This message was conveyed to me by a practitioner that is not on the list
serve, and it echoes Mr. Hewey’s comments.
Mark Benveniste CP
<<<
—–Original Message—–
From: Bernard Hewey [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 4:12 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] ABC/BOC Negotiations
The ABC website reads in part
“…The ABC Board of Directors fully supports actions to unify our
profession behind the historical strength, size, and reputation of ABC. We
believe that the future of our profession depends on unity. Today’s
certification environment, with two independent certification boards, causes
confusion for our patients, referral sources, and regulatory bodies. This
confusion is allowing untrained and unqualified individuals to provide O&P
patient care. It is vital that all O&P professionals come together and
present a unified front against this encroachment.”
So, let me see if I have this straight. There will no longer be any
unqualified individuals providing O&P patient care because they will now be
ABC certified and thus eminently qualified. I am going through the ABC
process to extend my title (1900 hours, written exams, plane flights, hotel
rooms, $$$ and precious time spent for what was once a gold-standard ideal).
Maybe I should wait around a while and get the extra credentials with a
coupon and a SASE. Way to go, Anyone can Buy a Certification.
Bernard Hewey, C.O.
—– Original Message —–
From: “Lance Hoxie”
To:
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 10:38 AM
Subject: [OANDP-L] ABC/BOC Negotiations
The following represents ABC’s response to the recent ABC/BOC negotiations:
After several months of negotiations regarding the unification of the
American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) and the
Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC), ABC has discontinued
talks with BOC.
This disappointing announcement follows formal negotiations, including a
meeting on January 12, 2004, as well as a series of subsequent
communications. The following issues, among others, had been agreed to at
the January 12, 2004 meeting:
* ABC and BOC certified orthotist/prosthetist practitioners will be
given equal and equivalent certification status in the unified organization.
* BOC accredited facilities will be given ABC accreditation for the
appropriate scope of practice.
* Two pathways for certification as orthotists and/or prosthetists
will be available to future practitioners, ensuring that future patient care
needs will be met. ABC’s primary education pathway will be retained and an
alternative pathway to ABC’s primary certification pathway for orthotist
and/or prosthetist certification, similar to BOC’s current primary pathway
for orthotist and/or prosthetist certification, will be developed and
implemented.
* The current ABC examination process will be adopted for
certification of orthotists and/or prosthetists.
* The current BOC examination process will be adopted for orthotic and
mastectomy fitter credentialing.
Through written communications, BOC reversed its position and would not
agree to the above consensus agreements, as well as other items to which the
parties previously agreed. Ultimately this led to ABC concluding that BOC
did not intend to unify in a progressive and productive fashion. Thus,
contrary to BOC’s recent press release, ABC terminated the negotiations. In
its press release, BOC has since misstated numerous facts about the
negotiations between ABC and BOC regarding the unification process. We will
respond to those allegations with the facts. Yet, ABC continues to move
forward with unification of the profession – the ultimate goal of the
profession.
ABC still believes that it is in the public’s and profession’s best
interests to have a unified credentialing body that maintains high
standards, is inclusive of all qualified professionals, and is respected by
the medical profession. ABC believes in the urgency of this matter, as
unqualified and untrained individuals continue to encroach on O&P patient
care.
In order to accomplish this lofty goal, ABC has extended offers to all BOC
certified practitioners in good standing to join ABC as ABC certified
practitioners and unite the profession. This will provide the public with
assurances that services and care are provided by an ABC credentialed
professional whose certification represents the highest standard of
competency. Frank Friddle, President of ABC, emphasized this point by
stating that: “adding qualified BOC practitioners, ABC continues to focus
its efforts on providing high quality and comprehensive patient care
throughout the United States.”
For more information on this offer or for an application form, please visit
ABC’s website at www.abcop.org.
