ABC/BOC - Have the Flood Gates Really Opened?
Brett Saunders
Description
Collection
Title:
ABC/BOC - Have the Flood Gates Really Opened?
Creator:
Brett Saunders
Date:
3/6/2004
Text:
I have not seen the list this active in a very long time. Most of what I am
reading now is 'feelings' of practitioners. Mainly ABC credentialed
practitioners bemoaning the loss of value of the certification they worked
so long for and spend so much money on. Is it understandable they would
feel this way? Certainly! I also feel this way.
No one on this list has yet made an argument that BOC ever had an equivalent
educational standard with ABC. Each organization has increased their
standards as time as passed. Times change and so do the needs in education.
I have heard BOC people say they could do the same job as an ABC person, and
for a large percentage of the 'job', they are correct. It is in the smaller
percentage of what we do as clinicians that the education and experience
required by ABC makes a difference in the provision of care. Are there some
BOC practitioners that are more competent than some ABC practitioners? I am
sure they are, but they are the few exceptions to the rule.
There are hurt feelings in thinking that ABC has just cheapened our
credentials. I understand that. But the absorption/merger with another
board will always bring hurt feelings somewhere. There is always pain
associated with change. As Bob Brown mentioned, did everyone forget about
the New York Board stuff of years ago?
What I would like to see from Frank Friddle and Lance Hoxie are numbers.
Let us have an informed discussion. Tell us how ABC sees the membership of
each organization and the potential of newly credentialed numbers from the
ABC decision of accepting BOC people in. Why? Because I want the facts
before I make a decision on this topic. I want to keep an open mind and
think what would be best for our profession. Remembering from when the news
of possible talks broke late last year, it seems that some numbers were
floated about. Are we are really only looking at accepting 600 or 800 newly
credentialed practitioners? There would be many more ABC single discipline
practitioners extending title. There would also be a huge number of
assistants joining us.
If we are talking just a few hundred people that did not attain the higher
standard in education, this may be the painful part of growth and
unification that, while I don't like, I can accept for the benefit of the
profession. Again, it is like the NY Board merger.
So what really are the numbers?
Are the numbers of each level of 'membership' from each organization?
How many of the ABC people would be extending their credentials?
How many new practitioners are we really looking at?
What is the projected growth of the organization?
Does ABC's offer extend to more than practitioners? What about facilities
and fitters?
How much additional revenue would the board generate from this and what
would ABC use that money for? What expanded services for its credentialed
individuals would be offered?
Brett R. Saunders, CPO, LPO(FL)
reading now is 'feelings' of practitioners. Mainly ABC credentialed
practitioners bemoaning the loss of value of the certification they worked
so long for and spend so much money on. Is it understandable they would
feel this way? Certainly! I also feel this way.
No one on this list has yet made an argument that BOC ever had an equivalent
educational standard with ABC. Each organization has increased their
standards as time as passed. Times change and so do the needs in education.
I have heard BOC people say they could do the same job as an ABC person, and
for a large percentage of the 'job', they are correct. It is in the smaller
percentage of what we do as clinicians that the education and experience
required by ABC makes a difference in the provision of care. Are there some
BOC practitioners that are more competent than some ABC practitioners? I am
sure they are, but they are the few exceptions to the rule.
There are hurt feelings in thinking that ABC has just cheapened our
credentials. I understand that. But the absorption/merger with another
board will always bring hurt feelings somewhere. There is always pain
associated with change. As Bob Brown mentioned, did everyone forget about
the New York Board stuff of years ago?
What I would like to see from Frank Friddle and Lance Hoxie are numbers.
Let us have an informed discussion. Tell us how ABC sees the membership of
each organization and the potential of newly credentialed numbers from the
ABC decision of accepting BOC people in. Why? Because I want the facts
before I make a decision on this topic. I want to keep an open mind and
think what would be best for our profession. Remembering from when the news
of possible talks broke late last year, it seems that some numbers were
floated about. Are we are really only looking at accepting 600 or 800 newly
credentialed practitioners? There would be many more ABC single discipline
practitioners extending title. There would also be a huge number of
assistants joining us.
If we are talking just a few hundred people that did not attain the higher
standard in education, this may be the painful part of growth and
unification that, while I don't like, I can accept for the benefit of the
profession. Again, it is like the NY Board merger.
So what really are the numbers?
Are the numbers of each level of 'membership' from each organization?
How many of the ABC people would be extending their credentials?
How many new practitioners are we really looking at?
What is the projected growth of the organization?
Does ABC's offer extend to more than practitioners? What about facilities
and fitters?
How much additional revenue would the board generate from this and what
would ABC use that money for? What expanded services for its credentialed
individuals would be offered?
Brett R. Saunders, CPO, LPO(FL)
Citation
Brett Saunders, “ABC/BOC - Have the Flood Gates Really Opened?,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 7, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222575.
