Vol.5, No.5

July 2000

Academy Adds Standards and Advocacy to Strategic Plan

Calling it "the most important next step the Academy will take on behalf of the profession," President Stephanie D. Langdon-Bash, CPO, FAAOP asked the Board to approve adding the development of clinical standards of practice and advocacy to the Strategic Plan.

"The time is right for all of us to be involved in the examination of existing clinical information, research that proves the efficacy of treatment, and to put down on paper that which we know produces measurable results," explained Bash. "There is so much to do in O&P because there are few current, scientific, clinical standards of patient care."

Developing clinical standards of practice will be an arduous task. Bash expects to present the first topic and tentative timeline at the Academy's Annual Meeting in Dallas, March 7-10, 2001.

The issue of Advocacy was approved at the March Board meeting in San Diego and was further refined during the Strategic Planning Meeting. The Academy will act on behalf of its members on issues affecting patient care and practitioner skills. In the area of legislation, the Academy will work with existing legislative contacts on most issues. It may go to Capitol Hill to present its message, but will not engage a lobbyist, nor monitoring firm. The bulk of the Academy's efforts will be in building the tools to empower the membership to present the message.

The parameters of issues in which the Academy will involve itself are described, in part, in position statements on "The Provision of Custom-Designed, -Fabricated and/or -Fitted Orthoses and Prostheses", "The Ethical Conduct of Orthotic and Prosthetic Practitioners" and "The Minimum Education Essentials & Credentialing for Providers of Comprehensive Orthotic and Prosthetic Services". The Professional Issues Council (PIC) will act as the clearinghouse for inquiries about issues affecting the profession.

Members are encouraged to bring issues of concern to the PIC, Licensure and Credentialing Committee, and the State and Federal Legislative Policy Committee. Those groups will determine the significance and impact of the issue and develop a plan of appropriate action and make recommendations to the Board.

Academy Pushes for Exemption on Cranial Helmets

The Academy has collected 30 letters from practitioners and referral sources denouncing the FDA regulation categorizing cranial helmets as Class II medical devices. A document will be sent to the FDA shortly, arguing that O&P providers should be considered as service providers rather than as manufacturers for cranial orthoses, as they are for almost all other O&P devices. A determination is hoped for in less than 90 days. If successful, this will remove the need for registering with the FDA, following their regulations and filing pre-market notifications (510K information.) The Academy is aware FDA has cited several practitioners for noncompliance. Until the matter is settled in our favor, the Academy recommends full compliance with FDA regulations.

Societies Asked to Develop Research Lists

Whether or not you are a member of one of the Academy's seven scientific societies, your input is encouraged in the development of lists of O&P research topics. Each society has been asked to develop a list by September 1 of at least 10 topics where research is needed. The lists will be announced in the Academician and also shared with O&P residents and students in O&P programs to encourage their consideration when selecting a research topic to complete their residency requirements.

For example, a research topic for the Lower-Limb Prosthetic Society might be "What is the current thinking on the use of liners in trans-tibial socket design. The outcome might be to develop guidelines for clinical applications and how they relate to material selection. A second example for the Lower-Limb Orthotics Society might include "In individuals with hypertonicity, what are indications and contra-indications for using articulating ankle joint AFOs versus solid ankle or semi-rigid ankle, or supra-malleolar orthoses?

Academy members are encouraged to share their research topics directly with the chairmen of the respective society:

2001 Election Results

(In accordance with the Bylaws, 2000 President-Elect, Thomas V. DiBello, CO, FAAOP will automatically become President in 2001.)

Two Bylaw Changes Pass

A simple realignment of the name of a membership category passed, changing the previous category of Affiliate to Associate. That change was recommended to avoid confusion by mirroring the credentialing terms and definitions used by ABC. The newly-named Associate Member category is open to other ABC-credentialed individuals involved in O&P, such as registered technicians and associates. Associate dues are $75 annually; application forms can be found on the Academy's website, or requested by phone at 703-836-7116.

A new category of membership, Affiliate Member, was established and is open to individuals who practice in allied fields and provide services used in conjunction with comprehensive O&P care. Affiliate Members would include anyone that has a professional interest in O&P while working within their scope of practice, such as Certified Pedorthists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Podiatrists, Physicians, Rehabilitation Engineers Case Managers, and Licensed Orthotists and Prosthetists. Affiliate members may not vote or hold office on the national level of the Academy. Only Active Members (ABC-certified practitioners) have voting privileges. Annual dues for Affiliate Members will be $250.

Societies to Establish Research Fund

The Academy's scientific societies will divert unused monies at the end of each year to a fund to be administered jointly by the society chairs. Guidelines for the use of the money and criteria for selection of small research grants will be announced at the 2001 Annual Meeting and on the website.

New Academy Benefit
Protects Member's Life Savings

The Academy is offering Long-Term Care Quote™ - a free quote service to help individuals find the most practical, affordable solutions to protect themselves or their loved ones against the high cost of long-term care. Members receive a detailed comparison of the top three long-term care policies for their personal circumstances. The information includes details on the companies, policies, a personalized premium quote, and a free consumer guidebook. No sales person will call. Your information is not turned over to any insurance company as a sales lead. Long-Term Care Quote™ (LTCQ) is a national research center and independent agency specializing in long-term care insurance information. Their consumer service has been recommended in Consumer's Digest, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Forbes, Mature Outlook and many other respected publications. It has also been featured on NBC's The Early Today Show.

LTCQ - the first service of its kind - operates a computerized database that compares the features and prices of the nation's top long-term care policies. Upon a member's request, LTCQ will send a complete information kit and personalized quote on three top-rated policies, selected based on information provided by the member. There is no cost or obligation for this service. Additionally, Academy members save money over identical policies because of a special member discount available exclusively for Academy members, their parents and in-laws.

To request a free, no-obligation information kit and personalized quote, simply click here or call toll-free 1-800-587-3279.

AOPA Selects New Executive Director

Tyler J. Wilson, formerly vice president, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, has been named the new Executive Director of AOPA, succeeding Robert Van Hook, CAE. For more details please see the Almanac.