Sorry, helping is just not an option.

[sno963]

I am so angry right now, I am not sure if this is the right place to put this. I hope you guys don't mind me ranting a bit!

So I work for a home health agency and we are always seemingly short on physical and occupational therapists. I'm not sure what rock they are hiding under or what cave, but they always disappear as soon as we have work for them! Anyway, we recently picked up a patient that needed every possible skill imaginable including occupational therapy. This patient lives about an hour away from all of our therapists (the one who was close to where this patient was magically moved!).

None of the therapists will take this patient even for just an evaluation. I called my boss and was told to look up therapists on the OT board in our state that they usually have phone numbers where the OT can be reached. Of course wanting to get care for this patient as soon as possible I start calling different OT's, and some of the numbers are for that persons work. I leave a message for that OT to call me back and get calls from a couple of them yelling about how unprofessional it is to call someone at their work looking for them to work for my company.

I then explain that I am not trying to "steal" any employees, I am just in desperate need to get this patient taken care of for one evaluation visit and I could pay both the company and the OT if needed. I get 3-4 calls about how unprofessional that is (so I figure it really must be unprofessional), but I am still having a hard time understanding why it is so unprofessional.

As a CNA, soon to be RN (hopefully!) I would want to make sure every patient is taken care of no matter what! I did not personally take on this case, and I know a few of you would say how if the patient cannot be staffed do not take on the case. I was stuck having to staff this patient after a superior took the case. I am so confused as to why these people don't just want to help out for a patient's benefit.

If I were to receive a call asking if I could call a staff member for extra work for them I would definitely make somewhat of an effort to help. It not only shows your company is compassionate about care, but builds bridges and possibly contacts for later referrals. I was told that if I wanted to work with those people I would have to make a contract with their company (which could take weeks!).

It seems that no one wants to help in this business, and it is really putting me down. I know everyone is out for number 1 but it's healthCARE not healthMONEY. Sorry if this made absolutely no sense at all, I'm just now frustrated and stressed out that I cannot find an OT to eval this patient and no one is willing to lift one finger to get this patient help either. :crying2:

[Chin up]

You've gone well beyond your responsibility, saw a patient need and tried to fill it when teh odds were well against you and then not giving up, you found a viable solution. On behalf of someone who takes care of an elderly parent where neither one of us are loaded, I want to thank you for caring and being innovative. I think your company AND patients are lucky to have you and expect you'll do very well as an RN and beyond.

I concur! Whether it was professional or not is neither here nor there. It was human care and compassion at it's best! It was advocating for your patient. It was going above and beyond. Your superior should never have put you in this place, she abdicated her role, in my eyes, you were more professional than all. In this day and age of laziness, that is not my job, I don't get paid for that...you are a breath of fresh air. You put the patient first and worked tirelessly for her. Not only that, you continue to do so, I salute you! Peace!

[kids]

I do find this unprofessional. Reading your post, and correct me if I'm wrong, you were cold calling these people trying to get them to work? Like a telemarketer? Their employer may be listening to these messages and now you are putting these people in a position where it looks like they may be looking for employment elsewhere.

I agree.

I then explain that I am not trying to "steal" any employees, I am just in desperate need to get this patient taken care of for one evaluation visit and I could pay both the company and the OT if needed. I get 3-4 calls about how unprofessional that is (so I figure it really must be unprofessional), but I am still having a hard time understanding why it is so unprofessional.

If I were to receive a call asking if I could call a staff member for extra work for them I would definitely make somewhat of an effort to help. It not only shows your company is compassionate about care, but builds bridges and possibly contacts for later referrals. I was told that if I wanted to work with those people I would have to make a contract with their company (which could take weeks!).

It is unprofessional to contact the OT directly and to be honest made your company look bad.

What you were told is correct, what you are asking them to do is act as a sub-contractor. That is a discussion and a request that needs to be made to the OT's employer, not the OT.

Both of your Directors and likely the legal department needs to be involved. The scope and limits of the arrangement have to be sorted out, who is going to assume liability and who is going to bill insurance/Medicare.

You can't expect a company to take the word of a staffer that their company will pay the bill.

[freemirini]

Maybe you should have the title of recruiter and get wages that match the job description... :)