To me James, you’ll always be a ‘patient’. When I say ‘patient’, please
hear ‘client’. Richard Ziegeler P&O / O.T.
———-
> From: James R. Graham
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: Patient or client?Professional or mechanic?
> Date: Thursday, 22 October 1998 10:22
>
> I understand your points.
>
> However, the idea that making you a “professional” makes me, an amputee a
> “patient” is
> certainly NOT a logical nor valid assumption. I am a client. This does
not
> imply any
> negative connotation for the prosthetist. It’s a simple, physical fact.
> Whether a prosthetist is
> a “tradesman” or “health care professional” is not relevant in
determining
> my status as “patient”
> or “client”. Although I CHOOSE to be a “client” rather than “patient”,
it
> is also a physiological
> sound choice. I’m not sick. I’m not ill. I’m not under a physician’s
> care. I only see a physician
> in order to validate payment to a prosthetist by my insurance company.
> This, I think, is
> a significant distinction.
>
> It does appear ironic that prosthetists are getting a bit defensive about
> titles since amputees
> have been getting defensive about their own status for quite some time.
>
> I don’t care what a prosthetist chooses to be called, or what they refuse
to
> be called.
>
> The bottom line is this….
>
> I’m not a “patient”. I’m a “client”.
> Why? Because I’m not ill and I do not require a physicians care. I have
a
> “stump” (rbk). I’m
> not a diabetic, don’t have heart disease, and there are no lesions. The
> simple fact (and
> irrefutable) is that I’m a completely healthy 42 year old male who just
> happens to wear a
> really large shoe on an otherwise really short leg. That does not, by
any
> stretch of logic
> or imagination make me a “patient”.
>
> I’m a client, and you’re a professional. End of story….
>
> Cheers,
> James R. Graham
> —
> —–Original Message—–
> From: Joe Elliott
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Thursday, October 22, 1998 11:07 AM
> Subject: Re: Patient or client?Professional or mechanic?
>
>
> >To all my colleagues:
> >I am a Certified Prosthetist, a health care professional credentialed by
a
> national health care accreditation organization (ABC) and proud of it. My
> credentials result from the possession of a baccalaureate degree and a
> certificate of education in prosthetics from Northwestern University
> Prosthetic and Orthotic Center. I am pleased to have enjoyed the
recognition
> of other health care professionals for 17 1/2 years I have practiced my
> PROFESSION.
> >
> >I am further pleased that Texas, my state of residence, has take a
positive
> step by adopting a comprehensive licensure act for orthotists and
> prosthetists. I am further pleased that a board consisting of ABC
> practitioners, BOC practitioners and consumers has worked diligently and
> produced a fair and practical document delineating the rules and
procedures
> for implementing the act as adopted by the Texas legislature.
> >
> >I am not, nor have I ever been, a mechanic or tradesman. I have been a
> Professional throughout my career, and the fact that I am now to be
licensed
> by the State of Texas will not change the manner in which I treat the
> patients referred to me for care. The license will, however, provide me
with
> additional recognition, both for patients and payers.
> >
> >I agree, Mr. Barr, this is a positive direction being taken by state
> organizations, and I encourage more state organizations to work to enact
> licensure.
> >
> >Joseph C. Elliott, CP
> >
> >Tony Barr wrote:
> >
> >> I believe Florida O&P consumers can now be described as patients
since
> (Florida) practitionors are now required to have a state license to
> practise their profession(previously a trade.)This recent transition
(July
> 1998) in the state of Florida, of mandatory licensure, and minimumal
> educational standards , raises the status of the O&P practitionor to the
> level of a professional from a tradesman / mechanic identity.
> >>
> >> The prior (optional) certification process did not necessarrily
> quarantee qualification of the practitionor.With the requirement of a
state
> license to practise the profession, goes the recognition, responsibility
and
> accountablity of being a health care professional.
> >>
> >> Perhaps,once the “industry” in other states recognizes the importance
of
> establishing mandatory credentials thru licensure , health care insurance
> providers will revisit and review insurance coverages for O&P
services.The
> beneficiaries of regulation become the patient and the professional.The
> recent expansion of O&P coverage to adults by Florida Medicaid was a
direct
> result of upgrading ,thru regulation ,the image and qualifications of
the
> industry(now a profession in Florida!).
> >>
> >> Perhaps one might ask,”What other occupation deserves the recognition
as
> a profession when no license or certification is required to practice
their
> trade?Espicially when that occupation is health care related “?
> >>
> >> Congratulations Florida O&P PROFESSIONALS!!!
> >> You are leading the way to the transition of a higher standard from
an
> “industry” to a “profession” and your identity as a health care
> professional!
> >>
> >> Anthony T. Barr
> >> The Barr Foundation
> >> www.oandp.com/barr
> >>
> >> > In response to the recent posting regarding referrring to amputees
as
> >> > “patients” instead of “clients”.
> >> >
> >> > I have to respectively disagree with the authors assertion that a
> >> > Prosthetist is no more than a tradesman, or mechanic, who is hired
to
> fill
> >> > an order for a part or supply. I believe that there is a very
> important
> >> > distinction between care giver and mechanic.
> >> >
> >> > Perhaps it is because I work in a hospital setting, but I do not
> believe any
> >> > of the patients that I provide care for, see out relationship as one
> where
> >> > a customer is hiring a mechanic to build them something. Of course
> there
> >> > is a part of what we do that is technical and requires
reimbursement.
> >> > However, I think that it is degrading to the entire Prosthetic
> profession to
> >> > look at what we do as the same as a mechanic.
> >> >
> >> > Without getting to longwinded here, I will pose a couple of
questions
> >> > myself.
> >> > Is the patient / Physical Therapist relationship any different? They
> are
> >> > hired to provide a service. They are paid to do so.
> >> > Is the patient / Surgeon relationship any different? They are hired
to
> >> > work on the body and are also paid to do so.
> >> >
> >> > I do not believe that prosthetists are intentionally trying to
offend
> >> > amputees by referring to them as patients, but when we are called in
as
> >> > part of the rehabilitation team to assist with getting a person back
on
> their
> >> > feet, or back to work, they see it as a patient / care giver
> relationship.
> >> > Thanks for letting me vent a little.
> >> > Steve Fletcher, CPO
> >> > Shands Hospital at the University of Florida
> >> >
> >
