Re: consolidation
John Russell
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: consolidation
Creator:
John Russell
Date:
1/21/1999
Text:
Hi All
Thanks to Al for starting this thread
I would like to put in a brief note on this subject and also add some
thoughts that have not been address. The thoughts of course will not be
mainstream, but in my peon opinion they are not the BOX way of looking at
the issue.
For the survival of our profession, looking ahead I see that consolidation,
is walking into the lion pit. Let me try to explain, there is a major
movement in having bioengineers more involved in our profession, to the
point where they will some how be on the Rehab team directing the rest of
the team of how to make limbs and braces. First they will be in rehab
clinics, then in OandP offices. This comes from personal involvement in
working with the U.of Berkley BioLab on a cycle racing leg, and from
listservs. Will the bioengineers be in a sub-categories or will we?
In the last few years in general terms the business side has guided the
direction of our profession. In most aspects this has been good. Put this
has put an emphasis on products for sale and not on total improvement of
providing services to our clients. There are major improvements that we
could accomplish in improving our delivery systems. These improvements would
reduce our cost and improve our outcomes. Somehow the National Office has
not help and even hinders the progression in forging ahead in this area. (In
my Opinion) Why are the major improvements in our profession started by
individuals.
I see this more as protecting the past and not looking ahead. What happens
when we waste resources and energy doing politics that allow other's to gain
a foothold in our profession. After BOC started then ABC opens up or
extends certification, this is not looking to the future.
One major difference from a Dr. PT OT or RN all states license these
profession, and the State's control of the profession creates a separation
from the business side of the profession.
I would like to point out another aspect of this issue, (In my Opinion) I
think that we are very lucky with the changes in health care, that we have
faired so well. Doctors are having to deal with major cut in salaries. PT
and OT offices have been closing all the country, (more than 700 home health
offices have closed in the last five years) with a major hit in Home health
care companies. HMO's and PPO's have reduced the numbers of hospital beds
across the country. If we changed our stripes in the middle of the health
care upheaval it might take a couple years to get in the groove again. Can
anyone step forward and guarantees that we will fair any better?
ABC, NCOPE autonomous (budget, policy, governance, & staff) entities but
under the umbrella of the new organization. They will have non-voting
membership on the Board How will this last if they don't have a vote.
Consolidation, what is the point? Of all the e-mails if still can't find a
good logical reason for doing it.
Lisa comments; National Office needs consolidation not only for
convenience, but also (and more importantly) for survival. There are many
ways to make the National Office efficient, why not work on making National
Office staff more efficient. If we are not doing a good job with all of
these associations why make it bigger. $100,000.00 would go a long way in
improving communication at the National Office.
That's all for now.
<Email Address Redacted>
Thanks to Al for starting this thread
I would like to put in a brief note on this subject and also add some
thoughts that have not been address. The thoughts of course will not be
mainstream, but in my peon opinion they are not the BOX way of looking at
the issue.
For the survival of our profession, looking ahead I see that consolidation,
is walking into the lion pit. Let me try to explain, there is a major
movement in having bioengineers more involved in our profession, to the
point where they will some how be on the Rehab team directing the rest of
the team of how to make limbs and braces. First they will be in rehab
clinics, then in OandP offices. This comes from personal involvement in
working with the U.of Berkley BioLab on a cycle racing leg, and from
listservs. Will the bioengineers be in a sub-categories or will we?
In the last few years in general terms the business side has guided the
direction of our profession. In most aspects this has been good. Put this
has put an emphasis on products for sale and not on total improvement of
providing services to our clients. There are major improvements that we
could accomplish in improving our delivery systems. These improvements would
reduce our cost and improve our outcomes. Somehow the National Office has
not help and even hinders the progression in forging ahead in this area. (In
my Opinion) Why are the major improvements in our profession started by
individuals.
I see this more as protecting the past and not looking ahead. What happens
when we waste resources and energy doing politics that allow other's to gain
a foothold in our profession. After BOC started then ABC opens up or
extends certification, this is not looking to the future.
One major difference from a Dr. PT OT or RN all states license these
profession, and the State's control of the profession creates a separation
from the business side of the profession.
I would like to point out another aspect of this issue, (In my Opinion) I
think that we are very lucky with the changes in health care, that we have
faired so well. Doctors are having to deal with major cut in salaries. PT
and OT offices have been closing all the country, (more than 700 home health
offices have closed in the last five years) with a major hit in Home health
care companies. HMO's and PPO's have reduced the numbers of hospital beds
across the country. If we changed our stripes in the middle of the health
care upheaval it might take a couple years to get in the groove again. Can
anyone step forward and guarantees that we will fair any better?
ABC, NCOPE autonomous (budget, policy, governance, & staff) entities but
under the umbrella of the new organization. They will have non-voting
membership on the Board How will this last if they don't have a vote.
Consolidation, what is the point? Of all the e-mails if still can't find a
good logical reason for doing it.
Lisa comments; National Office needs consolidation not only for
convenience, but also (and more importantly) for survival. There are many
ways to make the National Office efficient, why not work on making National
Office staff more efficient. If we are not doing a good job with all of
these associations why make it bigger. $100,000.00 would go a long way in
improving communication at the National Office.
That's all for now.
<Email Address Redacted>
Citation
John Russell, “Re: consolidation,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/211125.
