Dear List,
I have tread on ground this time that I did not properly evaluate. First and
foremost, I simply must apologize to the entire O&P community. I have been
reminded in no uncertain terms (and I think maybe even in German) of my
current place and status within the profession, something which I have been
remiss in not acknowledging. My greatest supporter has even shown
embarrasment for me, for this I must take notice. I remember hearing long
ago, “When everyone else is wrong, start looking at yourself”, why don’t
these lessons sink in until it is too late?
I am in no position to comment on the costs of doing business, as someone
mentioned “…the only place I sign checks is on the back…”!!! Assumptions
and half-truths will not and cannot ever be mistaken for real world
experience, and the old adage of walking a mile in someone’s shoes before
commenting is a new challenge for me to undertake. Enough of the sob story,
the damage has been done, for that I am truly sorry. To attack the very
spirit and intentions of those who seek to provide care in this field was in
error. I would however, like to explain myself a bit before hopefully
allowing the list to return to its intended function…
My greatest day in this field was the day I was accepted into the University
of Washington’s P&O program. What little I knew about the profession was
from 150 hours of volunteer experience from excellent practitioners in a
hospital setting. I had a feeling that day that I had finally made the right
choice for a career, working with people, building devices, even getting to
be in a hospital were all things I could not wait to achieve. Since that
day, it has seemed like one thing after another cropped up to take away a
small part of what I really signed up for; ABC vs. BOC, AOPA & AAOP, PT’s,
Neg-Reg, Competitive Bidding, and State Licensure (I came up in Washington
State, I just thought in the beginning everyone had to be licensed!) and
lets not forget business vs. patient/client care… all of these battles
chip away at my true passion, what I thought I would be doing for the rest
of my life that day I was accepted into school… and by the way – none of
this was in the textbooks!!!
An astute observer of two days ago offered that I must be upset about
something to be always on here offering up opinions, they were correct. I am
angry that there is so much taking away from what we as O&P professionals
are here on this earth to do. My most recent error was failing to recognize
that some of these battles are very necessary to the survival of this field.
Some people have to make ends meet to be able to provide services, some
people have to provide financial incentive for manufacturers to be even
remotely interested in creating new products… it cannot simply be ignored
or made to go away, it may not even be wrong, as I implied. It is just the
way it is.
In case anyone is worried, I have not lost my drive, and I will not rest on
the issues facing our future. I will however, offer a new deal to this list:
(my last one turned up no good) I believe my passion and spirit to be sound
traits, and will offer support and ideas to those in position to make use of
them in determining the course this profession will take. For example (and
please – this is JUST for example.. my can opener is broken and the
apartment is full of worms!), if State Licensure is a step which can help
ensure positives for clients as well as for our profession, I will assist in
no uncertain terms. I stand by my thought that all in this profession is not
good, but I will defer to those already in the trenches, fighting the good
fight… those are the folks whom I am most sorry to have offended.
I said a bit ago “It is just the way it is”, that disturbs me a little, and
I hope to not settle for that in the future. I just won’t go at it alone
this time – I really think that we can all come up with workable solutions
to the problems facing our world, we just have to put down the gloves and
talk (me especially). In closing, I hope I can take that offer of “Puppy
Immunity” but not just yet the one to spend a week visiting Mr. Weott’s
office… I’m running out of Vacation days!
Thank you all for your time and consideration, oh and BIG thanks to Paul P.
for letting me ruin my career, then get my “just desserts”, then come on
here and apologize!!! I promise no more personal items on the list, but I
think this was important, hopefully not just for me.
Sincerely,
Justin Foster
Idealism = Youth = Inexperienced, why does it have to go like that? Is there
a better way?
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