Thoughts
Ted Thranhardt
Description
Collection
Title:
Thoughts
Creator:
Ted Thranhardt
Date:
3/9/2004
Text:
Thoughts:
1. The United States government and several States have determined that
people certified by ABC and BOC are acceptable and qualified to treat
orthotic and prosthetic patients and customers for whom they pay the bill.
Numerous insurance companies have made the same considered and unconsidered
decision.
2. I hear a lot of lamenting over money and effort spent on education.
You who needed the requirement from ABC should thank them for pushing you
into the education and experience you need to practice the profession your
educators knew you might face. Others have on their own met and/or exceeded
the requirements and I don’t hear them complaining. My guess it is paying
for itself, now.
3. Education is education and unless you become brain impaired, it
should serve you well for the remainder of your life. The more education you
have, the more you should have to process facts and situations, including
this one.
4. ABC Certifees, at the requirements of ABC, or on their own
initiative, have placed themselves at a level of education, experience and
set of standards to take the role of practitioner to a higher one than
required by the government. Again, my guess is that it is paying for itself
now.
5. It is disappointing that the negotiating teams were unable to reach
an accord. This current failure is not the first, but the most recent in a
many year history of BOC and ABC teams not able to come to grips with the
unfortunate situation of two small programs in a tiny profession large
enough for only one.
6. ABC has invited the BOC practitioners to join the list of ABC
Registrants, and has said that they must remain “In Good Standing” in order
to continue their listing. This IGS standard is significant to the
discussion. This requirement will increase, even with all the yelling, over
the next several years, and will continue to upgrade the competence of all
who carry the ABC Credential.
7. In spite of the few who will, in protest, fail to pay their
registration fees, ABC will continue in its existence, its mission, and
assurance of practitioner qualification. Those who give up their IGS will
find themselves making the decision of retaking the exam – I don’t know
anyone who wants to do that again.
8. Personal note: In my almost fifty years in this field I have served
in many positions, from local, regional and national committees and
officerships. I have faced some challenging situations including being in
Federal Court with BOC in the 1970’s. Taking the responsibility for leading
a volunteer organization is not easy. Giving your time, energy and very best
effort for the field often spills over to cost you money, business and
friendships when you stand up and make an unpopular but considered decision.
There are very few “ATTABOYS!”
9. At the time I was President of ABC we discussed developing a new
pathway to Certification that would duplicate the newly formed BOC. Our
decision was, “We are too good for that”. That was a mistake. I commend the
current ABC Board of Directors for having the fortitude to move forward with
this effort. In the long run everyone will benefit from their bold, and
definitely not self serving, action.
Ted Thranhardt CPO
Past President, AAOP, ABC, AOPA
1. The United States government and several States have determined that
people certified by ABC and BOC are acceptable and qualified to treat
orthotic and prosthetic patients and customers for whom they pay the bill.
Numerous insurance companies have made the same considered and unconsidered
decision.
2. I hear a lot of lamenting over money and effort spent on education.
You who needed the requirement from ABC should thank them for pushing you
into the education and experience you need to practice the profession your
educators knew you might face. Others have on their own met and/or exceeded
the requirements and I don’t hear them complaining. My guess it is paying
for itself, now.
3. Education is education and unless you become brain impaired, it
should serve you well for the remainder of your life. The more education you
have, the more you should have to process facts and situations, including
this one.
4. ABC Certifees, at the requirements of ABC, or on their own
initiative, have placed themselves at a level of education, experience and
set of standards to take the role of practitioner to a higher one than
required by the government. Again, my guess is that it is paying for itself
now.
5. It is disappointing that the negotiating teams were unable to reach
an accord. This current failure is not the first, but the most recent in a
many year history of BOC and ABC teams not able to come to grips with the
unfortunate situation of two small programs in a tiny profession large
enough for only one.
6. ABC has invited the BOC practitioners to join the list of ABC
Registrants, and has said that they must remain “In Good Standing” in order
to continue their listing. This IGS standard is significant to the
discussion. This requirement will increase, even with all the yelling, over
the next several years, and will continue to upgrade the competence of all
who carry the ABC Credential.
7. In spite of the few who will, in protest, fail to pay their
registration fees, ABC will continue in its existence, its mission, and
assurance of practitioner qualification. Those who give up their IGS will
find themselves making the decision of retaking the exam – I don’t know
anyone who wants to do that again.
8. Personal note: In my almost fifty years in this field I have served
in many positions, from local, regional and national committees and
officerships. I have faced some challenging situations including being in
Federal Court with BOC in the 1970’s. Taking the responsibility for leading
a volunteer organization is not easy. Giving your time, energy and very best
effort for the field often spills over to cost you money, business and
friendships when you stand up and make an unpopular but considered decision.
There are very few “ATTABOYS!”
9. At the time I was President of ABC we discussed developing a new
pathway to Certification that would duplicate the newly formed BOC. Our
decision was, “We are too good for that”. That was a mistake. I commend the
current ABC Board of Directors for having the fortitude to move forward with
this effort. In the long run everyone will benefit from their bold, and
definitely not self serving, action.
Ted Thranhardt CPO
Past President, AAOP, ABC, AOPA
Citation
Ted Thranhardt, “Thoughts,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222824.
