January 2012 - Posts

Poll Results: Speaking Up Is Your First Step With Ethical Issues
30 Jan 2012 7:23 PM

In the most recent 1-Minute Update poll, we asked occupational therapy practitioners to tell us what they would do if their employer asked them to do something unethical. Nearly half of respondents said they would speak up immediately to their employer and a quarter of respondents said they would read AOTA’s Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards (2010) for guidance. 

 

The topic of ethics is an interesting one because unlike the law, there isn’t always a clear right and wrong answer with a specific law prohibiting or permitting a certain action. When analyzing and resolving ethical dilemmas it takes time to consider the facts and make a decision that is defendable and in line with ethical and professional standards. We are impressed that so many occupational therapy practitioners would speak up about unethical conduct to their employers. It’s important to have a justification as to why you think something is unethical when you confront your employer. Often, this takes time and effort to think through the issue and requires using ethics resources to support your position.

AOTA has many ethics resources that specifically address these issues. The first place to start is AOTA’s Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards that addresses the most prevalent ethical concerns for occupational therapy and is a guide for professional behavior. You can also refer to AOTA advisory opinions, which go into more depth about specific issues such as social networking, patient abandonment, and payment for services. AOTA Press recently published the Reference Guide to the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards that can assist you in understanding and resolving ethical issues throughout your career. The book is available at the AOTA store (members get a discount).  

After reviewing these resources, it may be useful to discuss the issue with a colleague who is knowledgeable about ethics. They may provide a perspective that you have not considered and that will help in fully analyzing the situation. You could also check to see if your facility has an ethics committee. AOTA members can contact the AOTA ethics department (ethics@aota.org) for a personalized and professional consultation.

Finally, if after considering all the facts, you decide that an individual colleague is acting in a manner that violates principles of the Code and Ethics Standards, you can speak up by filing an ethics complaint with AOTA. If the individual is an occupational therapy practitioner, you can report a complaint to your state’s licensing board, AOTA, and NBCOT. To report a facility, you can contact the state agency that licenses the facility (here is a state by state list). 

It is important that if you suspect Medicare fraud you contact the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Contact the OIG National Hotline at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). 

Do you have any strategies to share for handling ethical issues? Tell us in the comments.

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Even more resources on documentation: Your biggest barrier to productivity
24 Jan 2012 3:14 PM

Last Fall we asked occupational therapy practitioners to tell us their biggest barrier to productivity. Overwhelmingly they told us it was documentation. We provided some documentation resources for practitioners in a September blog post, but we wanted to let you know about a new OT Practice article on documentation.  

Our associate editor of OT Practice, Andrew Waite, interviewed practitioners about their strategies for successful and efficient documentation. Check out the January 23 issue of OT Practice for his article, Record Time: Point of Service Documentation Strategies Help Practitioners Beat the Time Crunch. 

You will find some tips on effective and efficient documentation and learn about electronic documentation. One of my favorite quotes from the article was this:

“[Documentation] shouldn’t be seen as, ‘I’ve treated my patients, now I have got to do this dirty work of documenting.’ It needs to be seen as part of the whole care delivery process for each patient,” says Sharon Kurfuerst, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA. “So I’m trying to reframe it as, ‘You’re really not done treating Mrs. Smith until her note is written and the chart is closed.’ And if you have that mindset about it, it doesn’t feel like such a big task.” 

A great tip from the article was about how documentation needs to be clinically based and theoretically based—in other words it should show your knowledge as an occupational therapy practitioner. Documentation should not just say that a client is confused or weak, but should identify which muscle is weak and what part of the cognition has changed. 

Read the article online here. 

Do you do point of service documentation at your clinic? How do you like it? Does it help you be more productive? What other tips and strategies would you share for documentation?

AOTA members get OT Practice in their mailbox (and e-mail inbox) 22 times a year, which is full of practical information about professional topics affecting you. Join AOTA now for this great member benefit.   

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Falling in love, with autism: OT on NPR
20 Jan 2012 6:43 PM

Earlier this week in the 1-Minute Update (AOTA’s biweekly e-newsletter) we featured a story that ran in the New York Times about people with autism growing up and falling in love. The article focused on a young couple who both have Asperger syndrome and their attempts at having an intimate relationship. You can read the article here.  

The story about people with autism falling in love is an interesting one because occupational therapy practitioners do so much to help people on the spectrum participate in life—in school, friendships, the workplace, etc. 

