Re: the changing state of O and P

Re: the changing state of O and P

Tony Barr

11/2/2001

Well said John!
Open up a position on the board of the new Academy to a consumer, and Ill
apply!
I have a position statement from ABC supporting state regulation.Would you
like a copy?Send fax #.
Tony

----- Original Message -----
From: John Gibson CP < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2001 5:10 PM
Subject: [OANDP-L] the changing state of O and P


> It is time for ALL of us to wake up!! The non involved practitioner has
to
> become a thing of the past. We must retake our professional associations.
I
> have spoken with a founding member of the academy and the Academy in its
> current form, was not what he believed was in mind when they decided to
start
> an Academy. It was supposed to be for O and P clinicians as a forum to
> exchange Ideas and Techniques. I am afraid it has become an arm of the
> supplier community to educate....oops I mean Market their products.
>
> With the change in the bylaws of the Association, the same result will
apply.
> Now I suppose Don Joy reps will now have AOPA logos on their cards, as
they
> go in and deliver Items to doctors below my cost.
>
> The American Board for Certification, certification of what? I see them
> positioning themselves as the testing branch for licensing. Why have
ONE
> national test, when you can ding em FIFTY times for each state? Although
the
> official ABC position on Licenser is neutral, who is administering the
state
> exams.
>
> I was told when I got into this field fifteen years ago, that my ABC
> certification was the GOLD standard for practicing. Now with state
licensing
> coming along, I cannot practice in four states now. I am not even
eligible
> to take the test!
>
> Somehow I have survived for fifteen years on arcane knowledge. Such as
being
> able to fabricate, if needed, almost any item I provide. Though I do not
> relish the thought of making another Hip disartic from scratch, I have
done
> it. I see current educated practitioners who cant even square a
stirrup,
> much less set up a prosthesis on bench alignment. Heck, if the techs ever
> got organized, many a practice would crumble.
>
> What is the solution? We got no one to blame but ourselves. I am just as
> guilty as anyone. When was the last time I even tried to talk to ANY
> candidate for ANY position, with ANY group? Never!! Is it the fault of
> those in charge that no one steps forward to run for these positions?
Hell,
> it is easy to throw stones from the masses at the ones in charge. They
took
> the responsibility of assuming a position that is much harder than anyone
> thinks.
>
> But instead of just bitching about it, let's do something about it. Why
> don't we ALL get involved with our local organizations all the way up to
the
> national level? Yes, it will take some of that one commodity that no one
has
> an abundance of, TIME.
>
> We cannot afford to not make that investment. In the past I have read
these
> boards, but not participated in them. I have attended the academy and not
> spoken up. I have been guilty of not participating. I can no longer do
that.
>
> So, starting right here, right now, I am going to make a stand.
>
> I feel it is wrong for ANY of our national organizations to make ANY
changes
> to by-laws without the Full vote of the membership. We can't have 42
people
> deciding what is best for us.
>
> I want ABC to announce their position on state licensing. And don't give
me
> that not our position to say crap
>
> I want real continuing education. If you are going to require it to
maintain
> my certification, I want more than marketing. I want the academy to
sponsor
> true clinical field studies of devices and how they hold up. I am so
tired
> of all of the best, new better products coming out. I just want
components
> that will hold up.
>
> We should all join our professional Organizations and become involved.
>
> I plan to.
>
>
>
>
> Just my opinion,
>
> John Gibson, CP
>
>