The following appears to be the last of the responses to my question that I can share. I understand it will be looked into.
Thanks to Tom Karolewski for the article touching on residency and thanks to Kojista Ahmadyar a graduate prosthetist
trying to find a residency who bought this problem to my attention again.
Al Pike, CP(E)
www.alpikecp.com
>>This last issue of O&P Business News brought this back to mind. Does
anyone have any idea how many graduate prosthetists and/or orthotists
are we losing each year because they cannot find a residency is it 10%
– 20% or what? The number I know of just keeps growing.>>
What we are witnessing is the result of years of educational pedagogy pushing
an agenda that is not grounded in the reality of what is going on in the
marketplace. And as much as we want to call prosthetics and orthotics a
profession it still has to be paid for somehow and therefore is subject to
business pressures. The imposition of a masters requirement by a not completely
altruistic educational infrastructure has unleashed a lot of very bright but
technically limited young people on the field, many who bring a considerable
element of entitlement to their salary expectations. This may be from the simple
math of trying to pay back 6 years of expensive education, the false
expectations that were fed to them, or a combination of both. In any event
these levels of compensation are not supported by what is happening to
reimbursement in the field. Compounding this is the exponentially increasing
supervisory and documentation burden required by NCOPE for residents and their
mentors. This makes it difficult for a busy practice manager or facility owner
to justify hiring a resident. I am not confident about what the future may hold
but I do sincerely hope there are some changes. You have started an interesting
discussion!
This last post hits the nail RIGHT on the HEAD!!While reviewing this year’s
Academy program, while an excellent educationalprogram, I am afraid that
they have gotten away from the ‘Learning’aspects. Most all of the
presenters are PHD’s and am wondering how manycan offer ‘Real World’
insights… I am all for higher educationhowever those at the top have gone
the way (unfortunately) of PT and Nursing byregulating the over- education
of our field.
The number of Residents if currently a challengeto find placement, with the
new NCOPE regulations, both BOC and ABC bothrequiring the 1 year residency,
will that number increase exponentially and makeit even MORE difficult to
find required placements?
While education is important, is not ClinicalCompetence as so? I would to
like to have seen our governing boards followmany of the Medical
communities requirements instead and consider’Privileging’ in order to
treat patient referrals. I feel that we may haveourselves closed the
profession to fresh new blood infusion into ourfield…
Enough said, it mayalready be too late.
For years I took in a resident every year. I wasand am still qualified by
NCOPE. But I am not going to take anymore residents. My son is now my resident
and will be my last. Over the years my residents have gotten worseand worse.
They cannot use tools, problem solve or havebasic O & P skills. They are
taking in students with great scholasticbackgrounds but no traits that I deem
necessary to be a practitioner. I have talked to other owners who have stated
the same thing. So the industry has less residency sites accepting residents.
Now the O & P schools are switching toonline classes and are raising the
tuitions to $75,000 for the O & P program.! ?? Are you kidding me. So this is
what we get, students who paid a lot of moneyfor a program that they are not
qualified to be in and now want high payrolls.
Another well thought outprogram of ABC and AOPA.
You know what Al? I have been following thisline with interest and can truly
say that I am glad that I am retired and nolonger have to interview resident
candidates who have poor grammar and cannotspell! Never mind that they have
no hands-on experience; they think they are”golden children” and deserve piles of gold!
Boy, do love retirement!