Yesterday on NPR the couple from the New York Times article appeared on Talk of the Nation, and imagine our surprise (and delight!) when an occupational therapist called in to the show to talk about her social skills group for young adults on the spectrum. The OT, Daria from Brewster, MA, talked about how the topic of dating comes up often with her clients, and she will help them write social stories to help the client feel comfortable communicating with something they are attracted to. 

We didn’t get Daria’s last name, so if you know her, let us know in the comments!

Another interesting occupational therapy tie in that came up during the program was one of the callers into the show who is on the autism spectrum was an occupational therapy student at one point. 

You can listen to the entire program or read the full length transcript here. 

Are you an occupational therapy practitioner working with young adults with autism? Does the topic of dating and love ever come up with your clients? What strategies have you used? Tell us in the comments. 

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How will health care reform affect OT?
12 Jan 2012 3:26 PM

Health care reform’s future may hinge on a Supreme Court decision coming later this year, but some of the law’s provision have either already been implemented or set to begin in 2012. 

Kaiser Health has an interactive implementation timeline that explains how and when the provisions of health care reform will be implemented in the next few years. This year they count that 10 provisions will go into effect, and 8 are already in progress. You can browse by year and by topics that interest you such as affordability or prevention. 

AOTA has been actively involved in health care reform discussions from before the legislation passed continuing today during implementation (we have an ad hoc committee, we’ve met and commented on many of the proposals, and we constantly monitor health care reform for occupational therapy-related topics).

We created a health care reform hub that has all of our resources in one place. We not only let you know the latest news, but we also let you know how it will affect occupational therapy. Whether you’re interested in Accountable Care Organizations, essential health benefits, or any other health care reform related issues, make aota.org/healthcarereform your one-stop shop.  

We’ll keep you updated on health care reform, especially during the spring and summer when the Supreme Court will hear the case and make a decision about the constitutionality of the law. 

If the Supreme Court upholds the law, implementation will continue until 2016, and the major provisions such as the individual mandate will go into effect in 2014.

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So Very Social: Top Tweets and Facebook Posts in 2011
6 Jan 2012 3:14 PM

Are you following AOTA on Twitter (@AOTAinc and @AOTAincpr)? Have you liked us on Facebook? We aim to bring you interesting news and discussions on our social media channels. Below were the top read tweets and the top viewed facebook posts of 2011.

Top Five Tweets from AOTA in 2011
1. Occupational Therapist at Disney to improve quality of life of Lilly, the baby gorilla! Her health issues baffle experts http://ht.ly/3G0jq

2. Set your DVR/Tivos! Watch Extreme Makeover tomorrow feat an OT client getting a dream home ow.ly/73s59 Interview/Vid 

3. Occupational Therapy listed in top 10 least stressful jobs by CareerCast http://ow.ly/4J0ps Do you agree/disagree? lets discuss! #OTMonth 

4. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports from inside the rehab facility treating Rep. Gabrielle Giffords with Occupational Therapy: http://ht.ly/42RqO

5. Occupational therapy practitioners are in high demand but are short in supply http://ow.ly/6k1fk    

Top Five Facebook Posts from AOTA in 2011
1. CNN: Inside a brain injury recovery, on the role of Occupational Therapy and the road to brain injury rehab http://ht.ly/3Jesl 

2. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports from inside the rehab facility treating Rep. Gabrielle Giffords with Occupational Therapy: http://ht.ly/42RqO

3. Occupational Therapy listed in top 10 least stressful jobs by CareerCast http://ow.ly/4J0ps How much do you enjoy being an OT? Lets discuss!  

4. April is Occupational Therapy Month! Be a Champion for OT! Here are some tips: http://ht.ly/4acXl How will you celebrate OT Month? 

5. iPads help kids with disabilities bridge gap..Are you using them in therapy? What apps? http://awe.sm/5LKEM  (video)

Hope you have enjoyed looking back over the past year and seeing what was popular and engaging to you and your OT colleagues. You can read all of the 2011 top 5 posts here.  

Have any predictions of what will be popular in 2012? Tell me in the comments. 

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Five Most Viewed 1-Minute Update Articles & President's Blog
5 Jan 2012 2:40 PM

Every other week, AOTA members receive the 1-Minute Update in their inbox with the latest news about the association and profession. The Pulse is consistently the most clicked section of the 1-Minute Update, and we found the most popular Pulse links in 2011. Autism checklists, Rep. Giffords, and occupational therapy as a best job topped the list last year. 

