Is State Licensure the new ABC?

Is State Licensure the new ABC?

Joe Sansone

3/17/2004

Ken hit the nail on the head. Since many states now have licensure
requirements that supercede whatever ABC and BOC requires, state
licensure will do for the O&P industry what ABC strived to do. While
not perfect, and often times slow to react, state licensure in Texas has
upheld educational requirements and kept out many questionable
practitioners.

In lectures I used to state to great opposition that in marketing a
practice, while a practitioner may see value in the ABC credentials, it
should not be the main thrust of a sales call to a customer. I talked
to so many practitioners who were so steadfast in their stand that they
were a cut above because of their ABC credentials that I amended the
aforementioned point so as to not offend.

Unfortunately those days are gone. Why did ABC shoot themselves in the
head (foot wasn't strong enough)?

Joe Sansone
C.E.O.
TMC Orthopedic
(713) 669-1800
www.tmcortho.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On
Behalf Of KMH - Regional ALB
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 9:20 AM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] ABC/BOC.....Have no teeth!

My I express my opinion about the two organizations attempting to become
one.......ABC/BOC

Education and professionalism has been dictated to us practitioners for
years from the recycled few who seem to always end up in the top
positions running our organization. From the mighty pulpit, we have
always been instructed to follow this requirement. Then we are
instructed to maintain our good standing with ABC, then pay to become
an AOPA member with very little benefits which trickle down to
practitioners. In summation, pay for educational credits to vendors,
recycle the few who believe the organization is their to run, and don't
complain to either organization because you have no reason too!

For years I have written letters to our organizational committees
concerning the Cannons of Ethics and its enforcement. The only time any
action is taken to investigate the violation of ethics is when another
governing body such as the local, state, or federal government steps in
to make the sanction. Then...will ABC examine the violation and make a
recommendation to possible do something about suspension or whatever is
they do.

This leads me to believe the only way we can survive as a small group of
practitioners is to continue to enact state laws for licensure and
establish the parameters of what is needed to become a good standing
educated practitioner.. Being Texas licensed, I can inform you that the
State has much more power, enforcement, and regulatory structure than
anything ABC or AOPA can ever put together. They have the teeth to
protect the consumer and the licensed pratitioner who operate with their
state. Therefore to established a way for everyone to at least start out
on a level playing field state licensure is the best way to forge ahead
with our profession. Otherwise you will continue to see ABC with
assistance of AOPA push through practitioners within our own ranks to
create more unqualified practitioners allowing for good time service
as professional experience without the educational background. I wonder
if I can become a attorney with years of experience without any formal
educ!
 ation.

Again this is only my opinion....

Ken Heide, CPO/LPO




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