Re: ABC/BOC

Re: ABC/BOC

James Cobb

3/11/2004

I attended the meeting in the Reno about the ABC-BOC merger talks and have
also been reading most of the posts on this forum as well. I definitely see
both sides of the coin. Here is my side. Every organization has good
points and bad points. I have never been apart any organization nor heard
of one that has satisfied 100 percent of it members. As a community of
professionals we are all facing a grim future of insurance cut backs and
reduction of benefits. We all need to be united in our fight to be allowed
provide patient care. The million dollar question is how can we become
united? We have two major certifying organizations with different avenues
both being allowed to practice the same medicine. Unfortunately both have
been pitted against each other and now our fight is against each other
instead of against legislation. There are a lot of proud practitioners both
ABC and BOC. Each feel stepped on. It has now become personal. I agree
with Mr. Barr that every organization needs a good shaking up. This
shaking up gets every ones opinions out on the table. Communication is
our best tool, the lack of communication is our worst enemy. Every one in
our profession at one time or another has thought or at least heard someone
say that ABC certification is better than BOC. I have personally read many
classifieds that asked for at least BOC certification. This implies that
ABC practitioners utilize a higher standard of care than BOC. This again
starts another thousand arguments and hurt feelings. Point being, we do
need one set standard of practicing medicine, one credentialing body, and
one huge voice shouting together in Washington D.C. I have a lot of friends
ABC and BOC. I have a lot of friends who are doctors, nurses and
therapists. We honestly look weak as a whole in the medical community. We
need to strengthen and unite together. We also need to weed out the weak on
both sides of the ABC-BOC street. Maybe we should think of these points
before merger talks begin again. First, at a minimum all practitioners
must of have completed a residency or a minimum hour trade course to ensure
formal education. The problem with straight OJT is someone can't teach it
if they don't know it. A professors job is to know it, all of it.
Secondly, make everyone immediately retake an examination of their
respective field/s. This will weed out some people; which is a good thing.
Lastly, mandate tests or boards every 4-5 years along with CEU's. If we
are going to unite we must all prove to be equal and then must set high
standards for people to maintain. I really am not trying to anger anyone.
I am trying to get us to think together as a whole for a resolution to the
problem. The government and insurance companies will not wait for us to
sort out our problems. I read a post earlier talking about animals and
getting attacked when we are the weakest. Well friends, our community is
very shaky right now. We need to be looking out for each other not hurting
each other.

Sincerely to all who provide orthotic and prosthetic patient care,

James Cobb