Top Five Articles in the 1-Minute Update in 2011

1. Enjoying Halloween with sensory challenges: AOTA  

2. Checklist could spot children with autism earlier: The Washington Post  

3. Job Search: Which industries are hiring the most? Occupational therapy! The Wall Street Journal  

4. Next big Giffords decision: When can she go home? Seattle Times Newspaper 

5. How to pick a toy: Checklist for toy shopping: AOTA  

Did you know that your AOTA president, Florence Clark, is quite the prolific blogger? Clark’s blog had some very popular posts last year including the one with her 2011 new year’s resolutions. 

Top Five AOTA President Blog Posts 
1. What Makes Being an Occupational Therapy Educator So Fulfilling  

2. Hand Therapy by a Super OT—Something Special for My Eyes to Behold  

3. The Centennial Vision in 2011—My New Year’s Resolutions 

4. Reintegrating our Soldiers   

5. Meet Members of Your Board! 

Check back tomorrow for the final post of the series: the top stories on AOTA’s social media.

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Most Popular News Articles from AOTA.org in 2011
4 Jan 2012 3:22 PM

Yesterday we brought you the top blog posts of 2011, and today we’ll take a look at the stories and issues that were important to you on AOTA’s Web site. If you don’t already, you should make a habit of visiting AOTA.org for the latest news about your profession. We cover breaking news, advocacy and policy issues, upcoming events, and feature stories.

In 2011, the top five news articles were about a variety of topics. Many of you and your colleagues were interested in AOTA’s resources on National Falls Prevention Awareness Day and AOTA’s Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards. You also read about occupational therapy’s role in stroke recovery and how your profession is a booming and best job. Check out all five below.

Top Five News Articles on AOTA.org
1. National Falls Prevention Awareness Day is September 23  

2. Recovering from Stroke with Occupational Therapy: Living Life To Its Fullest™  

3. New Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards (2010)  

4. AOTA Works To Lessen Impact of Changes in Skilled Nursing Facilities on OT 

5. A Booming and Best Job: Occupational Therapy a Thriving Career  

Advocacy is definitely an important issue to our members and, in 2011, we reported on some major advocacy issues. Whether you were looking for resources on the new home health rule or the new skilled nursing facilities rule, you found it on AOTA.org. Read the top five advocacy articles below.

Top Five Advocacy Articles on AOTA.org

1. Final 2011 Medicare Fee Schedule Rule Released: Major Therapy Payment Reductions Included   

2. CMS Issues Proposed SNF PPS Rule for FY 2012  

3. Guidance for 2011 CMS Home Health Rule 

4. Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) 2011 Fact Sheet  

5. AOTA Podcasts Now Available - FY 2012 SNF PPS Final Rule (Members only)  

 Check back for the next part of the series on the top stories in the 1-Minute Update and in AOTA’s President’s blog.

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Top Five Most Popular Posts of 2011
3 Jan 2012 5:06 PM

As the new year begins, let’s take a look back at the stories and posts you and your colleagues thought were interesting and important in 2011. In the next few posts we will share the most viewed posts and articles across AOTA’s online sources and examine the topics that meant the most to occupational therapy practitioners in 2011.

Let’s start with the blogosphere. 

Top Five Checking the Pulse Posts in 2011
Our relatively new blog—started in April 2011—is your source for health news, occupational therapy issues, and more. The most read post last year was our gift guide for OT practitioners and students. We want to know—did anyone get the gifts we suggested? Other popular posts included resources on making you more productive with documentation, a great video on aging in place, a tip sheet on using your smart phone safely, and a roundup of Representative Gabrielle Giffords’ recovery milestones.

1. Top Ten Gifts for Occupational Therapy Practitioners and Students

2. AOTA Resources on Your Biggest Barrier to Productivity: Documentation  

3. An OT Can Do That: Aging in Place  

4. We want you to be smart with your smart phone  

5. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Returns to Capitol Hill - A Look Back at Her Milestones  

Top Five Blog Posts on OT Connections in 2011
All OT Connections members (join here!) can start a blog. Below are the top 5 posts from all of the other wonderful blogs on OT Connections. The most read post last year was about the OT advertisement in Times Square—talk about OT in HD! Another popular post was by an OT who put together a great list of iPad apps for people with autism. Check out the rest below.

1. Events Blog: Occupational Therapy is in Times Square NYC!  

2. AOTA's Immediate Past President Blog: February AOTA Board of Director's meeting  

3. Events Blog: Register for 2011 AOTA Annual Conference and Expo Now! 

4. OT Journey: iPad Apps for People with Autism  

5. Events Blog: September 2011 Events Roundup 

We’ll be back soon with the top news articles on AOTA.org and many more! Stay tuned.

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