The Member Survey and Your Future

When survey results have the potential to change the way things happen, you know something powerful is in the works. The overwhelming response of nearly 300 AOPA members to the December membership survey (a 30 percent response to any survey is pretty remarkable) demonstrated the interest AOPA members have in charting the future as well as shaping it.

Since results were tabulated in early February, an intensive effort by members of the survey workgroup has been dedicated to interpreting the data to see where opportunities for the O&P community may exist, and how threats to O&P can be managed. Members looked into the future and identified threats ranging from patterns of care being driven by payers to concerns that other (and less qualified) providers were entering the O&P field.

To understand the data, the workgroup distilled the survey responses into ten key priority areas. The workgroup’s next task is fashioning these priorities into answers to questions on what AOPA and members can do to respond to the opportunities we see—and to threats to the future of O&P.  Some of these solutions may alter the way AOPA and its members conduct their businesses tomorrow, and how resources are invested.

On May 28, the workgroup met in Chicago to develop a set of recommendations that will be presented to the AOPA board of directors at their July meeting. These will ultimately be presented to the membership at the National Assembly in Chicago, September 10-13, during a special two-hour session led by AOPA President Brad Ruhl.

Members of the workgroup include Tom DiBello, CO, FAAOP; A.J. Filippis, CPO; Brian Gustin, CP; Mike Hamontree; Dennis Janisse, C.Ped; James A. Kaiser, CP, LP; Tom Kirk, Ph.D; Bradley N. Ruhl and Ronald “Ted” Snell, CP.

 This project shows how the collective experience of a membership diverse in size and geography can be brought together to give direction for the future. It brings front and center the realization of how significant an industry trade association can be in securing the best possible outcomes and future for its members.
Fortunately, the sharing of costs through the annual dues investment of over 2,000 AOPA members translates into AOPA working for you in a way that may enable you to be more successful tomorrow.