occupational therapy practitioner…

• The areas you address• The services you provide• Your assessment and

intervention approachvs.

Have a “Voice” and Be Heard!

• Leadership comes in many packages– Active leaders– Active doers

• Choose opportunities that “match” your personality and interests– Words– Actions

• Practice self-efficacy OT

Toolkit

Mental Resources• Definitions of

occupational therapy

• Evidence bytes• Real life examples• A position on the

role and scope of occupational therapy

Tangible Resources• Handouts defining

occupational therapy• Goal sheets for

clients• Evidence briefs

– Abstracts– Electronic References

• Giveaways

Questions?

Thank You

GOOD LUCK!

pet3@pitt.edu