Re: Quantifying quality/US Politics
Tony Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Quantifying quality/US Politics
Creator:
Tony Barr
Date:
9/7/1999
Text:
Hi Ed,
Although I believe certification does not necessarily dictate qualification
or assure quality, perhaps by now the O&P profession deserves the
recognition, accountability and the responsibilty required by every other
legitimate health care provider in obtaining mandatory licensure to practice
their profession. Certainly the consumer deserves it!
The profession wants it !
A prosthetist/orthotist , requires as much knowledge as a physician in
terms of knowledge of the physical anatomy, a engineer's expertise in terms
of bracing and structural compliance of manmade devices and the education of
a plastics expert for proper fabrication and application of plastics,
resins and carbon materials.Meaningfull educational requirements thru
regulation and hands on experience of application ,although does not
immediately assure a quantifiable method measuring compotentcy and quality,
it would certainly provide a damn good start for practitioners to be the
best that they can be!More importantly, insurers can now put accountability
and expertise into their equations when considering increased and broader
O&P coverages.
I wonder if a drivers license was not required by law would we adhere to all
traffic laws!?On the other hand does a PHD in rehabilitation quarantee
practical quantifiable assurance of providing complete rehabilitation? In
the terms of most state and federal law ,O&P certification is only optional.
It has always amazed me how certification has eluded to qualification.
Should we support mandatory minimum educational standards for all providers
of O&P services or should the consumer and third party payers be expected to
do thier homework in selecting the right qualified practitioner? Presently,
lack of talent is rewarded the same as talent via price codes for services
delivered and often times not delivered and/or medically unnecessary.
Let's put the business of this hands on patient treatment profession on the
same playing field as all other legitimate health care professions, where
there is a license at stake and then measure the quantifiable method !
At least licensees, LPO's,would recieve some credentials, incentives and
accountability to do their best or they are subject to no longer legally
being able to provide that health care service.Currently,certified
qualified practitioners whom have paid their dues in terms of obtaining
education and expertise in this profession, compete with non qualified
providers.
Payers assume all bidders are equal in talent since ther is no standard or
quantifiable method and award the lowest bidder to provide limited O&P
services to millions.
How is it that tattoo artists, horse farriers,,nail manicurists,hair
dressers, body piercing applicators,physical therepists and yes educators
require mandatory educational standards and credentials,regulated by state
licensing boards and this profession does not? $$$$ and perception that all
men in white coats are qualified regulated medical professionals.
Tony Barr
> Hello All,
>
> After reading the postings on Amputee Union I thought I'd ask for
> opinions on assessing the quality of a prosthesis. It would be great if
> we could verify who is talented by a quantifiable method that is
> acceptable to all parties (clients, practitioners, educators, researchers,
> administrators, etc.). Unfortunately, measurement of quality has been a
> problem - especially for a field where talent applies to numerous areas
> (technical, inter-personal, diagnostic , etc.).
>
> The most prevalent method for measuring quality is satisfaction
> questionnaires (either client and peer). While this measure is useful (if
> the client is not happy then there is likely some problem), the quality is
> dependent on the client's previous experiences. As well, clinicians with
> exceptional inter-personal skills may have satisfied clients that use
> appropriate, but not exceptional, prostheses. In fact, without
qualtitative
> measures of quality we can never be sure that a prosthesis is the best
> that it can be.
>
> A big difference between the entire area of rehabilitation and other
> medical areas is that we deal with cases where there is no obvious
> outcome. We are not satisfied with someone just being able to walk, we
> want them to have the highest functional level / with the most comfort /
> and with the most security, that is possible. Identifying the highest
> functional level is a common problem throughout the field of physical
> rehabilitation.
>
> So, my question to the group is How would you propose to measure
> quality in prosthetics?
>
> Edward Lemaire, PhD
> Research Associate
> The Rehabilitation Centre
> (613) 737-7350 x5592
>
>
Although I believe certification does not necessarily dictate qualification
or assure quality, perhaps by now the O&P profession deserves the
recognition, accountability and the responsibilty required by every other
legitimate health care provider in obtaining mandatory licensure to practice
their profession. Certainly the consumer deserves it!
The profession wants it !
A prosthetist/orthotist , requires as much knowledge as a physician in
terms of knowledge of the physical anatomy, a engineer's expertise in terms
of bracing and structural compliance of manmade devices and the education of
a plastics expert for proper fabrication and application of plastics,
resins and carbon materials.Meaningfull educational requirements thru
regulation and hands on experience of application ,although does not
immediately assure a quantifiable method measuring compotentcy and quality,
it would certainly provide a damn good start for practitioners to be the
best that they can be!More importantly, insurers can now put accountability
and expertise into their equations when considering increased and broader
O&P coverages.
I wonder if a drivers license was not required by law would we adhere to all
traffic laws!?On the other hand does a PHD in rehabilitation quarantee
practical quantifiable assurance of providing complete rehabilitation? In
the terms of most state and federal law ,O&P certification is only optional.
It has always amazed me how certification has eluded to qualification.
Should we support mandatory minimum educational standards for all providers
of O&P services or should the consumer and third party payers be expected to
do thier homework in selecting the right qualified practitioner? Presently,
lack of talent is rewarded the same as talent via price codes for services
delivered and often times not delivered and/or medically unnecessary.
Let's put the business of this hands on patient treatment profession on the
same playing field as all other legitimate health care professions, where
there is a license at stake and then measure the quantifiable method !
At least licensees, LPO's,would recieve some credentials, incentives and
accountability to do their best or they are subject to no longer legally
being able to provide that health care service.Currently,certified
qualified practitioners whom have paid their dues in terms of obtaining
education and expertise in this profession, compete with non qualified
providers.
Payers assume all bidders are equal in talent since ther is no standard or
quantifiable method and award the lowest bidder to provide limited O&P
services to millions.
How is it that tattoo artists, horse farriers,,nail manicurists,hair
dressers, body piercing applicators,physical therepists and yes educators
require mandatory educational standards and credentials,regulated by state
licensing boards and this profession does not? $$$$ and perception that all
men in white coats are qualified regulated medical professionals.
Tony Barr
> Hello All,
>
> After reading the postings on Amputee Union I thought I'd ask for
> opinions on assessing the quality of a prosthesis. It would be great if
> we could verify who is talented by a quantifiable method that is
> acceptable to all parties (clients, practitioners, educators, researchers,
> administrators, etc.). Unfortunately, measurement of quality has been a
> problem - especially for a field where talent applies to numerous areas
> (technical, inter-personal, diagnostic , etc.).
>
> The most prevalent method for measuring quality is satisfaction
> questionnaires (either client and peer). While this measure is useful (if
> the client is not happy then there is likely some problem), the quality is
> dependent on the client's previous experiences. As well, clinicians with
> exceptional inter-personal skills may have satisfied clients that use
> appropriate, but not exceptional, prostheses. In fact, without
qualtitative
> measures of quality we can never be sure that a prosthesis is the best
> that it can be.
>
> A big difference between the entire area of rehabilitation and other
> medical areas is that we deal with cases where there is no obvious
> outcome. We are not satisfied with someone just being able to walk, we
> want them to have the highest functional level / with the most comfort /
> and with the most security, that is possible. Identifying the highest
> functional level is a common problem throughout the field of physical
> rehabilitation.
>
> So, my question to the group is How would you propose to measure
> quality in prosthetics?
>
> Edward Lemaire, PhD
> Research Associate
> The Rehabilitation Centre
> (613) 737-7350 x5592
>
>
Citation
Tony Barr, “Re: Quantifying quality/US Politics,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 1, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/213149.
