Re: usual suspects...
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: usual suspects...
Date:
9/23/2003
Text:
I' ve been reading with interest and humor of the recent attacks and comment
on a young interns remarks whom he, from the get go, identified his comments
as being generated as a uneducated opinion.
Shame on those whom would rather not reply with intention to educate but
rather ridicule. It's a common characteristic among your trade.
Are you so rapped up in your own insecurities and anger of not being
recognized a legitimate health care provider that you attack a young intern
who is biggest concern is to help people with disabilities and seek the
highest education to do so ?
Remember when you had the same initial motivations ?
The communication reminds me of a quote I will always retain:
Words not only sustain us in difficult times but also transmit the essence
and values of the person who delivered them.
As a young inspiring prosthetist, and the other Justins entering the field
with good and honorable intentions, why are they being unfairly assaulted
with comments by those whom seem to be attempting to protecting the
integrity of their generally unregulated healthcare profession and the turf
of their business.
In a supposedly 'legitimate health care delivery profession where less than
30% of its O&P practitioners have college degrees or at the very least two
years of undergraduate equilivant college education, no oversight of
accountability by the either the two certification credentialing
associations, the federal govt. or 40 state govts., unchecked crossovers in
the delivery of health care services outside of their education and specific
disapplines,and in a country where anyone can deliver and bill Medicare for
O&P services without regard to qualification, things are indeed not good.
I find it also interesting, though somewhat rewarding, that the assaults to
Justin's comments are from both credentialed certifees and not a one from a
state licensed professional.
In complete agreement with Justin, everything is not good in our
profession.
Ill take it one step backward state that everything is not good in your
chosen occupation since every other trade, particularly those of every
other health care delivery services, is only recognized as a profession if
it requires mandatory standards of education and experience and a state
license to practice
Industry is not Supportive to the O&P Profession
I also find it particularly counterproductive that the mother of one
credentialing associations and one professional association ,the O&P
national trade associations, have both O&P manufacturers and DME suppliers
as members.
I spite of compromises to head off further reductions in benefits, they
remain adamant not to negotiate with the federal govt.offer to agree to
price freezes or competitive bidding for non comprehensive equipment i.e.
wheel chairs, hospital beds,etc. in order to prevent further reductions in
the delivery of comprehensive O&P services.
Problems of a Unrecognized and Unlicensed profession:
1) Although both accreditation bodies have substantial on the job experience
in the provision of maintenance of orthotic devices and devote considerable
time and attention to the fabrication of orthotic devices, neither BOC nor
ABC accreditation bodies require either no, or modest ,formal training in
the basic medical sciences(human anatomy,physiology,kinesiology) as well as
subjects related to clinical rehabilitation.
Those of you in the know recognize that skills of fabrication of orthotic
devices is revolving to being performed by technicians
working in centralized fabrication facilities. Prosthetics will soon be
following that scenario.
2) only 3-4 schools currently offer four year baccalaureate programs in
these fields(O&P)and their graduates only contribute a very small
minority(probably less than 10%) of practitioners in these disciplines.
*Solution:
As a result of my personal experience at the 10 months and 19 days of Neg
Reg Meetings and subsequent negotiations, I have concluded the following.
The O&P Groups remain divided among themselves and with the PTs ,OTs and
NOMA.
PTs receive a comprehensive, and very well documented didactic and clinical
training in the rehabilitation of individuals with neuromuscular and
skeletal disabilities, all offered within medical institutions. However,
their preparation does not include training or experience in the
selection,measurement,fitting,delivery and maintained of the wide variety of
orthoses currently prescribed.
OTs have historically provided a range of orthotic services ,primarily upper
limb disabled i.e.. hand splints etc.
PTs and OTS have become organized are licensed in every state unlike the O&P
profession (?) whom continues to fight with each other, remain fragmented
and whom often have self serving agendas.
Neither Hanger Group, whom controls 50% of the O&P market, nor BOC agreed to
signatory in the recent Neg Reg submission to CMS.
There is a important need for a specialized educational curriculum
(including both O&P,which fields overlap one another to a very great degree)
at selected Schools of Allied Health (including PTs, OTs ,ATs) terminating
in an accredited University degree, very likely at the Masters level. Anyone
whom declares that formal education in these specific sciences is not
necessary to properly and safely deliver comprehensive O&P services, is
simply not in touch with reality nor interested in improving the image and
credibility to the profession? ,improving coverage and benefits for
patients nor reimbursement levels for your services.
The first 3 years of such college preparation consists of a science based
curriculum, currently designed for allied health care professions who are
pursuing careers involving relatively independent,comples therapeutic
services.
