Pinch Your Cheeks

Hello all. Now that I have a permanent job I don't have as many interesting 'travel' stories but I'm still here. I can share events as they happen for my faithful readers- for example this past weekend we (dog and I) went to a state park. But today that is not the topic. 

All my therapy friends can relate and 'YASS QUEEN' to this post. It's about productivity standards in our workplace and how it is BULLSHIT. Plain and simple. If you like productivity its probably because you conveniently 'make' yourself productive on the clock or you're higher level management who is forced to like to so we can meet our budgets. blarffff. 

Feeling the PINCH.

Created by Sophia516

pro·duc·tiv·i·ty

1. the rate at which goods are produced or work is completed
2. the rate per unit area or per unit volume at which biomass consumable as food by other organisms is made by producers
3. measure of productive efficiency calculated as the ratio of what is produced to what is required to produce it
4. having the quality or power of producing especially in abundance
5. effective in bringing about
6. yielding results, benefits, or profits
7. yielding or devoted to the satisfaction of wants or the creation of utilities
8. producing or able to produce something especially in large amounts
9. advances in productivity stemmed from a number of innovations, including assembly lines and automation
10. raising mucus or sputum from the bronchi <a productive cough>

Ok. So there are MW's definitions of productivity. I personally feel like this topic feels more like definition #10 than the others but I highlighted the ones more associated with this instance.  Some people like to say 'efficiency' instead of productivity but it's still the same bullshit. It's like euphemisms for puking- you can say you 'lost your lunch' but you still barfed, hurled, or ralphed. 

for you non-therapist readers- we are held to productivity standards to account for our billable vs. non-billable time - ideally our billable therapy time (direct treatment) divided by total time in the building ranges from 85-95% when do you do the math. Those numbers are roughly average but are NOT realistic. Standards varied for different therapy disciplines, positions, and higher if you are a third-party contractor (most therapy companies are if they are in long term care).  

Here is my main thought on this rigamarole: 

IT IS HARD TO BE A PRODUCTIVE THERAPIST AND A GOOD THERAPIST. 

In my experience and clinical opinion it is hard to provide actual good therapy and patient care while at the same time completing your note with them point-of-service AND getting your next patient within the next 3 minutes or so.. This gives you zero time to talk to a nurse, go to the bathroom, breathe, check your work email, talk to your boss, etc. So if you are a super therapist and can HONESTLY make your productivity standard everyday, more power to you soul sister or brother- I salute that. 

Now add in addition to those tasks being an evaluating therapist like myself- you now have evaluations, progress notes, re-certs, orders, and supervise your therapy assistants. 

Now add in being an evaluating therapist and management role (I'm not a PD) where you have meetings and additional paperwork. 

In my position it is VERY frustrating and stressful to me- I am very hard on myself, have control issues, and am type-A. So throw all that together and you have a hot flippin' mess. You want to do your best, help others, lead others, and maintain your productivity. This is where I nearly fall apart when I get emails or calls about this crap- no insults intended just the general frustration that comes with this topic. Now add in Diet Coke on an IV to keep me going. I told one of my co-workers that my name tag needs to say : "NAME", Occupational Therapist, I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN. 

its' so hard y'all. I know my therapy friends get it. I don't know when or if we'll catch a break. PDPM changes did not help this mess. I get it that it all goes back to finances and budgeting but it is NOT realistic. This is why you lose people and why people work in different settings (i.e. schools) where productivity isn't an issue. And for those who work the clock and manipulate it to their advantage- you're not helping those of us who are actually working our tails off. 

I'm off this soap box. I have others but I won't go there. Just don't ask me about exercise, puzzles, tracing, teaching shoe tying, incontinence training, and DEFINITELY not 'sensory diets'. 

Thanks for reading! That's all for now. Next post on Bella and I's latest adventures. Keep on livin' the American dream. 

Peace, love, and crockpots,

ME