ABC and BOC Reach Settlement Agreement
The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics Inc. (ABC) and Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (BOC) have reached a settlement agreement in the litigation regarding the BOC’s certification mark for certified pedorthists.
As reported in the Aug. 15 issue of O&P Business News, ABC had filed a complaint against the BOC for trademark infringement. According to the complaint, the BOCped certification program threatened to confuse the public and dilute the value of ABC’s certified pedorthist program and their CPed credential.
The current litigation was settled amicably, without any admission of liability by either party. The terms and conditions of the settlement are confidential.
ABC’s executive director, Catherine Carter said in an ABC statement about the settlement, “In the future, ABC will continue to vigorously defend its trademarks and certification marks, including its CPed mark.”
BOC president Gregory Safko, CAE, said in a press release, “This distraction now behind us, we will move forward strategically to offer pedorthists a high quality certification program to earn the BOC pedorthist credential that qualifies and recognizes their professional achievement.”
New Jersey Chapter of the Academy Holds Annual Meeting
The New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (NJAAOP) held its annual fall meeting Oct. 17-19 at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. The 3-day meeting had plenty to offer O&P professionals, including 18.5 continuing education credits, a choice of three clinical symposiums, a full day of scientific sessions covering various current topics and a packed exhibit hall.
The meeting began with workshops on Wednesday this year, a reversal from their Friday slot last year. Companies such as Aetrex, Otto Bock HealthCare, Endolite, Becker Orthopedics and Ossur hosted the day’s workshops.
Bally’s conference room was the scene Thursday for the meeting’s scientific sessions. Highlights included a presentation by Heikki Uustal, MD, “Identifying the K3 Amputee.” Uustal, director of the prosthetics and orthotics team at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, N.J., spoke about certain risk factors involved in determining which prosthetic device is best for a specific patient. According to Uustal, taking factors such as energy consumption into account, along with health risks like pulmonary and vascular issues, can alter which course of action is best for the patient.
“New Hip Disarticulation Socket Design,” presented by Dennis Clark, CPO, president of Clark and Associates Prosthetics and Orthotics in Waterloo, Iowa, showed audience members the evolvement of various hip prostheses, illustrated by Clark’s work with wounded soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Several of Clark’s patients have returned to active duty, which is virtually unheard of for amputees of such a high level.
Matthew Shatzer, MD, who spoke at last year’s meeting on the benefits of treating certain symptoms of cerebral palsy with Botox, gave a presentation on cerebrovascular accident management.
Other presentations included: “Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome” by Gary Bedard, CO, FAAOP; “Becker AFO” by Russell Hornfisher, MBA, MSOD; and “Targeted Muscle Reinnervation and Advanced Signal Process for Improved MYO Control” by Robert Lipschutz, CP.
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Symposiums were offered on Friday, the final day of the meeting. Attendees could choose to visit an orthotic, prosthetic or Medicare symposium.
Cindy Minelli, CPO, president of the NJAAOP, said feedback from meeting-goers was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees particularly appreciated the fact that every aspect of the meeting was centrally located. According to Minelli, all scientific sessions, symposiums and workshops were well-attended and this year’s speakers were met with complimentary reviews. Minelli added that there were topic requests for next year’s meeting including full-day technical workshops for technicians, pedorthist programs and symposiums on osteoarthritis knee orthoses, all of which will be considered and addressed before the 2008 meeting.
In all, 89 exhibiting companies were present, along with 250 attendees.
– Andrew Kelly
Assistant Editor
