Re: Patient/client/consumer
Tony Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Patient/client/consumer
Creator:
Tony Barr
Text:
Why did God make some men bald?So as to not coverup perfection!!!
At the risk of beating this horse to death, I think there has been alot more harm to the credibility of the profession from the indifferences of titles of providers and recepients , than we might realize.
Certainly indivisual treatment with respect is a major requirement.Part of that treatment must include informing the client,patient or consumer of your qualifications as a prosthetist.
How many times have you heard patients refer to their prosthetists as their doctor??Did you realize that most amputees think that prosthetists are medical doctors? Most legislators think they are! Most lawmakers and consumers think prosthetists are at the very least licensed and regulated by the state in which they practise.These misconceptions prevent upgrading the educational standards and image of the profession.
This also could void the need of a new amputee to research a practitionor's qualifications (if he is lucky to have that option these days)
Perhaps the client(amputee) really wants to feel he is under a better protection umbrella by describing themselves as a patient and incorrectly refering to the prosthetist as a doctor.Do doctors treat clients or patients?
As an amputee, I would like to be regarded as a patient recieving health care services from a professional whether I have O&P insurance coverage or not.As a provider would you not liked to be considered a professional?
If you want to be a professional become an advocate of licensure and call yourself a a professional prosthetist and refer to your clients as patients.
If you want to be referred to as a mechanic or DME supplier label your patients clients and consumers.
Who knows, eventually health care insurance providers may determine 'there is a difference in the quality of goods and services delivered from both and reevaluate fair compensation for the qualified services of a professional !!! But before they will reevaluate that, the practitionor will have to!!
Tony Barr
----------
> We all wear many hats at the same time. (At least I do with my bald head.)
> Is it the name we are called or is the posessiveness of what the name
> implies.
>
> When I work for/with the individual and they are seaking my professional
> advice/service then the medical/insurance world dictates that the
> individual is a patient. When that individual is able or willing to direct
> their care and are more in charge then they become a client. And when
> they pay thier bill they become the consumer/customer.
>
> The person has not changed. And neither should how they a treated! But we
> all slip in how or what we say. My prosthetist; your doctor; our patient;
> my kids with CP; etc. It is not done to be disrespectful. As long as you
> treat person with the individual respect that they are intitled to, that's
> what matters.
>
> We all need to stop thinking posessive and start thinking in a cooperative
> mode!
>
> Terry Supan, CPO
> Associate Professor
> Director, Orthotic Prosthetic Services
> SIU School of Medicine
> Orthotic Prosthetic Services, LL0300
> PO Box 19652
> Springfield, IL., USA, 62794-9652
> phone: (217) 782-5682
> fax: (217) 782-7323
> E-mail: < <Email Address Redacted> >
>
At the risk of beating this horse to death, I think there has been alot more harm to the credibility of the profession from the indifferences of titles of providers and recepients , than we might realize.
Certainly indivisual treatment with respect is a major requirement.Part of that treatment must include informing the client,patient or consumer of your qualifications as a prosthetist.
How many times have you heard patients refer to their prosthetists as their doctor??Did you realize that most amputees think that prosthetists are medical doctors? Most legislators think they are! Most lawmakers and consumers think prosthetists are at the very least licensed and regulated by the state in which they practise.These misconceptions prevent upgrading the educational standards and image of the profession.
This also could void the need of a new amputee to research a practitionor's qualifications (if he is lucky to have that option these days)
Perhaps the client(amputee) really wants to feel he is under a better protection umbrella by describing themselves as a patient and incorrectly refering to the prosthetist as a doctor.Do doctors treat clients or patients?
As an amputee, I would like to be regarded as a patient recieving health care services from a professional whether I have O&P insurance coverage or not.As a provider would you not liked to be considered a professional?
If you want to be a professional become an advocate of licensure and call yourself a a professional prosthetist and refer to your clients as patients.
If you want to be referred to as a mechanic or DME supplier label your patients clients and consumers.
Who knows, eventually health care insurance providers may determine 'there is a difference in the quality of goods and services delivered from both and reevaluate fair compensation for the qualified services of a professional !!! But before they will reevaluate that, the practitionor will have to!!
Tony Barr
----------
> We all wear many hats at the same time. (At least I do with my bald head.)
> Is it the name we are called or is the posessiveness of what the name
> implies.
>
> When I work for/with the individual and they are seaking my professional
> advice/service then the medical/insurance world dictates that the
> individual is a patient. When that individual is able or willing to direct
> their care and are more in charge then they become a client. And when
> they pay thier bill they become the consumer/customer.
>
> The person has not changed. And neither should how they a treated! But we
> all slip in how or what we say. My prosthetist; your doctor; our patient;
> my kids with CP; etc. It is not done to be disrespectful. As long as you
> treat person with the individual respect that they are intitled to, that's
> what matters.
>
> We all need to stop thinking posessive and start thinking in a cooperative
> mode!
>
> Terry Supan, CPO
> Associate Professor
> Director, Orthotic Prosthetic Services
> SIU School of Medicine
> Orthotic Prosthetic Services, LL0300
> PO Box 19652
> Springfield, IL., USA, 62794-9652
> phone: (217) 782-5682
> fax: (217) 782-7323
> E-mail: < <Email Address Redacted> >
>
Citation
Tony Barr, “Re: Patient/client/consumer,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/210905.
