Re: FW: Report back on Sue Smithson/National O& P Insurance Contracting Consultant
Randall Alley
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: FW: Report back on Sue Smithson/National O& P Insurance Contracting Consultant
Creator:
Randall Alley
Date:
9/11/2006
Text:
I must say I was rather impressed with most of the responses to a rather
naive and somewhat inflammatory statement made by Smithson. To attempt to
imply that a socialistic model is obviously superior to our current system
at best illustrates a lack of understanding about O and P in the U.S., and
is evidence of her remarkable lack of insight into the Linkia effort, and
its intentions.
My guess is that Linkia will ultimately have to swallow many of its promises
of improved outcomes over the independents, reexamine its discounting
policies if it is to remain a viable entity, and prepare for a renegotiation
with Cigna as patients fight back. In the past, patients simply did not have
as great a forum as they do now, so it is understandable that many of you
clinicians feel they may not have much of a collective voice. To a certain
extent this is true, but after all the togetherness I've seen on the various
listservs among these individuals over the last few years, their power is
growing.
Concentrate on systems designed to document outcomes (outcomes measurement
is our Achilles heel and your biggest competitor knows it), ensure you have
superior results, and hold the line like many of you have already done when
you are asked to lose money in order to maintain a contract. Talk to your
patients, ask them if they network among their own and give them some links
to existing listservs that will allow them to gain motivation and strength
from others in their situation.
They are bound to have friends that are insured through Cigna. Get the ball
rolling by urging them to contact Cigna supervisors to state their
objections and there should be some light at the end of the tunnel.
Randy
Randall D. Alley, BSc, CP, CFT, FAAOP
CEO, biodesigns, inc.
Chair, CAD/CAM Society
P 310.291.4543
F 805.552.0705
<Email Address Redacted>
www.biodesigns.com
The information contained in this email message is PRIVILEGED and
CONFIDENTIAL information, intended only for the individual(s) named above.
You are hereby notified that any use, review, dissemination, distribution,
or copying of this document is prohibited. If you have received this email
in error, please notify us immediately by email or telephone and destroy the
original message. Thank you!
-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On
Behalf Of Sam Phillips
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 9:34 AM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] FW: Report back on Sue Smithson/National O& P
Insurance Contracting Consultant
I think we should take a moment to reflect on this series of emails. It
gives us a great view of an outsider's point of view into the
profession.
The first interesting quote
The O&P industry is unregulated, few if any states have licensure, and
the industry as a whole does not appear to have any compliance or
internal audit standards of any consequence. By contracting with one
network/company, a uniform and consistent patient care standard can be
applied because it is being controlled by one group that can actually
monitor and enforce minimum standards, something the O&P industry and
association has apparently not been able to implement with the
independent practices.
And secondly
MESSAGE FOR PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC PROVIDERS. If you sending a
message to
this address and you are from the Prosthetic and Orthotic industry,
please
delete your message and kindly do not send any further communication to
this
address
Instead of taking a moment to professionally enlighten her to the
intricacies of our field, making it unique among health care
professions, we, as a profession, lambasted her, challenged her
credentials, and have driven her away from the experts who might have
been able to change her impression of O&P.
We work (and pay) to get in front of Sue, and people in similar
positions, through luncheons and in-services to teach them about our
field. What a shame we choose to drive them away when we get a free
opportunity.
This listserve is a forum for the profession, and we need to treat it
that way. Your peers, referrals, clients, and possibly boss may
subscribe to this listserve. What message do you want to be sending
about yourself and your profession? By the way, where do you think Sue
will go to get her information about O&P in the future? Thank you for
your time.
Sincerely,
Sam L. Phillips, Dean
College of Orthotics and Prosthetics
St. Petersburg College
727-341-4150 Phone
727-341-4152 Fax
-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On
Behalf Of Tony Barr
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 11:26 AM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] FW: Report back on Sue Smithson/National O& P
Insurance Contracting Consultant
The below information as been generated from on the background and
experience of Sue Smithsom, the alleged contracting consultant for the
insurance industry and stated I had a series of e-mails regarding the
O&P
National contracting issue forwarded to me. I am presently consulting
with
various national insurance companies that are presently investigating
national O&P contracts.
