WFOT Newsletter 2013

http://www.wfot.org/Newsletter/201304/AllIndiaOccupationalTherapistsAssociation.aspx

Guest Editorial in Journal of Medical Thesis (JMT)

I thank Dr. Ashok Shyam [Editor of Journal of Medical Thesis] for inviting me to write a Guest Editorial for JMT. I am extremely thankful to Dr. Chetan P. Anchan [Specialized Orthopaedic Oncologist in Mumbai] for his valuable time spent in reviewing the entire writeup, in detail and many valuable suggestions, despite his busy schedule at work. I grab this opportunity to thank Dr. Sandeep B. Bavdekar Sir [HOD Paediatric Department at TNMC and BYL Nair Hospital] for his review comments sent on time and for always being there, as my mentor in all my literary work and academic presentations. It is nice to be surrounded by people who inspire you to explore your talents, skills and interests. I look forward to write many more academic articles, of help to my co-professionals.

http://journalmedicalthesis.com/2013/09/jmt-guest-editorial-punita-v-solanki-2/#!

Occupational Therapy: A Hidden & Often A Misunderstood/MisQuoted Profession in a Rehabilitation Team

People often ask: "What is Occupational Therapy"? It is not an ordinary profession. 

We as Occupational Therapists, are important team members in every Rehabilitation Team including the Physicians, Surgeons, Physical Therapists, Prosthetists and Orthotists, Social Workers, Radiologists, Patients themselves and their Care Givers and so on. But the team is INCOMPLETE without an OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST! I personally is involved in an Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Team. We as Occupational Therapists, view the word "Occupation" NOT just as the person's job or a professional career BUT the word "Occupation" has a larger and a hidden meaning in it. For us, occupation means anything a man/woman or any living being does, right from the time he/she wakes up in the morning till he/she retires on bed at the end of the day - i.e. Occupation is every person's basic self care, mobility and transfers, communication, work (job), educational activities or any productive activities that a person does to earn his/her livelihood, play and leisure that a person does in his/her free or hobby time and so on. Have you ever imagined even a day for yourself without doing these tasks, the so called Occupations? A Human Being or any Living Being in that matter, cannot survive, not even for a day, without these Occupations!

We as Occupational Therapists, offer basic adjunctive treatments in the early stages such as exercise therapy, splinting, adaptive devices to enable independence in daily living tasks till a person is capable of doing it by himself/herself without any aid or a help; specialized neuromusculoskeletal treatment techniques; physical agent modalities to prepare the person for his/her Occupation; then move on to Enabling or Simulated Occupations and then to Purposeful or Meaningful Occupation which is unique to every person's need. Finally we return our clients to their original Occupation or all their Daily Living Tasks based on Client Centered Treatment Approaches. We as Occupational Therapists, deal with all sort of conditions - Arthritis, Children's Orthopaedic Problems such as Cerebral Palsy, Club foot or hand, Scoliosis and many more issues, Shoulder, Knee or any other Joint Conditions or Injuries, Spinal Pains etc. Though the list is too exhaustive to highlight, I would say, we are one amongst the Team of Rehab Health Professionals in the fields of practice such as Orthopaedics, Neurology, Paediatrics, Surgery, Cardiology, Chest Medicine, Endocrinology, Psychiatry and so on. Both Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy are important Rehab Professions, without which a person cannot successfully return to his/her normal routines, after an injury or a disease.

 Also, DO NOT misunderstand 'Acupuncture or Acupressure' to be 'Occupational Therapy'. Occupational Therapy is a well defined Allied Health Profession, which needs a detailed, full time, university & institute based learning process, during graduation of 4 & 1/2 years and post graduation in specialty areas for 3 years. For more details you can visit the website of our National Association: www.aiota.org. 

Keep in touch with my Facebook Page for more information on Occupational Therapy: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Punita-V-Solanki-Occupational-Therapist/481252055245643

I hope once you read this writeup and you visit our website, you will not ask about Acupuncture or Acupressure (which are just - individual alternative treatment modalities), when I say I am an OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST!!!!!!!!!!! But Do ask questions to clarify your concepts about Occupational Therapy as a non medical personnel as well as health care professional. 

It is our first duty as a person when we seek medical help or refer someone for medical help, we ourselves should be well informed and well aware of various Health Professional's Roles, their services, their need and importance. If you are unaware about this information and take a profession for granted, it just means that you are an IGNORANT Being in the 21st Century. So do update yourself with the latest happenings in various Allied Health Professions.

We as Occupational Therapists are Advancing and Evolving along with our Profession but the world is still lagging behind, unaware of a Noble Profession like ours and many others, thereby depriving you of an important allied health service and delaying the return to your Occupation (as well as JOB.) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!