FW: [OANDP-L] A word of clarification.....
tony barr
Description
Collection
Title:
FW: [OANDP-L] A word of clarification.....
Creator:
tony barr
Date:
1/12/2004
Text:
Steve,
Thank you for your much more supportive comments made recently to the O&P
List serve. .
These are more typical to others sent privately by members of your
profession.
The many supportive statements of my advocacy efforts I receive on the list
seve and personally are also very supportive..I am pleased to reiceve any
support.
O&P list serve dialoge , in posted comments of efforts to support the
profession, are few compared to the size of the and numbers in the
profession.
Communication is most often is a dialogue in a tone of disagreement and
there appears to be no unity.
This is a major part of the problem.There exists too much apathy among the
profession and not enough alignment to constructive issues and policy
reform.
My comments to all the subscribers of the O&P list serve below did not
indicate any sort of bashing to AOPA except for the fact that 1) they may
have major conflicts, in my opinion ,of representing O&P professional & DME
interests simultaneously and 2) that some of AOPA supplier members, whom
belong to a secret manufactures society, NOMA, are attempting to lobby, in
many states, to include the delivery of orthotics, without those vendors
having any provider qualifications !
Our Foundation relies heavily on the generosity of manufacture members to
donate prosthetic components and supplies for the Barr Foundation to assist
indigent amputees, both here and abroad.
That doesn't mean I am reluctant to express my points of view in fear of
retaliation and loosing that flow of donations.
If you continue to have an open mind, you may have an interest reading the
below published article and the statement I have received recently from one
of your colleagues which is mirrored by many others.
<URL Redacted>
Below is a sample of one of the many posts I receive privately to your reply
concerning the current crisis in O&P.
Tony Barr
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
Dear Tony Barr,
I first became an amputee in July 1979, at the age of 21, due to a
motorcycle accident. I had great difficulties getting fit with a prosthesis
and ending up getting a degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics from the
University of Washington in 1984.
I was quite inspired by the book' Whole Again and have followed you and
your father from that time.
When I started in the field of O&P I was very committed to the progress and
practice of the field. Unfortunately, of what I have seen as a C.P.O., and
amputee has left me quite disappointed.
The best and most honest people I know in the field are totally burned out,
and have little respect for the direction the field has taken in the last
ten years.
I am currently on disability and not working. To hold on to my certification
ABC wants me to pay dues I really don't have, to be able to take a leave of
absence.
I have followed the list serve for the last year and kept up with the
magazines. The ridiculous things I read by people in the field has pushed me
to the decision to leave the field completely.
The goals I had to do the best work for my patients does not seem to have
any place in the practice I have seen today. I am actually ashamed to be
associated with so many things I see in prosthetics and orthotics. I hope
maybe in the future I could use the skills, (Of which I believe I had
developed to be some of the best) can be appreciated and used maybe in some
kind of charitable way.
Good luck with your work, I admire it, and hope you can make some changes. I
have had enough.
Thank you for your much more supportive comments made recently to the O&P
List serve. .
These are more typical to others sent privately by members of your
profession.
The many supportive statements of my advocacy efforts I receive on the list
seve and personally are also very supportive..I am pleased to reiceve any
support.
O&P list serve dialoge , in posted comments of efforts to support the
profession, are few compared to the size of the and numbers in the
profession.
Communication is most often is a dialogue in a tone of disagreement and
there appears to be no unity.
This is a major part of the problem.There exists too much apathy among the
profession and not enough alignment to constructive issues and policy
reform.
My comments to all the subscribers of the O&P list serve below did not
indicate any sort of bashing to AOPA except for the fact that 1) they may
have major conflicts, in my opinion ,of representing O&P professional & DME
interests simultaneously and 2) that some of AOPA supplier members, whom
belong to a secret manufactures society, NOMA, are attempting to lobby, in
many states, to include the delivery of orthotics, without those vendors
having any provider qualifications !
Our Foundation relies heavily on the generosity of manufacture members to
donate prosthetic components and supplies for the Barr Foundation to assist
indigent amputees, both here and abroad.
That doesn't mean I am reluctant to express my points of view in fear of
retaliation and loosing that flow of donations.
If you continue to have an open mind, you may have an interest reading the
below published article and the statement I have received recently from one
of your colleagues which is mirrored by many others.
<URL Redacted>
Below is a sample of one of the many posts I receive privately to your reply
concerning the current crisis in O&P.
Tony Barr
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
Dear Tony Barr,
I first became an amputee in July 1979, at the age of 21, due to a
motorcycle accident. I had great difficulties getting fit with a prosthesis
and ending up getting a degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics from the
University of Washington in 1984.
I was quite inspired by the book' Whole Again and have followed you and
your father from that time.
When I started in the field of O&P I was very committed to the progress and
practice of the field. Unfortunately, of what I have seen as a C.P.O., and
amputee has left me quite disappointed.
The best and most honest people I know in the field are totally burned out,
and have little respect for the direction the field has taken in the last
ten years.
I am currently on disability and not working. To hold on to my certification
ABC wants me to pay dues I really don't have, to be able to take a leave of
absence.
I have followed the list serve for the last year and kept up with the
magazines. The ridiculous things I read by people in the field has pushed me
to the decision to leave the field completely.
The goals I had to do the best work for my patients does not seem to have
any place in the practice I have seen today. I am actually ashamed to be
associated with so many things I see in prosthetics and orthotics. I hope
maybe in the future I could use the skills, (Of which I believe I had
developed to be some of the best) can be appreciated and used maybe in some
kind of charitable way.
Good luck with your work, I admire it, and hope you can make some changes. I
have had enough.
Citation
tony barr, “FW: [OANDP-L] A word of clarification.....,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222305.
