Re: the changing state of O and P
Morris Gallo
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: the changing state of O and P
Creator:
Morris Gallo
Date:
11/6/2001
Text:
Mr. Grayson
I believe it is you who should attend the policy forum class. AOPA is nothing
like the AMA. The AMA represents only MD's, not DO's or Podiatrists or
Hospitals or blood labs. All MD's have similar education and training, i.e. a
Baccalaureate then Med school then a residency and finally national boards.
Therefore the AMA's members are a fairly homogenous group.
AOPA, on the other hand, represents the business interests of manufacturers and
practice owners, NOT practitioners. Their interests are business oriented,
keeping reimbursements high and labor costs low while attempting to keep
government rules and regulations out of the office. Their members represent a
wide spectrum in the O&P continuum, from the ABC certified practitioner with a
required Baccalaureate degree and specialized formal training, to the BOC
certifee with no educational requirements and informal exposure through
on-the-job experience, to the practitioner with no certification and likely no
education or training, and finally to the manufacturer who fabricates devices or
components with no direct patient contact. AOPA's allegiance is to the business
owner not the practitioner.
Your idea of unity sounds good, but unfortunately if goals are dissimilar unity
is only beneficial to the stronger of the group. Our group is so small,
relative to other professions, it wouldn't make much difference if everyone in
the industry (to include technicians and secretaries) formed a single
organization, we are still a gnat on the elephant's arse. Therefore I believe
each homogenous group should strive for their individual goals and hopefully the
best ideas will triumph. This means that those of us who are both practitioners
and facility owners may belong to the professional association, the Academy, and
also to the business association, AOPA. We may be torn between professional
integrity and the bottom line. Then each person will need to determine what is
more important to them, the betterment of the profession and safety of the
patient OR the financial rewards of letting uneducated and poorly trained
persons treat patients because they cost less.
Morris Gallo
Buddy Grayson wrote:
> Am I missing something here. Isn't AOPA somewhat like the AMA. In the
> American Medical Association you have the family practice docs, the
> orthopedists, the vasculars, etc., but in front of congress all of the
> different specialties come together as the AMA, a united front for their
> industry with as many members as they can muster. It is time for us to set
> aside our differences and increase our numbers, period. Congress looks at
> the number of potential voters that an organization has to decide how much
> credability to give to that organizations cause. I apologize in advance to
> those of you who do not agree with my opinion and I encourage you to take a
> policy forum class.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gary A. Lamb < <Email Address Redacted> >
> To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2001 6:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] the changing state of O and P
>
> > Dear John;
> >
> > I am energized by the passion you exude in your post. As some have said,
> > there appears to be a mass generalization of three distinctly different
> O&P
> > organizations. At the risk of insulting someone’s intelligence, and
> > understanding the world and not just the USA is online, I would like to
> > begin by briefly defining the three organizations in alphabetical order.
> > The Academy (AAOP), American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists- A
> > Professional Society- Membership consists of individuals. Several
> > classifications of membership, the voting members are “Active” members.
> The
> > mission of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists is to
> promote
> > high standards of patient care through advocacy, education, and literature
> &
> > research. The Vision of the Academy is: Professionals providing better
> care
> > through knowledge.
> > ABC - The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics -
> A
> > credentialing organization - there is no “membership”, there are thousands
> > of credentialed practitioners and accredited facilities. The mission of
> the
> > American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics Inc. is to
> > encourage and promote the highest standards of professionalism in the
> > delivery of orthotic and prosthetic services. The ABC advances the
> > competency of practitioners, promotes the quality and effectiveness of
> > orthotic and prosthetic care, and maintains the integrity of the
> profession.
> > AOPA - American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association - A National Trade
> > Association - Membership consists of institutions, O&P Companies,
> Education
> > and research programs, and Supplier/Manufacturer Companies. The mission of
> > AOPA is to work for favorable treatment of the O&P business in laws,
> > regulation and services; to help members improve their management and
> > marketing skills; and to raise awareness and understanding of the industry
> > and the association.
> > I would direct you to this web site for a history of the Academy,
> > <URL Redacted> it too was authored by one of the
> > founding members.
