Amputee Consumerism and AOPA
Ian Gregson
Description
Collection
Title:
Amputee Consumerism and AOPA
Creator:
Ian Gregson
Date:
10/12/1999
Text:
Fellow OandP'ers:
As many of you know I attended the AOPA conference over the weekend in Reno.
It was my first large scale prosthetic conference, I have attend CAPO
and ACA events in the past which have been about a sixth the size.
I attended AOPA for numerous reasons, but mainly to see how the other
half lives. People had told me what it would be like and how
different it would be from ACA events - I guess I was expecting only
a fraction of what I finally ended up seeing and believing.
First of all I had AOPA explained to me - its a business organisation
made up of facility owners and prosthetists (does this sound right).
Amongst other things it lobbies in Washington for legislation to
protect the prosthetic industry.
After getting over the size of the whole thing and talking to many of
you from the list I believe I received an accurate picture of the big
picture.
I knew there would be little in the way of amputee consumerism at
AOPA, but I was still taken aback by the total and complete lack of
it. About the only thing I did notice was that some of the more net
savvy companies used the term consumer at least around me - but
most still used the term patient.
A number of you asked me about the Amputee Union that George Boyer
was drolling an about a few weeks back. A few even congratulated me
on shutting old George up. I didn't dismiss the idea of an amputee
union - I just didn't think George Boyer was the right person to
extolling the virtues of such a concept.
After arriving back home I have passed along my first impressions
back to my SJU list members. I have also received word that one of
the companies that I am currently reselling products for, has
received complaints from prosthetists due to me selling products
directly online. I suppose prosthetists have a right to complain
about competition from upstart amputees like myself, especially when
they threaten to boycott the manufacturers who sell direct.
However, since I do have the names of the prosthetists and companies
they work for, do you not think that amputee consumers have the same
ability and rights to boycott said prosthetists ? When such a
monopoly is more than apparent the atmosphere for the creation of an
Amputee Union is ripe. And you have no one to blame but yourselves.
When people or insurance is being billed 200-300 per cent over cost
for a pair of liners don't you think this creates the right
environment for some consumer activation ? And don't whine to me
about overheads, business is business he who sells low wins, keeping
overheads down is part of operating a succesful business.
We are not talking about knees or feet here. We are talking about
products that are usually handed over to the amputee. Nothing more
technical that an ak or bk sleeve. The orthotic industry sells more
technically complicated products over the counter - why can't the
prosthetic industry follow the same?
The whole premise of amputees buying direct is just the tip of a very
large iceberg - let me clarify for those who don't see the
connections.
Let me tell you more about how an Amputee Union will work. It won't
depend on the industry for support and cash, it won't have any
mandate to provide support for amputees, it will simply be an
industry watchdog, reporting to the right governmental agencies and
insurance companies about falling industry standards - sounds scary
doesn't it ? They would probably start picketing AOPA events and
garnering the media attention that AOPA severely lacks and
underestimates. The American public love a David and Goliath
wrestling match don't they ?
What can you do to stop this ?
First of all there is a misconception that an active amputee consumer
body somehow translates in to reduced revenue for the industry. These
consumers still need prostheses - they still need them to be serviced
etc. - that isn't going anywhere.
Secondly there are far more unethical prosthetists out there that
people will admit to. Now is the time to start weeding them out,
because if the industry does not, a well organised, well funded
consumer group WILL and it will look a lot uglier. Can you spell
WITCH-HUNT ? Increased licencing standards are one way to go with
renewals needed every five years.
Thirdly, open up at least one day of AOPA to the general public, if
only for educational purposes. There is too much mystery, smoke and
mirrors and general misunderstanding about prosthetic limbs, you can
even charge an entrance fee for extra revenue. Other industries do it
- why not this one ?
Yes I know I am naive and don't operate a facility - but I can tell
you I can spot a trend and if you think there are too many uppity
amputees out there now - just keep going the way you are going and
you will think this era as the glory days. Five years from now an
active consumer group will make your business even more of a
challenge.
Finally, many of you admire the tenacity of how amputees deal with
their amputations. You have seen countless numbers of amputee's come
though your doors. Many of you respect (or at least recognise) how we
deal with loss and the recovery - even if it brings out the best and
worst of us. Imagine if that power of recovery was channeled (even
partially) in to a consumer oriented group that has in its sights an
industry that no longer seems to care about them. Once organised this
would be a force so motivated and powerful that all the dollars you
have could not combat it. An amputee jihad maybe. And don't think
it can't happen - people with other types of disabilities are already
doing it all over the world - we won't have to look far for succesful
examples.
Why should you let it get to that point ?
You have the capabilities to do something about it now.
Yes, I learned a lot from AOPA, but I also had a lot of issues
confirmed. You might not have an active consumer group right now -
from someone who knows amputee issues trust me it is coming.
You can choose to fight it as you have been doing or work with it.
=================================================
Ian Gregson ( <Email Address Redacted> )
Amputee WEB Site <> AMPUTATION Online Magazine
<URL Redacted>
Moderator Amputee & D-Sport Listservs
icq # 27356900
=================================================
As many of you know I attended the AOPA conference over the weekend in Reno.
