Dooley Noted: 10/30/2015
This week, I had a colleague laugh at me when he saw me wear my Catalyst SPORT shirt.
He saw the O in SPORT stood for “Orthopedics.”
He scoffed and said, “You’re not in orthopedics.”
I said, “Really? Well, I never said I was in orthopedic medicine. But I absolutely AM in orthopedics.”
He begged to differ, so I quickly saw myself out of the conversation.
I promptly looked up the definition of orthopedics, which describes it as the field of practice that “deals with the prevention and correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments.”
We at Catalyst SPORT have doctors of physical therapy, doctors of chiropractic, massage therapists, and acupuncturists, all committed to the prevention and treatment of injuries in the neuromusculoskeletal system.
How is that NOT orthopedics?
We co-care with strength coaches and trainers to make sure fitness is built on a healthy platform.
This made me realize the conversation with my colleague was less about my capabilities and more about turf.
I am happy to spend the rest of my life breaking down these ridiculous and inhibitive barriers.
I don’t want to do surgery or inject people. If I did, I’d be in orthopedic medicine.
But I will carry out my orthopedic intentions as my scope of practice allows.
I will not accept the dissonance coached into me about how chiropractors, physical therapists, and orthopedists must be in a war as professionals.
I will also not put up a front of hierarchy over my colleagues that don’t have doctorates.
This is about the patient. It’s not a turf war.
And for those more interested in orthopedic turf, I hope you learn the power of collaboration for the success of the patient.
As always, it’s your call.
-Dr. Kathy Dooley
