Qualifications
Sheredos, Carol (NIH/NICHD)
Description
Collection
Title:
Qualifications
Creator:
Sheredos, Carol (NIH/NICHD)
Date:
12/14/2005
Text:
Dear Brandy, Barbara, Sam - and anyone else out there who has misread my
comments -
You have absolutely misread my statement - I said: What's the
difference between a PT who has little O&P skills and some so-called
prosthetist or orthotist whose lack of skills (and maybe scruples)
makes him/her not much more than a snake-oil salesman?
I am referring to those out there who call themselves an orthotist or
prosthetist, but who do NOT have the skills or
certification/qualifications to fit and/or fabricate such devices. THEY
are the snake-oil salesmen! Come on, you must know these folks are out
there - An example: When I was working in a subacute/SNF setting, there
were several so-called orthotists who invariably would bring their
wares into the facility and try to sell them (sometimes successfully) to
the nursing staff, who didn't know a cock-up wrist splint from an AFO.
Their approach was direct-sell to the facility, bypassing PT, OT, and
orthotics evaluations and recommendations. And, you know what? It was
legal!
Hey, I am not against orthotists and prosthetists - You have to realize
that there are PTs who are perfectly capable of fitting, fabricating,
and modifying most prostheses and orthoses. Sometimes they work in O&P
offices and are credentialed as a CPO (or similar certification), or
they work in highly impoverished or underserved areas where there is
little or no O&P presence. The majority of PTs out there wouldn't touch
fitting and fabricating O&P devices with a 30' pole. Most PTs respect
the O&Ps they work with in their community, and vice versa. The thing is
- O&P is in most states' practice acts. Most PTs disregard that,
especially when it comes to custom devices. PTs are NOT trying to take
over the O&P profession. Honest.
My greatest concern, which I tried to convey in my original posting, is
the infighting and cross-disciplinary arguing that is sidetracking the
real issue - Who is a qualified provider? Unfortunately, that question
has never been resolved, not in the CMS Negotiated Rulemaking Committee,
at any rate. That was very unfortunate - But the O&P profession is now
left to pick up the pieces. And what are you doing about it? Well,
let's just point fingers at the PTs - They're a good target. We are NOT
the enemy!
If I were to try to perform a medical or surgical procedure on a
patient, I could be charged as practicing medicine without a license.
It's illegal, plain and simple. If my CPA neighbor tried to perform
spinal manipulations on someone, they could be charged as practicing
chiropractic (or PT) without a license. BUT - If that same neighbor
decided to make a prosthetic leg for someone, they are free to do so.
O&P has no recourse. For crying out loud, when are you guys going to get
together and pursue licensure? PROTECT your profession! YOU choose the
boundaries of practice! YOU decide what constitutes O&P practice! Get
rid of the snake-oil salesmen, once and for all! And restore the classic
good faith and mutual respect that PTs, OTs, and O&Ps have enjoyed for
years.
Carol A. Sheredos, PT, MA
Program Analyst
The National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR)
NICHD/NIH
6100 Executive Blvd. - Room 2A03
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 402-2242
(410) 828-1278
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 08:52:40 -0700
From: Barbara Boutin < <Email Address Redacted> >
Subject: Re: Qualifications
Ok I have had enough.
I am now offended.
Please do not make gross generalizations regarding orthotic and
prosthetic practices or refer to us as snake-oil salesman.
I am a Canadian trained and board certified orthotist, in addition I am
now an American board certified orthotist.
I take immense pride in every patient assessment and item fabricated in
our facility.
We believe in continuity of care where the same orthotist that evals,
also modifies the cast.
Who better to know what the patient limb alignment and tissue integrity
is like.
We, as Canadian trained orthotists, have an undergraduate degree, two
full years of schooling at a recognized school, and a two year residency
followed by 3 days of National exams.
Not to mention mandatory continuing education.
We value the working relationships that we have with many physical and
occupational therapists.
That is where I am coming from.
Barbara Boutin, BSc., CO(c), CO
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:30:42 -0600
From: Brandy Kopiske < <Email Address Redacted> >
Subject: Re: Qualifications
BRAVO BARBARA!!!
