When to see an occupational therapist for toddlers and pre-schooler was the topic of my October 2011 Occupational Therapy Month bi-weekly children’s column in KV Style, a publication of the Telegraph Journal.
To read my October 14, 2011 article click here.
Nursing Student Brittany Muise found my article misleading and wrote a letter to the Editor.
I need your help! I don’t want information about occupational therapy to be misleading!
What I do want is to share easily understood and accurate information about occupational therapy.
My reply is drafted, I am awaiting guidance from my Editor at KV Style as to whether it would be most helpful to respond with a new column or to write a letter to the editor myself to provide the much needed clarification.
My draft includes some information about my background as an occupational therapist, a definition of occupational therapy from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, that New Brunswick indeed does not require a physician’s referral to occupational therapy, an explanation that occupational therapists do not treat diagnoses or medical problems themselves but rather functional problems in daily life and finally an offer to come and speak to the nursing students to share about occupational therapy.
How would you respond as an occupational therapist?
Heath care colleagues, what informs you rather than misleads?
What do you as a parent, educator or caregiver want to see and hear about occupational therapy for your toddler or pre-schooler?
Wow! That was a pretty ballsy move by a nursing student, especially when it appears pretty evident that she is not fully aware of the role of Occupational Therapists in paediatrics. I’d hate to see if an OT student pulled a similar stunt in regards to nursing’s role in health care. But, that is another topic for another time… Christel, your article was bang on in regards to why we see children in OT and I know my hospital colleagues would agree. In responding to her, I think an overview of what occupational therapy “is” would maybe help her, but I think in the future she may want to think first before making assumption about a profession she does not know fully about. Keep up the great work Christel!
Thanks for the feedback Lindsay, this is a great opportunity to provide education to our nursing colleagues.
You are right Christel, this is a great opportunity to provide education regarding our profession. I read your article and thought that it provided great information for parents on practical tips and easy to identify issues that Occupational Therapists could address. I think it is helpful to note that OTs consult with parents and children on a number of different issues and not always as a result of a specific diagnosis of the illnesses that were pointed out in the letter to the editor. We do so much more than our nursing colleagues (and others) often see!
I think your articles in KV style are always informative, accurate and practical. You do a wonderful job representing Occupational Therapy in our area. Keep up the good work and let’s make sure all those nursing students are well informed. Maybe a multi-disciplinary professional practice day is in order for the nursing curriculum!
Thanks so much Natalie. I think your idea for a multi-disciplinay professional practice day is spectacular. We love it best when we get to collaborate with other health care professionals and our clients do to. Christel
That picture next to the reply to Natalie isn’t me. I am the admin, that is one of my website developers…new website…little fix in order! Christel
Thanks you so much. Occupational therapy is professional therapy in maintaining a good and independent lifestyle of a common person. They help in improving the physical and cognitive skills. Not only young and old people are given occupational therapy, kids are also given OT.