Patient or client?Professional or mechanic?
Tony Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Patient or client?Professional or mechanic?
Creator:
Tony Barr
Text:
I believe Florida O&P consumers can now be described as patients since (Florida) practitionors are now required to have a state license to practise their profession(previously a trade.)This recent transition (July 1998) in the state of Florida, of mandatory licensure, and minimumal educational standards , raises the status of the O&P practitionor to the level of a professional from a tradesman / mechanic identity.
The prior (optional) certification process did not necessarrily quarantee qualification of the practitionor.With the requirement of a state license to practise the profession, goes the recognition, responsibility and accountablity of being a health care professional.
Perhaps,once the industry in other states recognizes the importance of establishing mandatory credentials thru licensure , health care insurance providers will revisit and review insurance coverages for O&P services.The beneficiaries of regulation become the patient and the professional.The recent expansion of O&P coverage to adults by Florida Medicaid was a direct result of upgrading ,thru regulation ,the image and qualifications of the industry(now a profession in Florida!).
Perhaps one might ask,What other occupation deserves the recognition as a profession when no license or certification is required to practice their trade?Espicially when that occupation is health care related ?
Congratulations Florida O&P PROFESSIONALS!!!
You are leading the way to the transition of a higher standard from an industry to a profession and your identity as a health care professional!
Anthony T. Barr
The Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
> In response to the recent posting regarding referrring to amputees as
> patients instead of clients.
>
> I have to respectively disagree with the authors assertion that a
> Prosthetist is no more than a tradesman, or mechanic, who is hired to fill
> an order for a part or supply. I believe that there is a very important
> distinction between care giver and mechanic.
>
> Perhaps it is because I work in a hospital setting, but I do not believe any
> of the patients that I provide care for, see out relationship as one where
> a customer is hiring a mechanic to build them something. Of course there
> is a part of what we do that is technical and requires reimbursement.
> However, I think that it is degrading to the entire Prosthetic profession to
> look at what we do as the same as a mechanic.
>
> Without getting to longwinded here, I will pose a couple of questions
> myself.
> Is the patient / Physical Therapist relationship any different? They are
> hired to provide a service. They are paid to do so.
> Is the patient / Surgeon relationship any different? They are hired to
> work on the body and are also paid to do so.
>
> I do not believe that prosthetists are intentionally trying to offend
> amputees by referring to them as patients, but when we are called in as
> part of the rehabilitation team to assist with getting a person back on their
> feet, or back to work, they see it as a patient / care giver relationship.
> Thanks for letting me vent a little.
> Steve Fletcher, CPO
> Shands Hospital at the University of Florida
>
The prior (optional) certification process did not necessarrily quarantee qualification of the practitionor.With the requirement of a state license to practise the profession, goes the recognition, responsibility and accountablity of being a health care professional.
Perhaps,once the industry in other states recognizes the importance of establishing mandatory credentials thru licensure , health care insurance providers will revisit and review insurance coverages for O&P services.The beneficiaries of regulation become the patient and the professional.The recent expansion of O&P coverage to adults by Florida Medicaid was a direct result of upgrading ,thru regulation ,the image and qualifications of the industry(now a profession in Florida!).
Perhaps one might ask,What other occupation deserves the recognition as a profession when no license or certification is required to practice their trade?Espicially when that occupation is health care related ?
Congratulations Florida O&P PROFESSIONALS!!!
You are leading the way to the transition of a higher standard from an industry to a profession and your identity as a health care professional!
Anthony T. Barr
The Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
> In response to the recent posting regarding referrring to amputees as
> patients instead of clients.
>
> I have to respectively disagree with the authors assertion that a
> Prosthetist is no more than a tradesman, or mechanic, who is hired to fill
> an order for a part or supply. I believe that there is a very important
> distinction between care giver and mechanic.
>
> Perhaps it is because I work in a hospital setting, but I do not believe any
> of the patients that I provide care for, see out relationship as one where
> a customer is hiring a mechanic to build them something. Of course there
> is a part of what we do that is technical and requires reimbursement.
> However, I think that it is degrading to the entire Prosthetic profession to
> look at what we do as the same as a mechanic.
>
> Without getting to longwinded here, I will pose a couple of questions
> myself.
> Is the patient / Physical Therapist relationship any different? They are
> hired to provide a service. They are paid to do so.
> Is the patient / Surgeon relationship any different? They are hired to
> work on the body and are also paid to do so.
>
> I do not believe that prosthetists are intentionally trying to offend
> amputees by referring to them as patients, but when we are called in as
> part of the rehabilitation team to assist with getting a person back on their
> feet, or back to work, they see it as a patient / care giver relationship.
> Thanks for letting me vent a little.
> Steve Fletcher, CPO
> Shands Hospital at the University of Florida
>
Citation
Tony Barr, “Patient or client?Professional or mechanic?,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/210904.
