Re: BoyCott of Otto Bock and other companies that sell direct to patients

Re: BoyCott of Otto Bock and other companies that sell direct to patients

Suzanne O'Connor

2/21/2006

I provide services in Texas, which is a state that has licensure, However I fit a patient in house at a rehab center today that told me she had already been fit with a TLSO...an off the shelf Comfort Line I believe is the brand name...she told me that when she had received her initial TLSO..she had received a call in her hospital room asking her ( the patient) measurements and then someone just showed up in her room and left it for her...no explanation...no fitting...nothing. I have already spoken to the hospital and discussed with the powers that be that this is against the law several months ago and guess what the sales rep is still providing these devices, billing the hospital under L Codes and what's more charging more than I do for a custom...Double to be exact...If someone has the answer.. I am all for it.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Francisco < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Sent: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 10:21:36 -0500
Subject: [OANDP-L] BoyCott of Otto Bock and other companies that sell direct to patients


           
        
The prosthetic & orthotic society of new jersey, inc.

25-09 Broadway Stephen Rinko, CPO
President

Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 Thomas Valenti, CO
Vice President
Phone: 201-796-3121 Michael Rebarber, CO
Secretary
Fax: 201-796-1551 Richard Bray, CPO
Treasurer

                                                                                                               
2/17/06

To all Prosthetic and Orthotic Societies and Practitioners:

            I have some very disturbing information. Otto Bock health care has
acquired a company named Ortho Rehab 1415 W. 3rd Street, Suite 101 of Tempe,
Arizona 85281.

This company is now Otto Bocks Direct Patient Care Facility. Otto Bock is now
your direct Competitor. They are providing patient care with a National Sales
Force.

            We must not support company's that are going to erode our patient
and Doctor bases. We must set a precedent against this practice. Either Otto
Bock is a Wholesaler or a Retailer. I will not support a competitor. We must
force them to choose which one they will be. If we do not react to this
practice many of our suppliers will become retailers and we will loose a
tremendous amount of business. If this continues Doctors, Therapists and
Surgical Supply Dealers will and are becoming our competitors.

            Think about it. In the near future with computer generated
prosthetics and orthotics do they really need a skilled Prothetist or Orthotist?
or will Otto Bock and others send a semi-skilled sales person with some minor
technical background to the patients home or Doctor's office to deliver an
appliance.

            I think it's about time we act as a united group and send a message
to these wholesalers, that they cannot do business in both market places. I
personally have had enough of this. Otto Bock, Don Joy, Bledsoe etc. When do
we try and stop it, and only use companies that help us and do not compete with
us.
      I propose a nation wide Boycott of Otto Bock, and other companies that are
engaged in this practice. New Jersey has already set up a meeting to discuss
instituting a Boycott and to notified Otto Bock that we will no longer be doing
business with them, if they continue to do patient care.

If you agree and would like to join the Boycott against these companies, please
let me know so we can work together. 1 (201) 796-3121

Sincerely,

 

Stephen Rinko, B.S. CPO#627, NJ License#500

President

President of P&O Society of New Jersey