We too are offended about being referred to as snake oil salesman
= as in ANY profession whether it be doctors, lawyers and I am sure PT's
= and OT's there are individuals who lack credibility and scruples in
the = decisions they make. My husband is German trained in Orthotics
and = Prosthetics holding a Masters Degree in Engineering plus a 3 year
= apprenticeship in Orthotics and Prosthetics. Here he is ABC and BOC =
certified. We have a relatively young practice but work hard to make =
the right decisions regarding our patients and the care we provide even
= if is not the most profitable way to do things. In the days of
Medicare = cuts and insurance contracting making a successful practice
in O & P is = not easy. I am sure our colleagues have it just as tough.
In the state = of Missouri our Governor Matt Blunt has signed into law
the toughest = Medicaid cuts in national history. They offer NO
benefits for any type = of Orthotics and very little Prosthetics. They
pay for no rehab = therapies and he has announced it is in the plans to
do away with the = Medicaid program all together by 2008. It has put
tremendous strain on = health care providers to find facilities willing
to treat these patients = especially inpatient emergencies knowing they
will not be compensated = for these treatments. We have a large PT
practice in the suite across = the hall from us in our Medical Building,
they come over and get us for = patients needing orthotics and or
prosthetics and we go and get them for = our therapy questions. There
is room in this industry for everyone and = their own specialties. We
do not expect our primary care physicians to = know all or they would
not have invented the need for specialists I = am not saying PT's
should not be allowed to practice in the field of = orthotics and
prosthetics, however they should be required to undergo = the same
certification testing, credentialing, and education that we do. =
Science classes and 2 weeks of O and P training does not make you a =
practitoner. It takes years of training and education to perfect your =
craft. My husband has been doing this for 20 years and still learns =
every day something new. We all should conquer the tasks we know best =
and not try to have our hand in everything.
Brandy Kopiske
Vice President / Compliance Officer
Kopiske Orthopedics Inc.
1191 Highway KK=20
Dogwood Medical Park Suite 101
Osage Beach, MO 65065
(573) 302-4733 FAX (573) 302-4735
www.kopiskeorthopedics.com
comments -
You have absolutely misread my statement - I said: What's the
difference between a PT who has little O&P skills and some so-called
prosthetist or orthotist whose lack of skills (and maybe scruples)
makes him/her not much more than a snake-oil salesman?
I am referring to those out there who call themselves an orthotist or
prosthetist, but who do NOT have the skills or
certification/qualifications to fit and/or fabricate such devices. THEY
are the snake-oil salesmen! Come on, you must know these folks are out
there - An example: When I was working in a subacute/SNF setting, there
were several so-called orthotists who invariably would bring their
wares into the facility and try to sell them (sometimes successfully) to
the nursing staff, who didn't know a cock-up wrist splint from an AFO.
Their approach was direct-sell to the facility, bypassing PT, OT, and
orthotics evaluations and recommendations. And, you know what? It was
legal!
Hey, I am not against orthotists and prosthetists - You have to realize
that there are PTs who are perfectly capable of fitting, fabricating,
and modifying most prostheses and orthoses. Sometimes they work in O&P
offices and are credentialed as a CPO (or similar certification), or
they work in highly impoverished or underserved areas where there is
little or no O&P presence. The majority of PTs out there wouldn't touch
fitting and fabricating O&P devices with a 30' pole. Most PTs respect
the O&Ps they work with in their community, and vice versa. The thing is
- O&P is in most states' practice acts. Most PTs disregard that,
especially when it comes to custom devices. PTs are NOT trying to take
over the O&P profession. Honest.
My greatest concern, which I tried to convey in my original posting, is
the infighting and cross-disciplinary arguing that is sidetracking the
real issue - Who is a qualified provider? Unfortunately, that question
has never been resolved, not in the CMS Negotiated Rulemaking Committee,
at any rate. That was very unfortunate - But the O&P profession is now
left to pick up the pieces. And what are you doing about it? Well,
let's just point fingers at the PTs - They're a good target. We are NOT
the enemy!
