by Denise Napoli

It's hard to pick just one highlight from AOPA’s 2006 National Assembly, which took place in Hollywood, Florida at the end of September. From the well-attended business and clinical education sessions to the crowded exhibit hall to the blue skies outside, the profession’s oldest and largest O&P national meeting went off without a hitch for the over 1,800 attendees.

The exhibit hall
Assembly veterans and first-timers alike were impressed by exhibitors’ inventiveness, both in the products displayed and the layout of the booths—the hall’s aisles were never empty. Attendees viewed new devices from 175 exhibitors, with 27 new exhibitors displaying their products and technologies.

The product preview theater was—as usual—very well-attended, with practitioners lining the aisles to earn continuing education (CE) credits.

Also popular was the Assembly’s first-ever “pedorthic row,” a space in the hall devoted entirely to foot care. Check out the “Buyer’s Guide to Foot Care” (the Guide is a first-ever, too!) for a taste of what some pedorthic exhibitors were displaying (the Guide can be foud on page 38 in the print issue).

The wackiest display by far was the “Strut Your Stuff” contest, the industry’s first custom design contest for AFOs, sponsored by the Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund (OPAF). Out of all the designs, PEL Central Fabrication won for its pirate ship entry. PEL received an $100 gift certificate for plastics from O&P Enterprises and another for merchandise from Leo G. Stein. OPAF also awarded PEL a $25 “Be Our Guest” certificate to Dave and Busters®, just for fun.

Business and clinical education
Aside from the exhibit hall, one of the biggest draws of the Assembly for practitioners was the ability to earn a maximum of 36 CE credits by attending education sessions. Experts on everything from reimbursement and coding to microprocessor knees gave informative lectures.

In the clinical sessions, the Thanhardt lecture series treated listeners to insightful presentations on alternative knee designs and hip abduction orthoses. Equally interesting were the efficacy and outcomes studies, including a lecture on how to establish objective outcomes measurements. Clinical session attendees saw videos of patients walking with greater confidence and using their devices to reach and grab various items and complete obstacle courses.

On the business side, the Thursday session, “A View to the Future,” featuring several prominent O&P leaders discussing industry changes, was standing-room only. The session was moderated by AOPA President Walter Racette, CPO, and some executive panelists included Eythor Bender, president of Ossur North America; E.P. Harman, president and CEO of Otto Bock HealthCare; and Thomas F. Kirk, president and COO of Hanger Orthopedic Group.

In its second year, the AOPA Top Ten Series drew crowds to topics like “Ten Hints for Handling Denials” (featuring speaker Virginia Torsch, AOPA’s assistant director of government affairs) and “Coding for Shoes—Ten Tips to Getting Paid” (given by Joe McTernan, AOPA’s assistant director of reimbursement services).

Credits were also available for the manufacturers’ workshops, held on the first and final days of the meeting. These were popular despite the hot sun and sparkling waters outside.

“What’s the verdict?”
Back by popular demand after its 1999 debut was the mock trial, designed to give practitioners a glimpse of how a lawsuit against their practice could play out. Sponsored by AON Affinity Insurance Services Inc., “What’s the Verdict?” showed how a patient’s accusations of malpractice or mistreatment could take shape in a court of law. The case was argued by lawyers from Smith, Rolfe & Skavdahl Company LPA.

Don Hardin, director of trade, payor and government relations at Otto Bock HealthCare, played the part of the victim in the suit, which used role playing to drive its message home. “How are you feeling today, Mr. Hardin?” the prosecutor asked. “Compared to what?” Hardin grunted. That exchange brought knowing laughs from the audience.

Anita Liberman-Lampear, MA, who played the victim’s daughter, spoke convincingly about being bewildered, intimidated, and angry over the crowded waiting room and lack of explanation she received.

Afterward, an audience poll was taken to determine the guilt of the practitioner and a discussion was held between the lawyers and the audience. Although a verdict was not reached due to time issues, the message was clear: even a well-meaning practitioner can look guilty when he’s tested by a judge and jury. Afterward, attendees sipped frozen drinks at a poolside happy hour.

AOPA annual business meeting
AOPA President Walter Racette, CPO, led an AOPA member business meeting and breakfast early Friday morning. Racette spoke of the continued need for practitioners and others in the O&P community to step up and assume leadership positions in order to face new challenges in reimbursement and representation on Capitol Hill.

At the meeting, Garvin D. Marty was awarded AOPA’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award for his extraordinary service to the O&P community and his leadership in the field— including a turn as AOPA’s president in 1983. Joseph Cestaro, CPO, who won the award in 2005, spoke about Marty’s extensive involvement with AOPA. He was on so many committees, Cestaro said, that there were rumors about his wife only seeing him when she went to the airport to bring “a kiss, a meal, and a clean pair of underwear.”

Also recognized for outstanding service was Paddy Rossbach, RN, who received the Ralph R. “Ronney” Snell, CPO, FAAOP Legislative Advocacy Award. Rossbach, who is president of the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA), was honored for her dedication to advancing prosthetic parity and raising the profile of the prosthetic field.

Of course, one of the most important segments of the Business Meeting was the passing of the gavel to incoming AOPA President Ronald “Ted” Snell, CP. Look for a profile of AOPA’s new leader in the December 2006 O&P Almanac.

The other candidates for the board were also elected by voice vote and without opposition. The new members and their positions are as follows:

• President-elect: Bradley N. Ruhl, Otto Bock HealthCare
• Vice president: Brian L. Gustin, CP, Wisonsin Orthotics & Prosthetics
• Treasurer: Mark H. Emery, Ossur North America
• Director at large: Marc N. Karn, CP, Maine Artificial Limb & Orthotics
• Director at large: Thomas V. DiBello, CO, FAAOP, Dynamic O&P
• Director, 1-3 facilities: Anita Liberman-Lampear, MA
• Supplier director: Russell J. Hornfisher, Becker Orthopedic Company.

See you in Las Vegas!
This year’s Assembly may be over, but AOPA staff is already planning the next. The 2007 National Assembly will take place in Las Vegas at the Venetian Resort, Hotel and Casino on Sept. 17-20, 2007. Mark your calendar and plan on attending what will certainly be another great Assembly—not to mention a great vacation.

See you in Vegas!

Thranhardt Golf Classic A Success! Sixty-four players participated in this year’s Thranhardt Golf Classic, which took place Sept. 27 at the Diplomat Country Club. All proceeds went to benefit the Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund (OPAF). Sponsors of the golf tournament included Ohio Willow Wood, College Park Industries, Spinal Technologies, Ossur, The O&P Edge, Ohio Chapter of the Academy, Otto Bock HealthCare, O&P Components and Becker Orthopedic. The winners of the tournament in the men’s division were Matt Swiggum, Tom Doherty, Gary Hooks and Brent Romine. For the women, winners included Becky Fillauer, Delores Boff and Bernadette Douroux. For more information about OPAF and its mission to help amputees, visit www.opfund.org. Congratulations to all the winners!

O&P PAC The O&P Political Action Committee (PAC) raised a total of $20,000 over the span of the Assembly, bringing the year’s total money raised to $65,000. Approximately 150 individuals have contributed in 2006, with 60 new contributors at the Assembly alone. The O&P PAC is the only political action committee working to ensure that the profession of O&P receives fair treatment on Capitol Hill.