Re: Federal Legislation

Re: Federal Legislation

Lawrence Hill, CP,BOCOP, C.Ped

I think that Bobby Leaber is absolutely correct when he says that ABC
Certification schools will become null and void if legistation passes that
BOC Certified practioners areQualified. This may seem hipocritical coming
from me, since I am a BOC Orthotist. But, I also think that we cannot limit
the qualified practitioner to being ABC Certified. I am a young
practitioner, and have decided to make Orthotics and Prosthetics my life's
work, but there are not enough people in my age group going into the field of
orthotics and prosthetics to keep up with the demand of patient care
(especially with the baby boomers coming into the age where more and more
will be needing our assistance). I think that there are two solutions to this
problem. The first is that BOC need to raise it's standards necessary for
someone to qualify to sit for the certification test. As of the year 2000,
the standards were 2 years direct patient care, Dr.'s recommendations, and a
High School Diploma. I think the standards should be lifted to at LEAST 5
years of direct patient care, Dr. recommendations, an Associate's Degree (or
prefferably a Bachelor's) and a required number of CEU's from seminars to
show that the individual has had SOME schooling in the area of orthotics and
prosthetics. The next solution would be to bring back ABC short courses.
People have a hard time leaving their jobs and families to go to school at
one of the few remote universities that offer such training in the country.
Personally, I think there should be more universities in the country that
offer prosthetics and orthotics as part of their curriculum (I know that I'm
dreaming here). In any case, it is correct that uniform standards of what a
qualified practioner is, should be set
Thank you for your time
Dawn Hill
BOC Orthotist
Gulfport, MS