Should Occupational Therapists be part of your team?

Dear Colleague,

Like many of you, I have been getting an abundance of emails with multiple suggestions on how to improve my business. Specifically, due to these unusual times, we are urged to prepare for the ‘normal’ to return. However, what is the new ‘normal’?

My golf pros tell me lets “keep things simple”, 1 or 2 things to think about, any more and my swing goes to somewhere unintended!

So, here’s something to ponder… Why don’t more physio practices’ and multidisciplinary clinics have Occupational Therapists as part of the team? I know some clinics do, but most don’t.

The ‘usual’ is to maybe have myotherapists/podiatry/exercise physiologists and maybe psychologists… but few have O.T’s. More recently, we are being told we have an aging population who are living longer and who we need to keep independent in their own homes for many reasons. So, ask yourself “Is your patient at high risk of falls?”, if so an O.T can probably help.

O.T’s can also help with a host of patient groups from hand therapy, pediatrics, occupational health, NDIS, ergonomics and in home care, just to name a few.

We know we are in “the business” of helping people and making them feel better, so why don’t more clinics have O.T’s on their team? To be honest, I’m not sure of the answer.

However, I am keen to understand the reasons why. There are probably many, some valid, some potentially not. Maybe it is not ‘normal’ now, but perhaps it should become the new ‘normal’ post Covid-19.

So, while you have some possible ‘pondering time’, think about this… will the new ‘normal’ at your clinic involve an OT as part of your services and team?

For more details please visit my website at: www.antonyhirstconsulting.com.au

Sincerely,
Antony Hirst