> > The truth is that any supplier member has the right to use the AOPA logo
> on
> > company stationery, and it has been that way since I became involved in
> O&P.
> > (1980) I doubt you have seen it happen, but yes, it could. That has
> nothing
> > to do with the bylaw change in AOPA.
> > I’m doubtful that in the past fifteen years you have not furthered your
> > education, and are surviving on “arcane knowledge”. By understanding the
> > orthotic and prosthetic principles and having the opportunity to utilize
> > them in fabrication, you have a reserve of knowledge to better fit your
> > patients.
> > The leadership of the organizations try to communicate to the field the
> > issues and challenges they face regularly. I appreciate your recognition
> of
> > the non-responsive mass. We endeavor to communicate in many different
> media,
> > (electronic, facsimile, mail, printed publications) and as yet have not
> > found the solution to move the membership to interact with us.
> > Association voting percentages are as abysmal if not worse than the US
> > general voting percentages. Truly shameful! If you desire a voice then you
> > should vote, in associations you must join to vote.
> > I would invite you attend the Academy’s Annual Meeting in Orlando,
> Florida,
> > March 20-23, 2002. Our format may have changed since you last attended one
> > of our meetings. For instance, we will offer four instructional courses (2
> > hours each) on Management of the Stroke Patient, Gait training for the
> > geriatric amputee, Deformational Plagiocephaly, and a Componentry
> > Roundtable. We will also offer six symposia (2 hours each) on Tone
> > reduction, Pain Management, Ethics, Patient Management from a
> Psychological
> > Standpoint, X-ray evaluation of idiopathic scoliosis, and Dermatology. We’
> ll
> > also offer case presentations, free papers and certificate programs for
> > professional development.
> > I hope you and other clinicians that have passion and desire for improving
> > the lives of those we care for will consider being active in our
> > professional society. The first step is membership.
> > <URL Redacted>
> > < <URL Redacted>> )
> > I look forward to meeting all of you.
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Gary A. Lamb CO, FAAOP
> > President
> > American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists
> >
> > <Email Address Redacted> <mailto:<Email Address Redacted>>
> >
> >
I believe it is you who should attend the policy forum class. AOPA is nothing
like the AMA. The AMA represents only MD's, not DO's or Podiatrists or
Hospitals or blood labs. All MD's have similar education and training, i.e. a
Baccalaureate then Med school then a residency and finally national boards.
Therefore the AMA's members are a fairly homogenous group.
AOPA, on the other hand, represents the business interests of manufacturers and
practice owners, NOT practitioners. Their interests are business oriented,
keeping reimbursements high and labor costs low while attempting to keep
government rules and regulations out of the office. Their members represent a
wide spectrum in the O&P continuum, from the ABC certified practitioner with a
required Baccalaureate degree and specialized formal training, to the BOC
certifee with no educational requirements and informal exposure through
on-the-job experience, to the practitioner with no certification and likely no
education or training, and finally to the manufacturer who fabricates devices or
components with no direct patient contact. AOPA's allegiance is to the business
owner not the practitioner.
Your idea of unity sounds good, but unfortunately if goals are dissimilar unity
is only beneficial to the stronger of the group. Our group is so small,
relative to other professions, it wouldn't make much difference if everyone in
the industry (to include technicians and secretaries) formed a single
organization, we are still a gnat on the elephant's arse. Therefore I believe
each homogenous group should strive for their individual goals and hopefully the
best ideas will triumph. This means that those of us who are both practitioners
and facility owners may belong to the professional association, the Academy, and
also to the business association, AOPA. We may be torn between professional
integrity and the bottom line. Then each person will need to determine what is
more important to them, the betterment of the profession and safety of the
patient OR the financial rewards of letting uneducated and poorly trained
persons treat patients because they cost less.
