DATE: November 16, 2010
FOR RELEASE: Immediately
CONTACT: Claudia Zacharias, MBA, CAE
410-581-6222
The Board of Certification/Accreditation, International (BOC) has accepted a recent invitation to participate in conference calls and meetings with the four organizations of The Orthotic and Prosthetic Alliance (O&P Alliance). According to a statement issued by the O&P Alliance, the invitation was offered “…in order to better coordinate the public policy priorities of the O&P profession and the patients we serve.”
The O&P Alliance is comprised of four national orthotic and prosthetic organizations including the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics (ABC), the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP), the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA), and the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP). BOC has been participating in O&P Alliance meetings since November 8, 2010.
“BOC will participate in O&P Alliance meetings and conference calls to discuss policy development, implementation, and the Alliance’s ongoing work in the area of government affairs,” states Peter W. Thomas, counsel to the O&P Alliance and General Counsel of NAAOP. “We believe this is another important milestone for the O&P profession that ultimately will lead to improvements in patient care, particularly in the areas of education, clinical training, and competency assessment requirements.”
Sharon Nichelson, CMF, COF, chairwoman of BOC’s Board of Directors, notes, “We fully support the Alliance’s mission of ‘advocating for state and federal policy that improve the practice of O&P and quality of services provided to patients who require these health care services.’ Including BOC will further the Alliance’s efforts to present a unified voice, facilitate improved communication, and reduce confusion among important stakeholders.”
“This is a major step forward for everyone involved,” adds Claudia Zacharias, MBA, CAE, president & CEO of BOC. “We believe that the O&P profession is at a tipping point where we must move beyond any past differences and focus instead on what makes the most sense — today and tomorrow — to the profession and those we serve.”
Since 1984, the Board of Certification/Accreditation, International (BOC) has provided credentials demonstrating the competence and proficiency of O&P professionals. BOC offers NCCA-accredited certification programs in five disciplines: orthotics, prosthetics, pedorthics, orthotic fitting, and mastectomy fitting. BOC’s facility accreditation program partners with Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics and Orthotics Supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers to meet standards set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and improve business practices. BOC credentials celebrate and recognize the competence, professionalism and safe practice environments of BOC-certified practitioners and BOC-accredited facilities.