Re: US POLITICS

Re: US POLITICS

John Hatch

7/20/1999

After months of rhetoric and bashing, sometimes directed at persons
instead of ideas, this is the first time someone has put forth an
alternative. I think our system is broken but I do not think that
consolidation will fix it. I have been trying to gel all the thoughts
and ideas I have on this subject for the past few days. I have come to
the same conclusion as Mr. Bader and I applaud and support his plan.

John Hatch, CPO, LPO, FAAOP



<Email Address Redacted> wrote:
>
> Change is exactly what I would love to see at the national office....
>
> However, the change that I would like to see, is for the 3 groups to
> completely detach into 3 separate organizations, operating in 3 separate
> locations, preferably in 3 different regions of the country. This may be a
> more expensive route in management (that's debatable - competition has been
> known to create efficiency) but more importantly, the 3 businesses cater to 3
> different groups of people, each with different needs within this industry,
> and melting them together creates confusion in the minds of lawmakers......
> and frankly folks, representing us in front of lawmakers is the most
> important thing the national office does for us....
>
> Very simply, the entire industry, and especially practitioners, will be
> loosing a lot of political clout by mixing the clinical elements with the
> manufacturers of product..... Any possible savings created by the sharing a
> coffeepot or copy machine, can, in no way, justify the negative political
> impact that this move can have on the field....
>
> I personally am no chicken little for change, but lets change for the better,
> let these organizations fend for themselves and put forth a face thats about
> who they represent....
>
> this is one CPO's idea of who we are, and what should be represented....
>
> AOPA : represents the Business of P & O... Manufacturers, Clinical
> operations of all sizes. Government relations should focus on reimbursement,
> procedures for reimbursement, and continued insurance and government funding
> of devices and specific gear. Meetings should focus on making our businesses
> more efficient, more profitable, and better places to go to everyday...
>
> AAOP : represents the highest trained practitioners in P & O : these guys
> choose through design and certified by prescription, the gear that our
> patients (sorry Ms Berrera) are provided with. Government relations should
> focus on quality assurance through academic standards, plus the push for
> funding of academic programs to insure that adequate qualified people are
> made available to service all those in need of P & O services. Meetings
> should focus on technical, clinical, and scientific, exchange of information
> and techniques...
>
> As tempting as it is to feel that since we are all good friends, and we
> interact everyday, so lets share expenses and make nice together, It's a
> very flawed mindset that will ultimately lead us down a path of lower
> reimbursements, lower educational standards, and an overall dilution of
> quality services that over time will, without doubt, impact those we serve in
> a very negative way.
>
> Perhaps this explains why consolidation will open the door for lower
> qualified practitioners into the all new, all encompassing P & O
> organization...
>
> Food for thought.....
> The writing is on the wall, or in this case, the bylaws......
>
> Wade Bader, LCPO