The last two years of instruction would be devoted to the didactic and
clinical instruction in the specifics of orthotics and prosthetics-open to
any student who have successfully completed the basic science curriculum.
Mandatory regulation will create a greater the need for such school
curriculums and can be funded thru far more than just those searching for a
O&P degree. Why cant aspiring PT,OTs , ATs,Prosthetists and Orthotists
initially enroll in the same classes to learn basic knowledge important to
each of their disciplines and further determine what specific allied health
care specialty they would like to pursue?
A unified and unyielding unilateral support for every state is needed to be
regulated by all O&P providers, patient/consumers , health care agencies and
in particular, the new Academy leadership and membership.
Thank you Justin for the naive but honest projection of a profession ?
that is indeed in trouble and the road of higher education you chose to take
to be better prepared to deliver such specialized services.
Tony Barr
* input also provided by Sidney Fishman,PH.D.
-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]On
Behalf Of Justin Foster
Sent: Saturday, September 20, 2003 5:06 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] usual suspects...
In my uneducated opinion,
Everything is not good in our profession.
Most people want to be rich, but it is not fair to take advantage of the
captive audience which we work with every day. For a multitude of social,
economic and human reasons, we are in a position of too much power, and it
is too easy to abuse for $$$ gain.
The future is certain, people will
continue to pay money for needed services, and those among us who provide a
needed service at a reasonable price will continue to have jobs... probably
even good jobs, we just may not be rich. I know from the 50/50 responses
from this list that there are good people out there who may not agree
(understatement of the year) with everything I think, but that do have a
heart and a passion for doing good work (whatever their motivation). To
those people, thank you for making the world a better place and inspiring
the youth in this profession to do the same.
Sincerely,
Justin Foster
Orthotist/Prosthetist
********************
To unsubscribe, send a message to: <Email Address Redacted> with
the words UNSUB OANDP-L in the body of the
message.
If you have a problem unsubscribing,or have other
questions, send e-mail to the moderator
Paul E. Prusakowski,CPO at <Email Address Redacted>
OANDP-L is a forum for the discussion of topics
related to Orthotics and Prosthetics.
Public commercial postings are forbidden. Responses to inquiries
should not be sent to the entire oandp-l list. Professional credentials
or affiliations should be used in all communications.
on a young interns remarks whom he, from the get go, identified his comments
as being generated as a uneducated opinion.
Shame on those whom would rather not reply with intention to educate but
rather ridicule. It's a common characteristic among your trade.
Are you so rapped up in your own insecurities and anger of not being
recognized a legitimate health care provider that you attack a young intern
who is biggest concern is to help people with disabilities and seek the
highest education to do so ?
Remember when you had the same initial motivations ?
The communication reminds me of a quote I will always retain:
Words not only sustain us in difficult times but also transmit the essence
and values of the person who delivered them.
As a young inspiring prosthetist, and the other Justins entering the field
with good and honorable intentions, why are they being unfairly assaulted
with comments by those whom seem to be attempting to protecting the
integrity of their generally unregulated healthcare profession and the turf
of their business.
In a supposedly 'legitimate health care delivery profession where less than
30% of its O&P practitioners have college degrees or at the very least two
years of undergraduate equilivant college education, no oversight of
accountability by the either the two certification credentialing
associations, the federal govt. or 40 state govts., unchecked crossovers in
the delivery of health care services outside of their education and specific
disapplines,and in a country where anyone can deliver and bill Medicare for
O&P services without regard to qualification, things are indeed not good.
I find it also interesting, though somewhat rewarding, that the assaults to
Justin's comments are from both credentialed certifees and not a one from a
state licensed professional.
In complete agreement with Justin, everything is not good in our
profession.
Ill take it one step backward state that everything is not good in your
chosen occupation since every other trade, particularly those of every
other health care delivery services, is only recognized as a profession if
it requires mandatory standards of education and experience and a state
license to practice
Industry is not Supportive to the O&P Profession
I also find it particularly counterproductive that the mother of one
credentialing associations and one professional association ,the O&P
national trade associations, have both O&P manufacturers and DME suppliers
as members.
I spite of compromises to head off further reductions in benefits, they
remain adamant not to negotiate with the federal govt.offer to agree to
price freezes or competitive bidding for non comprehensive equipment i.e.
wheel chairs, hospital beds,etc. in order to prevent further reductions in
the delivery of comprehensive O&P services.
