TR and the Economy
Posted by ccdixon on 1 February, 2009
1 comment so far
This item was filled under [ Recreational Therapy ]
A recent poll at the Therapeutic Recreation Directory in showed that 255 (out of 290 votes) respondents are facing some type of cut backs in their work place. Despite these cut backs it appears that the health care industry is doing quite well. Since 2001, the health care industry has added 1.7 million jobs . How are you doing at your place of employment? Are you facing cut backs? Do you feel that your job is in jeopardy? You are invitd to share your responses here.
Charlie Dixon
One Comment on “TR and the Economy”
We need to do marketing for TR. This is the only way to educate the public, indusries, agencies etc about why we are an essential part of the health care system. I have been working as a CTRS for 27 years and have been laid off three times. We are the first to go because many people feel that we are fat and non essential. Why would they get rid of the all mighty nurse when they have a recreation therapist to get rid of. They feel that anyone can and should provide activities to their clients. Licensure and marketing are the only way we are going to survive and thrive. We need to educate not only our consumers but our providers and our public. I want to see commercials, magazine adds, bill boards, radio adds etc explaining what great things we do. I saw a program yesterday where they were teaching kids with disabilities how to ride a bike. One of the parents said, “they teach them how to become independent by doing their laundry, taking a bus, doing work but nobody teaches them how to play and be kids. That is essential to have a quality and purpose in life” I was heartbroken to hear that. Not a word about recreation therapy. We need to jump on this right away while healthcare is being re-vamped and is in the lime light. I am tired of paying dues so that I can spend $500 to go to a conference. I am tired of renewing my certification every year and not see the money that I have spent go to promoting our profession. I propose that we start a seperate marketing fund that is tacked onto our membership and certification dues. Perhaps $10.00. That money should be slated for marketing only. I can’t believe we are not doing more marketing. We need to not only look outside our box we need to get out of our box. Giving out t-shirts at work once a year and promoting our profession for a week out of the year to our colleagues and clients is just not enough. We are boxed in. We know what we do. Our clients know what we do even many of our colleagues know what we do. My friends, neighbors and families have no clue what I do for a living. Imagine their shock when I tell them I have a Masters degree in TR. I truly feel we are missing an excellent opportunity to blitz the media with our message. We need to be part of the booming home health agencies and Rehab teams. There are millions of jobs in rehab and they are not looking for us to fill them. Why not? Why is a COTA essential and not a CTRS? They have a license and everyone knows what an OT is. Even if they don’t know what OT is they know it is important. We need to change how we promote our business. Everyone is changing how they do bussiness in this economy. We better change too.