If I were to try to perform a medical or surgical procedure on a
patient, I could be charged as practicing medicine without a license.
It's illegal, plain and simple. If my CPA neighbor tried to perform
spinal manipulations on someone, they could be charged as practicing
chiropractic (or PT) without a license. BUT - If that same neighbor
decided to make a prosthetic leg for someone, they are free to do so.
O&P has no recourse. For crying out loud, when are you guys going to get
together and pursue licensure? PROTECT your profession! YOU choose the
boundaries of practice! YOU decide what constitutes O&P practice! Get
rid of the snake-oil salesmen, once and for all! And restore the classic
good faith and mutual respect that PTs, OTs, and O&Ps have enjoyed for
years.
Carol A. Sheredos, PT, MA
Program Analyst
The National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR)
NICHD/NIH
6100 Executive Blvd. - Room 2A03
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 402-2242
(410) 828-1278
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 08:52:40 -0700
From: Barbara Boutin < <Email Address Redacted> >
Subject: Re: Qualifications
Ok I have had enough.
I am now offended.
Please do not make gross generalizations regarding orthotic and
prosthetic practices or refer to us as snake-oil salesman.
I am a Canadian trained and board certified orthotist, in addition I am
now an American board certified orthotist.
I take immense pride in every patient assessment and item fabricated in
our facility.
We believe in continuity of care where the same orthotist that evals,
also modifies the cast.
Who better to know what the patient limb alignment and tissue integrity
is like.
We, as Canadian trained orthotists, have an undergraduate degree, two
full years of schooling at a recognized school, and a two year residency
followed by 3 days of National exams.
Not to mention mandatory continuing education.
We value the working relationships that we have with many physical and
occupational therapists.
That is where I am coming from.
Barbara Boutin, BSc., CO(c), CO
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:30:42 -0600
From: Brandy Kopiske < <Email Address Redacted> >
Subject: Re: Qualifications
BRAVO BARBARA!!!
We too are offended about being referred to as snake oil salesman
= as in ANY profession whether it be doctors, lawyers and I am sure PT's
= and OT's there are individuals who lack credibility and scruples in
the = decisions they make. My husband is German trained in Orthotics
and = Prosthetics holding a Masters Degree in Engineering plus a 3 year
= apprenticeship in Orthotics and Prosthetics. Here he is ABC and BOC =
certified. We have a relatively young practice but work hard to make =
the right decisions regarding our patients and the care we provide even
= if is not the most profitable way to do things. In the days of
Medicare = cuts and insurance contracting making a successful practice
in O & P is = not easy. I am sure our colleagues have it just as tough.
In the state = of Missouri our Governor Matt Blunt has signed into law
the toughest = Medicaid cuts in national history. They offer NO
benefits for any type = of Orthotics and very little Prosthetics. They
pay for no rehab = therapies and he has announced it is in the plans to
do away with the = Medicaid program all together by 2008. It has put
tremendous strain on = health care providers to find facilities willing
to treat these patients = especially inpatient emergencies knowing they
will not be compensated = for these treatments. We have a large PT
practice in the suite across = the hall from us in our Medical Building,
they come over and get us for = patients needing orthotics and or
prosthetics and we go and get them for = our therapy questions. There
is room in this industry for everyone and = their own specialties. We
do not expect our primary care physicians to = know all or they would
not have invented the need for specialists I = am not saying PT's
should not be allowed to practice in the field of = orthotics and
prosthetics, however they should be required to undergo = the same
certification testing, credentialing, and education that we do. =
Science classes and 2 weeks of O and P training does not make you a =
practitoner. It takes years of training and education to perfect your =
craft. My husband has been doing this for 20 years and still learns =
every day something new. We all should conquer the tasks we know best =
and not try to have our hand in everything.
Brandy Kopiske
Vice President / Compliance Officer
Kopiske Orthopedics Inc.
1191 Highway KK=20
Dogwood Medical Park Suite 101
Osage Beach, MO 65065
(573) 302-4733 FAX (573) 302-4735
www.kopiskeorthopedics.com
Citation
Sheredos, Carol (NIH/NICHD), “Qualifications,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/225899.
