US politics O & P Licensure
Eileen Levis
Description
Collection
Title:
US politics O & P Licensure
Creator:
Eileen Levis
Date:
5/9/2008
Text:
List members:
As President of the Pennsylvania Orthotic and Prosthetic Society I would
like to address PA Licensure HB2015. The current bill addresses specific
educational and clinical practice requirements consistant with Prosthetic,
Orthotic and Pedorthic credentialing organizations. It also references the
internship process and requirement for exminations as well as regulations
to be promulgated including but not limited to training, examinations and
continuous education. The issue of grandfathering practioners has been a
source of concern in drafting this bill. Individuals in many states
including PA have been practicing orthotics, prosthetics, pedorthics for
many years without extensive formal education. Law makers are not inclined
to support elimating jobs. Most if not all state licensure bills have some grandfathering provision. That is not to say, unqualified individuals will be providing patient care. Through HB2015 practitioners in PA will be
mandated to continuing education. We will have the ability target
practitioners who are not meeting quality standards, or are unscrupulous.
Patients will have a place to voice their concerns or complaints. To me,
this ALL advocates quality patient care. You are right in that there are
practitoners who may be making the wrong device for 20 years and think that
they are an expert. But through licensure we can ensure that they don't continue to do it for another 20 without honing theirs skills. That is what licensure in PA will do. All states are different in how licensure and licensure boards can be established.We are keeping the licensees costs down by establishing our board under the Podiatry board. NOTHING IS PERFECT, but it is our hope here in PA that we at least TRY to improve the quality of O & P care to our patients. That is why we are pushing this bill and that IS THE RIGHT REASON.
Eileen Levis, President Pennsylvania Orthotic and Prosthetic Society
Eileen A Levis
President
PA Orthotic and Prosthetic Society
As President of the Pennsylvania Orthotic and Prosthetic Society I would
like to address PA Licensure HB2015. The current bill addresses specific
educational and clinical practice requirements consistant with Prosthetic,
Orthotic and Pedorthic credentialing organizations. It also references the
internship process and requirement for exminations as well as regulations
to be promulgated including but not limited to training, examinations and
continuous education. The issue of grandfathering practioners has been a
source of concern in drafting this bill. Individuals in many states
including PA have been practicing orthotics, prosthetics, pedorthics for
many years without extensive formal education. Law makers are not inclined
to support elimating jobs. Most if not all state licensure bills have some grandfathering provision. That is not to say, unqualified individuals will be providing patient care. Through HB2015 practitioners in PA will be
mandated to continuing education. We will have the ability target
practitioners who are not meeting quality standards, or are unscrupulous.
Patients will have a place to voice their concerns or complaints. To me,
this ALL advocates quality patient care. You are right in that there are
practitoners who may be making the wrong device for 20 years and think that
they are an expert. But through licensure we can ensure that they don't continue to do it for another 20 without honing theirs skills. That is what licensure in PA will do. All states are different in how licensure and licensure boards can be established.We are keeping the licensees costs down by establishing our board under the Podiatry board. NOTHING IS PERFECT, but it is our hope here in PA that we at least TRY to improve the quality of O & P care to our patients. That is why we are pushing this bill and that IS THE RIGHT REASON.
Eileen Levis, President Pennsylvania Orthotic and Prosthetic Society
Eileen A Levis
President
PA Orthotic and Prosthetic Society
Citation
Eileen Levis, “US politics O & P Licensure,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 1, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/229354.