It was my first large scale prosthetic conference, I have attend CAPO
and ACA events in the past which have been about a sixth the size.
I attended AOPA for numerous reasons, but mainly to see how the other
half lives. People had told me what it would be like and how
different it would be from ACA events - I guess I was expecting only
a fraction of what I finally ended up seeing and believing.
First of all I had AOPA explained to me - its a business organisation
made up of facility owners and prosthetists (does this sound right).
Amongst other things it lobbies in Washington for legislation to
protect the prosthetic industry.
After getting over the size of the whole thing and talking to many of
you from the list I believe I received an accurate picture of the big
picture.
I knew there would be little in the way of amputee consumerism at
AOPA, but I was still taken aback by the total and complete lack of
it. About the only thing I did notice was that some of the more net
savvy companies used the term consumer at least around me - but
most still used the term patient.
A number of you asked me about the Amputee Union that George Boyer
was drolling an about a few weeks back. A few even congratulated me
on shutting old George up. I didn't dismiss the idea of an amputee
union - I just didn't think George Boyer was the right person to
extolling the virtues of such a concept.
After arriving back home I have passed along my first impressions
back to my SJU list members. I have also received word that one of
the companies that I am currently reselling products for, has
received complaints from prosthetists due to me selling products
directly online. I suppose prosthetists have a right to complain
about competition from upstart amputees like myself, especially when
they threaten to boycott the manufacturers who sell direct.
However, since I do have the names of the prosthetists and companies
they work for, do you not think that amputee consumers have the same
ability and rights to boycott said prosthetists ? When such a
monopoly is more than apparent the atmosphere for the creation of an
Amputee Union is ripe. And you have no one to blame but yourselves.
When people or insurance is being billed 200-300 per cent over cost
for a pair of liners don't you think this creates the right
environment for some consumer activation ? And don't whine to me
about overheads, business is business he who sells low wins, keeping
overheads down is part of operating a succesful business.
We are not talking about knees or feet here. We are talking about
products that are usually handed over to the amputee. Nothing more
technical that an ak or bk sleeve. The orthotic industry sells more
technically complicated products over the counter - why can't the
prosthetic industry follow the same?
The whole premise of amputees buying direct is just the tip of a very
large iceberg - let me clarify for those who don't see the
connections.
Let me tell you more about how an Amputee Union will work. It won't
depend on the industry for support and cash, it won't have any
mandate to provide support for amputees, it will simply be an
industry watchdog, reporting to the right governmental agencies and
insurance companies about falling industry standards - sounds scary
doesn't it ? They would probably start picketing AOPA events and
garnering the media attention that AOPA severely lacks and
underestimates. The American public love a David and Goliath
wrestling match don't they ?
What can you do to stop this ?
First of all there is a misconception that an active amputee consumer
body somehow translates in to reduced revenue for the industry. These
consumers still need prostheses - they still need them to be serviced
etc. - that isn't going anywhere.
Secondly there are far more unethical prosthetists out there that
people will admit to. Now is the time to start weeding them out,
because if the industry does not, a well organised, well funded
consumer group WILL and it will look a lot uglier. Can you spell
WITCH-HUNT ? Increased licencing standards are one way to go with
renewals needed every five years.
Thirdly, open up at least one day of AOPA to the general public, if
only for educational purposes. There is too much mystery, smoke and
mirrors and general misunderstanding about prosthetic limbs, you can
even charge an entrance fee for extra revenue. Other industries do it
- why not this one ?
Yes I know I am naive and don't operate a facility - but I can tell
you I can spot a trend and if you think there are too many uppity
amputees out there now - just keep going the way you are going and
you will think this era as the glory days. Five years from now an
active consumer group will make your business even more of a
challenge.
Finally, many of you admire the tenacity of how amputees deal with
their amputations. You have seen countless numbers of amputee's come
though your doors. Many of you respect (or at least recognise) how we
deal with loss and the recovery - even if it brings out the best and
worst of us. Imagine if that power of recovery was channeled (even
partially) in to a consumer oriented group that has in its sights an
industry that no longer seems to care about them. Once organised this
would be a force so motivated and powerful that all the dollars you
have could not combat it. An amputee jihad maybe. And don't think
it can't happen - people with other types of disabilities are already
doing it all over the world - we won't have to look far for succesful
examples.
Why should you let it get to that point ?
You have the capabilities to do something about it now.
Yes, I learned a lot from AOPA, but I also had a lot of issues
confirmed. You might not have an active consumer group right now -
from someone who knows amputee issues trust me it is coming.
You can choose to fight it as you have been doing or work with it.
=================================================
Ian Gregson ( <Email Address Redacted> )
Amputee WEB Site <> AMPUTATION Online Magazine
<URL Redacted>
Moderator Amputee & D-Sport Listservs
icq # 27356900
=================================================
Citation
Ian Gregson, “Amputee Consumerism and AOPA,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/212732.