Morris Gallo
Buddy Grayson wrote:
> Am I missing something here. Isn't AOPA somewhat like the AMA. In the
> American Medical Association you have the family practice docs, the
> orthopedists, the vasculars, etc., but in front of congress all of the
> different specialties come together as the AMA, a united front for their
> industry with as many members as they can muster. It is time for us to set
> aside our differences and increase our numbers, period. Congress looks at
> the number of potential voters that an organization has to decide how much
> credability to give to that organizations cause. I apologize in advance to
> those of you who do not agree with my opinion and I encourage you to take a
> policy forum class.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gary A. Lamb < <Email Address Redacted> >
> To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2001 6:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] the changing state of O and P
>
> > Dear John;
> >
> > I am energized by the passion you exude in your post. As some have said,
> > there appears to be a mass generalization of three distinctly different
> O&P
> > organizations. At the risk of insulting someone’s intelligence, and
> > understanding the world and not just the USA is online, I would like to
> > begin by briefly defining the three organizations in alphabetical order.
> > The Academy (AAOP), American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists- A
> > Professional Society- Membership consists of individuals. Several
> > classifications of membership, the voting members are “Active” members.
> The
> > mission of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists is to
> promote
> > high standards of patient care through advocacy, education, and literature
> &
> > research. The Vision of the Academy is: Professionals providing better
> care
> > through knowledge.
> > ABC - The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics -
> A
> > credentialing organization - there is no “membership”, there are thousands
> > of credentialed practitioners and accredited facilities. The mission of
> the
> > American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics Inc. is to
> > encourage and promote the highest standards of professionalism in the
> > delivery of orthotic and prosthetic services. The ABC advances the
> > competency of practitioners, promotes the quality and effectiveness of
> > orthotic and prosthetic care, and maintains the integrity of the
> profession.
> > AOPA - American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association - A National Trade
> > Association - Membership consists of institutions, O&P Companies,
> Education
> > and research programs, and Supplier/Manufacturer Companies. The mission of
> > AOPA is to work for favorable treatment of the O&P business in laws,
> > regulation and services; to help members improve their management and
> > marketing skills; and to raise awareness and understanding of the industry
> > and the association.
> > I would direct you to this web site for a history of the Academy,
> > <URL Redacted> it too was authored by one of the
> > founding members.
> > The truth is that any supplier member has the right to use the AOPA logo
> on
> > company stationery, and it has been that way since I became involved in
> O&P.
> > (1980) I doubt you have seen it happen, but yes, it could. That has
> nothing
> > to do with the bylaw change in AOPA.
> > I’m doubtful that in the past fifteen years you have not furthered your
> > education, and are surviving on “arcane knowledge”. By understanding the
> > orthotic and prosthetic principles and having the opportunity to utilize
> > them in fabrication, you have a reserve of knowledge to better fit your
> > patients.
> > The leadership of the organizations try to communicate to the field the
> > issues and challenges they face regularly. I appreciate your recognition
> of
> > the non-responsive mass. We endeavor to communicate in many different
> media,
> > (electronic, facsimile, mail, printed publications) and as yet have not
> > found the solution to move the membership to interact with us.
> > Association voting percentages are as abysmal if not worse than the US
> > general voting percentages. Truly shameful! If you desire a voice then you
> > should vote, in associations you must join to vote.
> > I would invite you attend the Academy’s Annual Meeting in Orlando,
> Florida,
> > March 20-23, 2002. Our format may have changed since you last attended one
> > of our meetings. For instance, we will offer four instructional courses (2
> > hours each) on Management of the Stroke Patient, Gait training for the
> > geriatric amputee, Deformational Plagiocephaly, and a Componentry
> > Roundtable. We will also offer six symposia (2 hours each) on Tone
> > reduction, Pain Management, Ethics, Patient Management from a
> Psychological
> > Standpoint, X-ray evaluation of idiopathic scoliosis, and Dermatology. We’
> ll
> > also offer case presentations, free papers and certificate programs for
> > professional development.
> > I hope you and other clinicians that have passion and desire for improving
> > the lives of those we care for will consider being active in our
> > professional society. The first step is membership.
> > <URL Redacted>
> > < <URL Redacted>> )
> > I look forward to meeting all of you.
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Gary A. Lamb CO, FAAOP
> > President
> > American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists
> >
> > <Email Address Redacted> <mailto:<Email Address Redacted>>
> >
> >
Citation
Morris Gallo, “Re: the changing state of O and P,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/217964.
