Recently, AOPA surveyed all its members on the field of O&P: the biggest threats, challenges, opportunities and likely courses of action. (See “Changing the Game Plan,” January 2008 O&P Almanac.) And you responded. Over 27 percent sent the surveys back in—almost twice the normal survey response. Here’s what you said.

The view of the future
AOPA’s members are concerned about the future. Though they see opportunities ahead, they strongly agreed with statements such as “The costs of materials and labor will increase faster than fee schedule increases” and “Fee schedule increases will be difficult to secure in the future.” Members were also pessimistic about payers’ involvement in the field, agreeing with the statement “Payers’ primary concern is the cost of care.”

O&P’s growing professionalism was the bright spot. Respondents agreed strongly with the statement “Accreditation is a positive for the O&P profession,” and licensing was also viewed positively.

While those surveyed were asked to respond to many different statements, the following all gained higher than a “neutral” (3.0) response:




O&P's biggest opportunities
    So where are O&P’s opportunities? Respondents saw them not in changes the field could make, but in societal factors such as the aging population, the rise in diseases such as diabetes, and the higher patient demand for service. However, O&P practitioners also felt that the recent push for research is a positive thing. Here are the top ten things they viewed as opportunities for O&P:

1. The aging U.S. population
2. The incidence of disease such as diabetes
3. The higher patient demand for service
4. Clinical studies of O&P products
5. Evidence-based outcomes and practice
6. High-technology devices (e.g., microprocessors)
7. Higher-technology ways to process patients (scanning, etc.)
8. The higher patient demand for convenience
9. Quality standards
10. Computer-based systems and e-commerce

Hesitation over Medicare
    However, those surveyed were not as sure about the improvements they’d like to see in Medicare. Only one of the six options offered got better than a “neutral” rating, and most of the options, such as changing to a pay-for-performance basis, a cost plus system, a capitation system or remaining the same, drew negative responses.

What next?
    AOPA will be using the survey results to drive what it does—the benefits, seminars, conferences, and the articles in the O&P Almanac. Look for our work to directly answer your expressed concerns.