Ethical Patient Care and Efficiency

This issue deals with themes of ethics, quality, and efficiency in patient care. As I write this column, the profession is facing what many consider an egregious breach of ethics in the form of the draft Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for Lower Limb Prostheses that, if adopted, would betray the trust of countless patients who rely on Medicare coverage to help them attain quality care for their limb loss. While these types of changes are often proposed in the name of cost-effectiveness and efficiency, it's critical to note, as is pointed out in " Balancing Quality and Efficiency ," that "there is a big difference between efficiency and cutting corners, and efficiency should never come at the expense of patient care." This is precisely what the O&P profession, patients, families, caregivers, and other interested parties are mobilizing to fight against in opposing coverage guidelines that would deny patients with amputations access to care in the name of cost cutting. So, why write about ethics? As O&P professionals, most of you chose to work in healthcare to help others, which is by definition an ethical path, right? By examining ethics within the context of establishing and managing O&P practices, as in " Your Vision and Ethics: The North Star of Your Business Strategy ," you can strengthen your company culture and perhaps better navigate the challenges you face in the changing healthcare landscape. A shared vision can help ensure all members of the team know how to react when a business is confronted with practices that may fall into ethical gray areas, or when crises arise. Kelly Clark, CO, also encourages O&P professionals to consider their ideas about efficiency and quality in his guest essay, " The Philosophy of Outcome ." While efficiency is essential as the profession is increasingly confronted with the challenges of new reimbursement models, so too is the outcome-and, ultimately the most important element is finding a path to ensure the patient is provided with the best care possible. By the time you read this, the comment period for the aforementioned LCD will have passed, and it is my hope that the O&P profession's combined efforts in the interests of prosthetic patients will have at least opened a dialog about whether further revision to these provisions would result in more ethical, quality patient care. Finally, I'd also like to acknowledge the The O&P EDGE staff for their shared efforts in our recent recognition with a 2015 TABBIE award, an awards program sponsored by the Trade, Association and Business Publications International (TABPI). We are happy to share this news with you, our readers, who drive us to put forth our best efforts every issue in support of the O&P profession. Happy reading.

Ethical Patient Care and Efficiency

The Philosophy of Outcome

Aspects of Gait: Part II

Nine Researchers Cited by Medicare Say That Proposed Cutback on Prosthetic Care Not Based on Science

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O&P JOBS

Practitioner & Orthotic Technician

Certified Orthotist, Certified Pedorthist

Sales Representative (MN, WI, IA, ND, SD Territory)

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Related posts:

The Philosophy of Outcome

Aspects of Gait: Part II

Nine Researchers Cited by Medicare Say That Proposed Cutback on Prosthetic Care Not Based on Science

Get unlimited access!

O&P JOBS

Practitioner & Orthotic Technician

Certified Orthotist, Certified Pedorthist

Sales Representative (MN, WI, IA, ND, SD Territory)

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