_
THE NEED FOR OT PROMOTION FROM THE EYE OF THE STUDY CIRCLE
_A study circle is a democratic form of education based on mutual
learning and action. It is a form of informal adult learning, comprising
a small group (5 to 12) of equal persons who want to achieve similar
goals. The participants would usually like to gain knowledge on the
particular topic and at the same time they would like to transfer their
knowledge to the community and thus contribute to its development.
We believe that this form of gathering is appropriate for planning and implementing the promotion of occupational therapy.
We believe that this form of gathering is appropriate for planning and implementing the promotion of occupational therapy.
_Public health services in Slovenia (2.050.000 population) are typically hospital or institutional based services where majority of occupational therapists are employed. The insurance companies pay services based on reported codes that are the only way of recording professional work. Almost none service is in OT domain (physician is its main holder, OT is involved as additional profession). This payment system is based on Uniform List of Medical Services (so-called ‘Green book of services’) and remains from the year 1982. New proposal is submitted but not yet accepted (OT will gain some more authorizations). Only 5 OTs (out of 500 employed OTs) are having private practice. They are paid by the consumers (out of pocket) therefore their salaries are not compensated with the insurance companies (no referral system exists if you have an independent practice).
There is a lack of OT posts, thus remarkable rate of unemployment as an OT exists in Slovenia. The OT program launched in the year of 1964. In the last two decades app. 20 to 30 OT students graduated each year (1990-2011). If everyone would get the job as an OT, there would be app. 420 to 630 practising OTs nowadays. Those who finished the education earlier (before 1990) and are still working are not included in that evaluation (lack of the data). Therefore the overall estimation would be significantly higher. The estimate number of practising OTs in the year 2011 was 500, published at COTEC website.
In Slovenia OT is still not sufficiently recognized as a discipline. Promotional work should be highlighted in order to reach a satisfactory level of public recognition and a necessary distinction and uniqueness recognized by the professionals with whom OTs (could) collaborate. The establishment of the Study circle Promoting OT formulated in November 2011 by 8 enthusiastic women was a logical step in order to influence the situation.
There is a lack of OT posts, thus remarkable rate of unemployment as an OT exists in Slovenia. The OT program launched in the year of 1964. In the last two decades app. 20 to 30 OT students graduated each year (1990-2011). If everyone would get the job as an OT, there would be app. 420 to 630 practising OTs nowadays. Those who finished the education earlier (before 1990) and are still working are not included in that evaluation (lack of the data). Therefore the overall estimation would be significantly higher. The estimate number of practising OTs in the year 2011 was 500, published at COTEC website.
In Slovenia OT is still not sufficiently recognized as a discipline. Promotional work should be highlighted in order to reach a satisfactory level of public recognition and a necessary distinction and uniqueness recognized by the professionals with whom OTs (could) collaborate. The establishment of the Study circle Promoting OT formulated in November 2011 by 8 enthusiastic women was a logical step in order to influence the situation.