Sue Smithson qualified as a registered nurse at Harrogate Hospital in
North
Yorkshire and holds a specialist qualification in orthopaedics.She spent
23
years in the NHS in Scotland and Yorkshire delivering orthopaedic and
trauma
nursing. In 1998, Sue was appointed Clinical Manager at NHS Direct with
responsibility for the recruitment, retention and development of the
workforce as well as the operational management of the service at a time
of
enormous growth. Sue established the approach to recruitment, which
subsequently became the national model for NHS Direct.
In 2001, Sue became the Head of the International Division within the
West
Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (WYMAS) NHS Trust. The division
recruited hundreds of nurses a year into the NHS and set the framework
for
the recruitment of mental health nurses from various countries around
the
world. She also developed a model for the international recruitment of
Allied Health Professionals, involving the full range of professions
both in
the UK and internationally.
Apparently due to multiple requests as to her credentials,Ms Smithson
has
decided to end her efforts to find support for sole source O&P
national
contracting. Plus the fact that she comes from a background of
socialized
medicine which isn't how we provide health benefits in this
country...yet.
What a intriguing ,revolving and always entertaining profession/industry
O&P is :)
Someone ought to write a book ..and they have.
First fifty (50) replies will receive a complimentary book titled, Whole
Again.
Send name and address to <Email Address Redacted>
Tony Barr
Anthony T. Barr
President
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
www.ErtlReconstruction.com
This a copy of the response received this morning from Sue Smithson's
email
address.
This is an AUTO RESPONSE to your recent e-mail communication to
<Email Address Redacted>
From: <Email Address Redacted> [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]
I greatly apologize for the inconvenience, but due to circumstances
beyond
my control, it has become necessary to discontinue this e-mail address.
If you are a current client or contact, you should have received an
e-mail
from me with my new e-mail address; the subject line of the e-mail is
New
E-Mail For Sue.
If you did not receive an e-mail from me, please call me on either my
office
or my cell phone number and I will give you my new e-mail address
personally.
Again, I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Thank you, Sue
MESSAGE FOR PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC PROVIDERS. If you sending a message
to
this address and you are from the Prosthetic and Orthotic industry,
please
delete your message and kindly do not send any further communication to
this
address.
naive and somewhat inflammatory statement made by Smithson. To attempt to
imply that a socialistic model is obviously superior to our current system
at best illustrates a lack of understanding about O and P in the U.S., and
is evidence of her remarkable lack of insight into the Linkia effort, and
its intentions.
My guess is that Linkia will ultimately have to swallow many of its promises
of improved outcomes over the independents, reexamine its discounting
policies if it is to remain a viable entity, and prepare for a renegotiation
with Cigna as patients fight back. In the past, patients simply did not have
as great a forum as they do now, so it is understandable that many of you
clinicians feel they may not have much of a collective voice. To a certain
extent this is true, but after all the togetherness I've seen on the various
listservs among these individuals over the last few years, their power is
growing.
Concentrate on systems designed to document outcomes (outcomes measurement
is our Achilles heel and your biggest competitor knows it), ensure you have
superior results, and hold the line like many of you have already done when
you are asked to lose money in order to maintain a contract. Talk to your
patients, ask them if they network among their own and give them some links
to existing listservs that will allow them to gain motivation and strength
from others in their situation.
They are bound to have friends that are insured through Cigna. Get the ball
rolling by urging them to contact Cigna supervisors to state their
objections and there should be some light at the end of the tunnel.
Randy
Randall D. Alley, BSc, CP, CFT, FAAOP
CEO, biodesigns, inc.
Chair, CAD/CAM Society
P 310.291.4543
F 805.552.0705
<Email Address Redacted>
www.biodesigns.com
The information contained in this email message is PRIVILEGED and
CONFIDENTIAL information, intended only for the individual(s) named above.
You are hereby notified that any use, review, dissemination, distribution,
or copying of this document is prohibited. If you have received this email
in error, please notify us immediately by email or telephone and destroy the
original message. Thank you!
-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On
Behalf Of Sam Phillips
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 9:34 AM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] FW: Report back on Sue Smithson/National O& P
Insurance Contracting Consultant
I think we should take a moment to reflect on this series of emails. It
gives us a great view of an outsider's point of view into the
profession.
