Infusion of new blood for O&P unlikely
Stan LaCount
Description
Collection
Title:
Infusion of new blood for O&P unlikely
Creator:
Stan LaCount
Date:
12/20/2000
Text:
I'm hearing that the O&P residency programs pay from 20 to 24 thousand a year. Lets put that in perspective so that we might better understand why the new talent necessary for true O&P professional status won't be breaking down the gates anytime soon. In the first place 20-24 thousand is about what any untrained high school graduate could expect to earn even at a gas station or a 7-11. Secondly, after spending from 100-200 thousand for a college degree as well as 12-16 thousand (plus loss in wages while attending) for two semesters at NWU for the short course in either O or P, the candidate must now attend a year or more of residency and exist on crackers and ketchup soup. Meanwhile, his unwashed and ueducated brethren will be making 50 thousand or more for performing essentially the same tasks. Ha, Ha, Ha.
Get real folks, I'm as altruistic as any but the interest payment for my education alone exceeds the twenty thousand you are willing to pay for my residency. Of course, I'd need a car to get there ( the residency site is out of town of course) and at least one or two white smocks (or are those provided), one meal a week at least, dues to all the societies, a hair cut once or twice a year, shoes, and a place to sleep. Small wonder only the poor underpaid techies from the plaster filled back rooms are willing to undergo such depravity (they must be used to it).
I heard from a woman who was wonderfully qualifed with a masters of science degree in mechanical engineering who went through NWU's Orthotic program and was offered the chump change mentioned earlier for a residency. She promptly returned to her old job and turned her back on this field in disgust (maybe not completely, I'd beg her forgiveness ASAP if I were you). This was a PE (professional Engineer) to boot. You couldn't ask for better credentials for a Certified Practitioner. But NOOOOO, this field doesn't want to pay the dues to be real professionals. You want the professionals to pay your dues. In spite of the almost universal practice of calling your customers patients It is quite evident that most of you have no right to do so. In my humble opinion, until minimum standards include an applicable college degree along with the other requirements for all who posess certification, O&P can not claim to be a real honest to goodness allied health profession . Based on the hardships you impose for certification, only the most uneducated desperado would consider this do-able.
To the O&P folks who continually send me fan mail, thanks, but I'll continue to decline offers of cheese to go with my whine but please do sign your names in the future. I would think that professionals like yourselves would not have to remain so anonymous and that your e-mail should bear your given name along with the title you are so proud. I'm also told that I am alienating people on this list. To those of you who are offended by what I write, I am sorry you feel that way and I'll give it a short rest. To those who applaud the truth and have given me their support over the years, Thank you, God bless, and have a very merry Christmass.
Stan LaCount
Physical Restoration Engineer
Beach Biotech
Virginia Beach, VA
Get real folks, I'm as altruistic as any but the interest payment for my education alone exceeds the twenty thousand you are willing to pay for my residency. Of course, I'd need a car to get there ( the residency site is out of town of course) and at least one or two white smocks (or are those provided), one meal a week at least, dues to all the societies, a hair cut once or twice a year, shoes, and a place to sleep. Small wonder only the poor underpaid techies from the plaster filled back rooms are willing to undergo such depravity (they must be used to it).
I heard from a woman who was wonderfully qualifed with a masters of science degree in mechanical engineering who went through NWU's Orthotic program and was offered the chump change mentioned earlier for a residency. She promptly returned to her old job and turned her back on this field in disgust (maybe not completely, I'd beg her forgiveness ASAP if I were you). This was a PE (professional Engineer) to boot. You couldn't ask for better credentials for a Certified Practitioner. But NOOOOO, this field doesn't want to pay the dues to be real professionals. You want the professionals to pay your dues. In spite of the almost universal practice of calling your customers patients It is quite evident that most of you have no right to do so. In my humble opinion, until minimum standards include an applicable college degree along with the other requirements for all who posess certification, O&P can not claim to be a real honest to goodness allied health profession . Based on the hardships you impose for certification, only the most uneducated desperado would consider this do-able.
To the O&P folks who continually send me fan mail, thanks, but I'll continue to decline offers of cheese to go with my whine but please do sign your names in the future. I would think that professionals like yourselves would not have to remain so anonymous and that your e-mail should bear your given name along with the title you are so proud. I'm also told that I am alienating people on this list. To those of you who are offended by what I write, I am sorry you feel that way and I'll give it a short rest. To those who applaud the truth and have given me their support over the years, Thank you, God bless, and have a very merry Christmass.
Stan LaCount
Physical Restoration Engineer
Beach Biotech
Virginia Beach, VA
Citation
Stan LaCount, “Infusion of new blood for O&P unlikely,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 26, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/215483.