Problems of a Unrecognized and Unlicensed profession:
1) Although both accreditation bodies have substantial on the job experience
in the provision of maintenance of orthotic devices and devote considerable
time and attention to the fabrication of orthotic devices, neither BOC nor
ABC accreditation bodies require either no, or modest ,formal training in
the basic medical sciences(human anatomy,physiology,kinesiology) as well as
subjects related to clinical rehabilitation.
Those of you in the know recognize that skills of fabrication of orthotic
devices is revolving to being performed by technicians
working in centralized fabrication facilities. Prosthetics will soon be
following that scenario.
2) only 3-4 schools currently offer four year baccalaureate programs in
these fields(O&P)and their graduates only contribute a very small
minority(probably less than 10%) of practitioners in these disciplines.
*Solution:
As a result of my personal experience at the 10 months and 19 days of Neg
Reg Meetings and subsequent negotiations, I have concluded the following.
The O&P Groups remain divided among themselves and with the PTs ,OTs and
NOMA.
PTs receive a comprehensive, and very well documented didactic and clinical
training in the rehabilitation of individuals with neuromuscular and
skeletal disabilities, all offered within medical institutions. However,
their preparation does not include training or experience in the
selection,measurement,fitting,delivery and maintained of the wide variety of
orthoses currently prescribed.
OTs have historically provided a range of orthotic services ,primarily upper
limb disabled i.e.. hand splints etc.
PTs and OTS have become organized are licensed in every state unlike the O&P
profession (?) whom continues to fight with each other, remain fragmented
and whom often have self serving agendas.
Neither Hanger Group, whom controls 50% of the O&P market, nor BOC agreed to
signatory in the recent Neg Reg submission to CMS.
There is a important need for a specialized educational curriculum
(including both O&P,which fields overlap one another to a very great degree)
at selected Schools of Allied Health (including PTs, OTs ,ATs) terminating
in an accredited University degree, very likely at the Masters level. Anyone
whom declares that formal education in these specific sciences is not
necessary to properly and safely deliver comprehensive O&P services, is
simply not in touch with reality nor interested in improving the image and
credibility to the profession? ,improving coverage and benefits for
patients nor reimbursement levels for your services.
The first 3 years of such college preparation consists of a science based
curriculum, currently designed for allied health care professions who are
pursuing careers involving relatively independent,comples therapeutic
services.
The last two years of instruction would be devoted to the didactic and
clinical instruction in the specifics of orthotics and prosthetics-open to
any student who have successfully completed the basic science curriculum.
Mandatory regulation will create a greater the need for such school
curriculums and can be funded thru far more than just those searching for a
O&P degree. Why cant aspiring PT,OTs , ATs,Prosthetists and Orthotists
initially enroll in the same classes to learn basic knowledge important to
each of their disciplines and further determine what specific allied health
care specialty they would like to pursue?
A unified and unyielding unilateral support for every state is needed to be
regulated by all O&P providers, patient/consumers , health care agencies and
in particular, the new Academy leadership and membership.
Thank you Justin for the naive but honest projection of a profession ?
that is indeed in trouble and the road of higher education you chose to take
to be better prepared to deliver such specialized services.
Tony Barr
* input also provided by Sidney Fishman,PH.D.
-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]On
Behalf Of Justin Foster
Sent: Saturday, September 20, 2003 5:06 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] usual suspects...
In my uneducated opinion,
Everything is not good in our profession.
Most people want to be rich, but it is not fair to take advantage of the
captive audience which we work with every day. For a multitude of social,
economic and human reasons, we are in a position of too much power, and it
is too easy to abuse for $$$ gain.
The future is certain, people will
continue to pay money for needed services, and those among us who provide a
needed service at a reasonable price will continue to have jobs... probably
even good jobs, we just may not be rich. I know from the 50/50 responses
from this list that there are good people out there who may not agree
(understatement of the year) with everything I think, but that do have a
heart and a passion for doing good work (whatever their motivation). To
those people, thank you for making the world a better place and inspiring
the youth in this profession to do the same.
Sincerely,
Justin Foster
Orthotist/Prosthetist
********************
To unsubscribe, send a message to: <Email Address Redacted> with
the words UNSUB OANDP-L in the body of the
message.
If you have a problem unsubscribing,or have other
questions, send e-mail to the moderator
Paul E. Prusakowski,CPO at <Email Address Redacted>
OANDP-L is a forum for the discussion of topics
related to Orthotics and Prosthetics.
Public commercial postings are forbidden. Responses to inquiries
should not be sent to the entire oandp-l list. Professional credentials
or affiliations should be used in all communications.
Citation
“Re: usual suspects...,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 4, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/221840.
