Re union?

Re union?

George Boyer

12/2/1999

Margaret - forget about the peripherals associated with union activity.
What
matters is that we have a way to forcefully champion our point of view
without
the interference or dilution or misrepresentation or distortion, or
MINIMIZATION, which is present now. The ACA is a useful group which is
essentially in the pocket of the establishment groups: prosthetists,
component manufacturers (look at the advertising in In Motion), the
medical
establishment.....and essentially promotes smooth functioning for those
groups. While not overtly hostile to the overriding interests of the
amputee
my feeling is that the ACA finds it convenient, in the absence of forces

championing specific improvement, to allow the status quo to be
undisturbed.
There is no meaningful militancy in the ACA regarding the points I
mention
below but I feel that they will come on board without reluctance when
such
efforts gain momentum.

We need to secure, beyond any question, the matter of establishing the
TALENT
BEYOND MERE COMPETENCE of ALL prosthetists and that only they are to be
allowed to work independently with amputees. One facet of this effort
will be
toward establishing truly meaningful residencies under master
prosthetists as
the integrating link in the training of new practitioners. Specific
competencies should be recognized, eg AK, BK, HP etc,

Another salient is toward the establishment of a COMPREHENSIVE approach
to
rehabilitation, which essentially is an EDUCATION EFFORT which begins as
soon
as it becomes apparent that an amputation is in the offing for a
person. This
would involve revision of the surgical protocol so that surgeons would
assist
in orienting the patient being amputated, one of the essential first
steps in
a good outcome.

Another thing which I believe we should push for is that prosthetists
should
become true professionals and separate their practice from the sale of
limbs
and components. And that they should be compensated as professionals.
Perhaps there would be a new professional organization: The American
Academy
of Prosthetists (and Orthotists?).

As an organized presence we will be in a position to successfully
counter the
unreasonableness of managed care (and all insurers) in regard to
provision of
prostheses.

One of the background motivations for our efforts surely is that we want
to
insure that in addition to being the victims of our misfortunes that we
are
not the victims of our caregivers.

Does this address some of your uncertainty? Let the debate about
amputee
militancy flourish! GB.


margaret lauterbach wrote:

> At 09:26 PM 12/1/1999 -0500, you wrote:
> >I read an article in the Times the other day about medical interns
and
> >residents forming a union. Hmmm. If any group of people EVER needed
an
> >organized presence it is sure that amputees do. Why hasn't someone
> >(with talents in that direction) stood up to take the helm??? There
is
> >a 'consumer's union' and this would be just a specialized form of
that.
> >It would give amputees a voice and a presence which would be a force
in
> >the prosthetics industry and in medical circles as well as in
insurance
> >and other areas. We need this. Very curious that no one has taken
up
> >the challenge. GB.
> >
> I haven't been on this list very long, have been an amputee for about
6
> months, and I've seen you push the notion of a union many times. We
have
> the Amputee Coalition of America, why would we need another
organization
> doing the same thing? More dues to pay, more people hired to run
it...oh,
> is that the point? Union always implies striking, and for the life of
me, I
> can't figure out how amputees would go on strike. Walk? Wave
>
> I'd welcome a succinct explanation. Thanks, Margaret Lauterbach