Hand Therapy Week was launched in 1993 in an effort to increase public awareness of our advanced specialty. I imagine if we asked friends, physicians and patients, “What is a hand therapist?” the vast majority would not be able to differentiate us from an occupational therapist or a physical therapist. I can honestly say that most of the physicians who refer to our private practice think I’m a physical therapist. Hand Therapy Week will be the perfect opportunity to hand them a brochure and talk about our advanced specialty and how our services provide a “value-added” benefit to their patients.
Please start planning now to promote Hand Therapy Week in your clinic and in your community. There are many excellent ideas listed on the Hand Therapy Week page of the ASHT website. A few we’ve successfully organized in our clinic include: proclamation at the mayor’s office, open house for patients and local community members, hand-shaped cookies and flyers for referring physicians.
Try one or all of these ideas and start spreading the word about our valuable profession of hand therapy. We can make a HUGE impact if we all work together!
NEW IN 2015: Do you have an event or project planned to promote the hand therapy specialty? Send a photo, video or link of your 2015 Hand Therapy Week celebrations to ASHT@asht.org, and you'll be entered to win ASHT prizes, and winners will be recognition at the Annual Meeting, on the ASHT website and through social media. Contest submissions are due June 19, 2015.
Thank you to our 2015 Hand Therapy Week sponsors!
