tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906560836708126523.post4994099385717440291..comments2024-03-20T18:46:45.397-04:00Comments on The Mindful Music Therapist: What makes us great? And are we even as great as we think?Roiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12840915191850723381noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906560836708126523.post-46949043724839448782009-06-30T08:06:40.232-04:002009-06-30T08:06:40.232-04:00John and Michelle, thank you for your thoughts and...John and Michelle, thank you for your thoughts and suggestions! <br /><br />I'll probably say more about it in a future blog (there seems to be an endless variety of things to think about with regard to quality improvement), but there are actually some measures in place at the facility where I work. After all, we receive federal and state dollars to run. As such, there are numerous rules and regulations with regard to paperwork. And someone is almost always looking to make sure the necessary papers and such are there.<br /><br />I think the more difficult questions that came up for me (which I do talk about in the new blog post) were related to "do my *clients* (who don't use speech and who often receive music therapy because someone else deemed it necessary) feel they're benefitting and receiving quality services?" Of course, that's a very simplistic way of putting it, but the fact is, my clients don't come up with goals and objectives for their lives- their treatment teams do. <br /><br />Hmm. Maybe what I'm really trying to get at by looking at quality improvement is "am I helping my clients to find meaning in their lives and supporting them to take ownership of their lives- even within the context of living in an institution?"<br />~~~~~~~~<br />I absolutely agree with both of your suggestions that I keep my supervisor informed of classes, continuing education and so forth. In fact, I not only keep them in the loop as far as that, but I regularly discuss what I'm doing and why. <br /><br />I think the institution (in general and on the whole) is perfectly happy with the services we provide. It's me who is agitating and thinking there's a need to be more conscious in how I'm providing services.<br /><br />Thank you both, again, for your feedback!Roiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840915191850723381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906560836708126523.post-52072752088534025242009-06-29T11:48:41.250-04:002009-06-29T11:48:41.250-04:00I use the same constant communication technique wi...I use the same constant communication technique with my supervisors as well by sending a short email with a recap on a recent activity (conference attended, presented at, even CMTEs attended) AND send a copy of any certificates of completion to be placed in my personnel file.Michelle Erfurt, MT-BCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906560836708126523.post-87415289995671357252009-06-28T23:37:38.779-04:002009-06-28T23:37:38.779-04:00I actually have two facilities that don't requ...I actually have two facilities that don't require any evaluation of my work at all (dangerous, IMHO). As a consequence, I voluntarily insist on an annual review involving my client work and paperwork. This not only gives me something to fall back on (should they decide that they no longer require my services), but also gives me an outside evaluation so that I don't fall into the "am I providing good service" trap and worry-cycle.<br /><br />Another technique that I have found useful is continual and constant communication with my supervisors (non-MTs) regarding my efforts in continuing education. If I have a course, read a book related to MT (such as "This is your brain on music") or present/attend a MT conference, I tell them. This lets them know that I am not remaining dorment and that I wish to improve my current skill set and knowledge about "how to effectively work" with my clients!John Lawrence MMT, MTAnoreply@blogger.com