Re: ABC/BOC Negotiations
Gingras, Ron
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: ABC/BOC Negotiations
Creator:
Gingras, Ron
Date:
3/5/2004
Text:
ALL I can say is thank GOD for our state licensure requirements. The O and P
industry was just made the laughing stock of the field of rehabilitation.
This recent action by ABC completed the self fullfilling prophesy that began
with AOPA introducing legislation that led to the negoiated Regulation
hearings , basically making everyone qualified to provide O and P. Now ABC
is following her sisters lead to complete the crumbling of professional
standards by wiping away all of the vital aspects regarding educational
requirements to be competent as an Orthotist or Prosthetist.Our fields have
been like a dog chasing its own tail for as long as I can remember. AOPA has
taken us nowhere but down and ABC is thier whipping boy. Will the Academy
now follow or have the courage to stand for something and break off from
these organizations.We need new leadership, real leadership.
What a sad day for the field that I love
Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: Lance Hoxie [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 1:38 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] ABC/BOC Negotiations
The following represents ABC's response to the recent ABC/BOC negotiations:
After several months of negotiations regarding the unification of the
American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) and the
Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC), ABC has discontinued
talks with BOC.
This disappointing announcement follows formal negotiations, including a
meeting on January 12, 2004, as well as a series of subsequent
communications. The following issues, among others, had been agreed to at
the January 12, 2004 meeting:
* ABC and BOC certified orthotist/prosthetist practitioners will be
given equal and equivalent certification status in the unified organization.
* BOC accredited facilities will be given ABC accreditation for the
appropriate scope of practice.
* Two pathways for certification as orthotists and/or prosthetists
will be available to future practitioners, ensuring that future patient care
needs will be met. ABC’s primary education pathway will be retained and an
alternative pathway to ABC’s primary certification pathway for orthotist
and/or prosthetist certification, similar to BOC’s current primary pathway
for orthotist and/or prosthetist certification, will be developed and
implemented.
* The current ABC examination process will be adopted for
certification of orthotists and/or prosthetists.
* The current BOC examination process will be adopted for orthotic and
mastectomy fitter credentialing.
Through written communications, BOC reversed its position and would not
agree to the above consensus agreements, as well as other items to which the
parties previously agreed. Ultimately this led to ABC concluding that BOC
did not intend to unify in a progressive and productive fashion. Thus,
contrary to BOC’s recent press release, ABC terminated the negotiations. In
its press release, BOC has since misstated numerous facts about the
negotiations between ABC and BOC regarding the unification process. We will
respond to those allegations with the facts. Yet, ABC continues to move
forward with unification of the profession – the ultimate goal of the
profession.
ABC still believes that it is in the public’s and profession’s best
interests to have a unified credentialing body that maintains high
standards, is inclusive of all qualified professionals, and is respected by
the medical profession. ABC believes in the urgency of this matter, as
unqualified and untrained individuals continue to encroach on O&P patient
care.
In order to accomplish this lofty goal, ABC has extended offers to all BOC
certified practitioners in good standing to join ABC as ABC certified
practitioners and unite the profession. This will provide the public with
assurances that services and care are provided by an ABC credentialed
professional whose certification represents the highest standard of
competency. Frank Friddle, President of ABC, emphasized this point by
stating that: “adding qualified BOC practitioners, ABC continues to focus
its efforts on providing high quality and comprehensive patient care
throughout the United States.”
For more information on this offer or for an application form, please visit
ABC’s website at www.abcop.org.
industry was just made the laughing stock of the field of rehabilitation.
This recent action by ABC completed the self fullfilling prophesy that began
with AOPA introducing legislation that led to the negoiated Regulation
hearings , basically making everyone qualified to provide O and P. Now ABC
is following her sisters lead to complete the crumbling of professional
standards by wiping away all of the vital aspects regarding educational
requirements to be competent as an Orthotist or Prosthetist.Our fields have
been like a dog chasing its own tail for as long as I can remember. AOPA has
taken us nowhere but down and ABC is thier whipping boy. Will the Academy
now follow or have the courage to stand for something and break off from
these organizations.We need new leadership, real leadership.
What a sad day for the field that I love
Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: Lance Hoxie [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 1:38 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] ABC/BOC Negotiations
The following represents ABC's response to the recent ABC/BOC negotiations:
After several months of negotiations regarding the unification of the
American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) and the
Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC), ABC has discontinued
talks with BOC.
This disappointing announcement follows formal negotiations, including a
meeting on January 12, 2004, as well as a series of subsequent
communications. The following issues, among others, had been agreed to at
the January 12, 2004 meeting:
* ABC and BOC certified orthotist/prosthetist practitioners will be
given equal and equivalent certification status in the unified organization.
* BOC accredited facilities will be given ABC accreditation for the
appropriate scope of practice.
* Two pathways for certification as orthotists and/or prosthetists
will be available to future practitioners, ensuring that future patient care
needs will be met. ABC’s primary education pathway will be retained and an
alternative pathway to ABC’s primary certification pathway for orthotist
and/or prosthetist certification, similar to BOC’s current primary pathway
for orthotist and/or prosthetist certification, will be developed and
implemented.
* The current ABC examination process will be adopted for
certification of orthotists and/or prosthetists.
* The current BOC examination process will be adopted for orthotic and
mastectomy fitter credentialing.
Through written communications, BOC reversed its position and would not
agree to the above consensus agreements, as well as other items to which the
parties previously agreed. Ultimately this led to ABC concluding that BOC
did not intend to unify in a progressive and productive fashion. Thus,
contrary to BOC’s recent press release, ABC terminated the negotiations. In
its press release, BOC has since misstated numerous facts about the
negotiations between ABC and BOC regarding the unification process. We will
respond to those allegations with the facts. Yet, ABC continues to move
forward with unification of the profession – the ultimate goal of the
profession.
ABC still believes that it is in the public’s and profession’s best
interests to have a unified credentialing body that maintains high
standards, is inclusive of all qualified professionals, and is respected by
the medical profession. ABC believes in the urgency of this matter, as
unqualified and untrained individuals continue to encroach on O&P patient
care.
In order to accomplish this lofty goal, ABC has extended offers to all BOC
certified practitioners in good standing to join ABC as ABC certified
practitioners and unite the profession. This will provide the public with
assurances that services and care are provided by an ABC credentialed
professional whose certification represents the highest standard of
competency. Frank Friddle, President of ABC, emphasized this point by
stating that: “adding qualified BOC practitioners, ABC continues to focus
its efforts on providing high quality and comprehensive patient care
throughout the United States.”
For more information on this offer or for an application form, please visit
ABC’s website at www.abcop.org.
Citation
Gingras, Ron, “Re: ABC/BOC Negotiations,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222589.
