| Occupational therapy? Whats that? | | | | Therapists are leading the movement because they |
| The question is inevitable. Most Occupational | | | | hold "the most functional skill base in healthcare." His |
| Therapists are continuously asked to explain what it is | | | | organization is pursuing a Collective Trademark for the |
| that they do. After all, the word "occupation" suggests | | | | titles "Registered Functional Therapist" and "Registered |
| a job, or a profession, so the title itself can be | | | | Functional Therapy Associate". |
| misleading. While the modifiers "physical" and "speech" | | | | Kaine hopes Occupational Therapists seeking a more |
| indicate the focus of that particular kind of therapy, the | | | | relevant name for their profession will use the RFT title |
| term "occupational" might suggest a therapy that | | | | in addition to their OT or COTA credentials, not as a |
| focuses on job skills. | | | | replacement. "We certainly don't want to anger people |
| Certainly an Occupational Therapist might prepare a | | | | who are vested in the name 'Occupational Therapy,'" |
| patient to function in a work environment, but the | | | | Kaine explains. "We recognize the excellent work of |
| broader focus of OT is on any activity, or occupation, | | | | our governing body in the NBCOT and the AOTA |
| that is meaningful to an individual or necessary to live a | | | | have really helped to ensure the place of Occupational |
| full, independent life. To quote the American | | | | Therapy thus far." |
| Occupational Therapist Association, Occupational | | | | The movement doesn't seem to have gained enough |
| Therapy allows patients to carry out "the job of living." | | | | steam to anger anyone (yet), but Occupational |
| I'm tired of explaining what Occupational Therapy is!" | | | | Therapist and ADVANCE blogger, Allie Hafez, recently |
| There's no doubt that the distinction is confusing. The | | | | expressed her concerns about how the re-branding |
| 11,000+ members of a Facebook group called "I'm tired | | | | could potentially undermine the profession. She worries |
| of explaining what Occupational Therapy is!" indicate a | | | | that the popular use of RFT credentials could imply |
| common frustration surrounding public misconceptions. | | | | that OTs without them are lacking the skills to address |
| While most people have a general understanding of | | | | "functional" challenges. |
| speech therapy and physical therapy, many people | | | | Hafez also takes issue with the word "function," |
| have never heard of occupational therapy, much less | | | | insisting the term is of limited descriptive value. She |
| know what it is. | | | | welcomes questions about her job title and uses the |
| But does it really matter if your friends and relatives | | | | confusion as an opportunity to educate the public one |
| understand what you do for a living? Well, maybe not, | | | | conversation at a time. In an ADVANCE blog post |
| but the implications for the public at large are | | | | addressing the ALOFT movement, Hafez says, "I |
| concerning. If people aren't aware of what | | | | celebrate being in a profession that doesn't 'fence me |
| Occupational Therapy has to offer, how will they | | | | in' with easy definitions or descriptions." |
| know to seek treatment? | | | | Creating awareness |
| Is functional therapy the answer? | | | | It's never easy to summarize the creative techniques a |
| This concern is precisely what motivated Occupational | | | | therapist of any specialty uses to improve a patient's |
| Therapist Ed Kaine to establish the American League | | | | quality of life, but as an occupational therapy |
| of Functional Therapists (ALOFT). The new | | | | professional it is essential that you do your part to |
| association's objective is to increase awareness of the | | | | create public awareness. While Occupational |
| purpose of Occupational Therapy by re-branding it | | | | Therapists may face a unique challenge, all therapists |
| under the name "Functional Therapy." Kaine focuses | | | | are tasked with educating the public about the benefits |
| on the word "function" because Occupational | | | | of their specific type of therapy because knowing |
| Therapists use "functional" activities to achieve the | | | | what healthcare options are available is a critical part |
| best patient outcome. While the model is catching on in | | | | of accessing care. |
| other fields, Kaine maintains that Occupational | | | | |