The first interesting quote
The O&P industry is unregulated, few if any states have licensure, and
the industry as a whole does not appear to have any compliance or
internal audit standards of any consequence. By contracting with one
network/company, a uniform and consistent patient care standard can be
applied because it is being controlled by one group that can actually
monitor and enforce minimum standards, something the O&P industry and
association has apparently not been able to implement with the
independent practices.
And secondly
MESSAGE FOR PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC PROVIDERS. If you sending a
message to
this address and you are from the Prosthetic and Orthotic industry,
please
delete your message and kindly do not send any further communication to
this
address
Instead of taking a moment to professionally enlighten her to the
intricacies of our field, making it unique among health care
professions, we, as a profession, lambasted her, challenged her
credentials, and have driven her away from the experts who might have
been able to change her impression of O&P.
We work (and pay) to get in front of Sue, and people in similar
positions, through luncheons and in-services to teach them about our
field. What a shame we choose to drive them away when we get a free
opportunity.
This listserve is a forum for the profession, and we need to treat it
that way. Your peers, referrals, clients, and possibly boss may
subscribe to this listserve. What message do you want to be sending
about yourself and your profession? By the way, where do you think Sue
will go to get her information about O&P in the future? Thank you for
your time.
Sincerely,
Sam L. Phillips, Dean
College of Orthotics and Prosthetics
St. Petersburg College
727-341-4150 Phone
727-341-4152 Fax
-----Original Message-----
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On
Behalf Of Tony Barr
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 11:26 AM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: [OANDP-L] FW: Report back on Sue Smithson/National O& P
Insurance Contracting Consultant
The below information as been generated from on the background and
experience of Sue Smithsom, the alleged contracting consultant for the
insurance industry and stated I had a series of e-mails regarding the
O&P
National contracting issue forwarded to me. I am presently consulting
with
various national insurance companies that are presently investigating
national O&P contracts.
Sue Smithson qualified as a registered nurse at Harrogate Hospital in
North
Yorkshire and holds a specialist qualification in orthopaedics.She spent
23
years in the NHS in Scotland and Yorkshire delivering orthopaedic and
trauma
nursing. In 1998, Sue was appointed Clinical Manager at NHS Direct with
responsibility for the recruitment, retention and development of the
workforce as well as the operational management of the service at a time
of
enormous growth. Sue established the approach to recruitment, which
subsequently became the national model for NHS Direct.
In 2001, Sue became the Head of the International Division within the
West
Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (WYMAS) NHS Trust. The division
recruited hundreds of nurses a year into the NHS and set the framework
for
the recruitment of mental health nurses from various countries around
the
world. She also developed a model for the international recruitment of
Allied Health Professionals, involving the full range of professions
both in
the UK and internationally.
Apparently due to multiple requests as to her credentials,Ms Smithson
has
decided to end her efforts to find support for sole source O&P
national
contracting. Plus the fact that she comes from a background of
socialized
medicine which isn't how we provide health benefits in this
country...yet.
What a intriguing ,revolving and always entertaining profession/industry
O&P is :)
Someone ought to write a book ..and they have.
First fifty (50) replies will receive a complimentary book titled, Whole
Again.
Send name and address to <Email Address Redacted>
Tony Barr
Anthony T. Barr
President
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
www.ErtlReconstruction.com
This a copy of the response received this morning from Sue Smithson's
address.
This is an AUTO RESPONSE to your recent e-mail communication to
<Email Address Redacted>
From: <Email Address Redacted> [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]
I greatly apologize for the inconvenience, but due to circumstances
beyond
my control, it has become necessary to discontinue this e-mail address.
If you are a current client or contact, you should have received an
from me with my new e-mail address; the subject line of the e-mail is
New
E-Mail For Sue.
If you did not receive an e-mail from me, please call me on either my
office
or my cell phone number and I will give you my new e-mail address
personally.
Again, I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Thank you, Sue
MESSAGE FOR PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC PROVIDERS. If you sending a message
to
this address and you are from the Prosthetic and Orthotic industry,
please
delete your message and kindly do not send any further communication to
this
address.
Citation
Randall Alley, “Re: FW: Report back on Sue Smithson/National O& P Insurance Contracting Consultant,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/227242.
