Re: licensing
Mark Deharde
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: licensing
Creator:
Mark Deharde
Date:
3/10/2004
Text:
Licensure is handled at the state, not federal level. The NRM process attempted to set some standards for O&P care with Medicare beneficiaries, but ended without reaching consensus.
The AAOP serves the profession (individual practitioners), AOPA the industry (mfg's, suppliers and facility owners). The whole O&P community needs to come together, not throw bombs at each other - whether this means ABC or BOC (or AOPA or NAAOP). I hope that ABC and BOC attempt to get back to the table. A merger is much more preferable than any reciprocity, since the latter does not unite the profession going forward and will distract the profession from much bigger threats.
I fear the profession of O&P will cease to exist as we know it, given the threat of PT direct access and scope of practice expansion to include O&P in all 50 states- backed by huge lobby $, research initiatives and a very united, focused leadership at APTA.
We need to unite the O&P credential, then emulate APTA's approach to defeat their encroachment in to the O&P profession through state licensure initiatives. Most of this effort will have to happen at the state chapter level, with, at best, coordination from national leadership of all groups. Each of you need to get involved whether BOC or ABC certified. Those of you with state licensure need to educate your peers in other states as to the challenges of state licensure initiatives and the threats faced. This is a grass roots effort that requires your time, more than your money (though that will be needed as well). Apathy and in-fighting must stop and each of you must get involved to define who you are, what you do and why your are qualified to do it - in state licensure and regulation. We face the prospects NOW that PTs will have licensure laws including O&P, while we do not in those same states! - this lets them define you and keep you from practicing! ABC and BOC competition will be relegated to the ash heap, as PTs will be self prescribing and providing O&P technology from central fabricators and prefab brace manufacturers who are now eying a huge expansion opportunity for their businesses. Are you sure you want industry trade associations to exclusively handle national licensure given their members are some of these same companies already supplying thousands of PTs?
Mark D. DeHarde
Ultraflex
-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On Behalf Of Frisch, Jason, Co
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 9:01 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] licensing
I have read several emails tonight suggesting national licensure, if I'm not mistaken. If this is something that can be achieved through AOPA, since they seem to fight on the behalf of practitioners with the government and for educational standards, then I would fully support this effort. This would maintain all of the profession's integrity and schools to produce future practitioners. The consensus seems to be L.O. or L.P.O. I agree that abc and boc initials no longer carry the weight they once did unless in Washington state. I am not bashing any organization at this point, but licensing is the only way to lobby the governement to protect us and more importantly the patient. Combine the testing efforts and re-invent the test and re-certify all people if that is what it will take to achieve unity and eqaulity amongst practitioners. Put all of us on a level playing field from day 1 not year 25.
I do not think we need APTA. We can't be PT or OT if we don't go to their schools and get their education.
Anyways, let's handle this amongst ourselves and let AOPA lead the way. Sever ties with ABC and support the profession not the organization.
Thank you
Jason Frisch, CO
The AAOP serves the profession (individual practitioners), AOPA the industry (mfg's, suppliers and facility owners). The whole O&P community needs to come together, not throw bombs at each other - whether this means ABC or BOC (or AOPA or NAAOP). I hope that ABC and BOC attempt to get back to the table. A merger is much more preferable than any reciprocity, since the latter does not unite the profession going forward and will distract the profession from much bigger threats.
I fear the profession of O&P will cease to exist as we know it, given the threat of PT direct access and scope of practice expansion to include O&P in all 50 states- backed by huge lobby $, research initiatives and a very united, focused leadership at APTA.
We need to unite the O&P credential, then emulate APTA's approach to defeat their encroachment in to the O&P profession through state licensure initiatives. Most of this effort will have to happen at the state chapter level, with, at best, coordination from national leadership of all groups. Each of you need to get involved whether BOC or ABC certified. Those of you with state licensure need to educate your peers in other states as to the challenges of state licensure initiatives and the threats faced. This is a grass roots effort that requires your time, more than your money (though that will be needed as well). Apathy and in-fighting must stop and each of you must get involved to define who you are, what you do and why your are qualified to do it - in state licensure and regulation. We face the prospects NOW that PTs will have licensure laws including O&P, while we do not in those same states! - this lets them define you and keep you from practicing! ABC and BOC competition will be relegated to the ash heap, as PTs will be self prescribing and providing O&P technology from central fabricators and prefab brace manufacturers who are now eying a huge expansion opportunity for their businesses. Are you sure you want industry trade associations to exclusively handle national licensure given their members are some of these same companies already supplying thousands of PTs?
Mark D. DeHarde
Ultraflex
-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On Behalf Of Frisch, Jason, Co
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 9:01 PM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] licensing
I have read several emails tonight suggesting national licensure, if I'm not mistaken. If this is something that can be achieved through AOPA, since they seem to fight on the behalf of practitioners with the government and for educational standards, then I would fully support this effort. This would maintain all of the profession's integrity and schools to produce future practitioners. The consensus seems to be L.O. or L.P.O. I agree that abc and boc initials no longer carry the weight they once did unless in Washington state. I am not bashing any organization at this point, but licensing is the only way to lobby the governement to protect us and more importantly the patient. Combine the testing efforts and re-invent the test and re-certify all people if that is what it will take to achieve unity and eqaulity amongst practitioners. Put all of us on a level playing field from day 1 not year 25.
I do not think we need APTA. We can't be PT or OT if we don't go to their schools and get their education.
Anyways, let's handle this amongst ourselves and let AOPA lead the way. Sever ties with ABC and support the profession not the organization.
Thank you
Jason Frisch, CO
Citation
Mark Deharde, “Re: licensing,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222724.
