Who does this affect

Everyone!

Members

The members of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy) and the members of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) will be directly involved in formation of a consolidated organization. The success of consolidation depends on each member taking an active role, staying informed and using his or her vote as a voice throughout the process. With consolidation, the respective programs would continue, but the Academy and AOPA would not retain their separate corporate status.

Organizations

The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics Inc. (ABC) and the National Commission for Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), while non-membership organizations, will be actively involved in the consolidation process and new organization. Because the business of ABC and NCOPE, certification and education respectively, cannot be unduly influenced in terms of their governance and budgets, they will each need to maintain an independent board of commissioners. To this end, the integrity of the education and certification processes will not be compromised.

What Would the New Organization Represent

Consolidation would accomplish having the two membership organizations of the Academy and AOPA developed into one association. One possible name would be the American Association for Orthotics and Prosthetics (AAOP). The ABC and NCOPE would be part of this new organization and be maintained within the O&P family. The mission of the new association would be to represent the orthotics and prosthetics profession in promoting quality O&P care and services. The mission would be fulfilled through five goals:

• Education
• Credentialing
• Government Relationsw Research
• Communications

Movement in the Direction of Consolidation

• Early 90's: Yearly informal meetings of Past Presidents, initiated movement to create a more streamlined organization to address the needs of the profession.
• 1992: ACPORS developed and presented to membership. Limited communication and lack of full membership review played a role in it's failure
• 1998: Several organizational and management studies completed with resulting recommendations for consolidation (March)
• Unanimous decision of the boards of the sister organizations, elected by you, to take another look at consolidation (Spring)
• Straw polls of membership showed support of the consolidation movement (Fall)
• Trend to consolidate affects many associations (association study)
• Consensus Conference (December)

How

Why Change

1. The number of O&P organizations and their roles is confusing - even to members within the respective organizations.

• "Do I pay dues to ABC?" "Am I a member of ABC?" "Am I an individual member of AOPA if I simply practice in a member facility?" "Does my facility and its practitioners have membership in the Academy?"

2. The cost of belonging to multiple organizations has reached a breaking point for many members. Consolidation could keep costs to members at least at the same level and may control future increases in dues.

• The current structures are not as effective as they need to be. Consolidation could increase cost-effectiveness and productivity and eliminate redundancies.

• Members could also see an improved level of service, value and better representation of the O&P field.

3. Consolidation should provide a stronger, consistent, responsive, unified and more recognizable representation of the O&P profession to payers, consumers, members and allied health providers.

• From whatever perspective, O&P needs to have a unified voice. There is strength in numbers.

• Keeping up with external changes and responding rapidly to members' emerging needs will require associations to become "fast, fluid, and flexible."

4. The healthcare environment has changed significantly. Consolidation responds to the changing healthcare environment (and pressure from members), allows the new association to be proactive, and meets the challenges the O&P community faces today and in the future.

• Increasing public scrutiny and competition will lead associations to promote their members' credibility and the unique value of their services or activities.

POTENTIAL STRENGTHS/OPPORTUNITIES:

• Elimination of redundancies, 30% of members belong to both organizations currently, with 67% of AOPA members employing Academy members and 54% of Academy members working at AOPA member facilities
• O&P would have a unified voice
• Proactive in responding to changes in healthcare environment
• Current programs will be maintained
• Active members of the new organization that are ABC-certifees and ABC-accredited facilities will now have an opportunity to vote on ABC affairs
• Creation of a new and dynamic organization

PERCEIVED THREATS/ WEAKNESSES/CONCERNS:

• Fear of the unknown
• ABC will retain its autonomy but will become an operating division of the new Association
• Not all the answers are available
• Failure of consolidation in the past
• What will happen to each organization's reserves
• What will happen to the programs of the fellows, societies, etc.
• What if any impact on the professional standing of the practitione

Where Do You Fit Into the Process

You need to stay informed and encourage others to do the same, so as things progress you are able to make educated decisions. We recognize that both threats and weaknesses exist in addition to strengths and opportunities through the new organization. Nothing is being decided for you. We are merely looking for ways to make the existing organizations work better to meet the needs of all the members.

"Ask Us"

The "Steering Committee" is the committee comprised of currently elected leaders from the organizations. They have been tasked with working through the details of bylaws, governance, dues structures, etc. Please feel free to contact any one of the members with any questions or concerns you may have.

Do you realize that Academicians benefit from AOPA's activities
while AOPA members gain opportunities through the Academy's programs?

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Copyright © 1998-1999 American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association.  Last modified: March 25, 1999