The Impact of Unethical Service Provision on Thunder Bay
The introduction of unregulated, unethical foot orthotic, footwear and medical
compression stocking providers in the past year have resulted in short term gain for a
handful of individuals. The long term effects of continued use of these providers may
have devastating effects on several levels that these companies do not care about, and the
local organizers and users may not fully understand:
Plan Sponsors (Employers)
· Rampant overuse of extended health care benefits drives up insurance premiums
paid, and the cost of running a business
· Decreases in benefits to maintain the business will erode the trust between the
employer and the employee
Plan Sponsors (Government)
· Rampant overuse of extended health care benefits drives up insurance premiums
paid, and the cost to Municipal, Provincial and Federal tax payers
· Decreasing benefits to address fiscal responsibility will erode the trust between
the employer and the employee, and result in work stoppages1
The worker
· Use of unnecessary foot orthoses, compression stockings or orthopaedic devices
can be deleterious to workers health if not appropriately dispensed, adjusted or
maintained
· They may not be getting what they think, as compression stockings are not
dispensed in original packaging with class level and care instructions
· Short sighted decisions rewarded with a free pair of shoes will be rewarded with a
decrease or elimination of benefits
· Those that truly require the foot orthotic or compression stocking benefit will be
paying out of pocket
· Those local service providers that once sponsored events will be unable to do so
in an attempt to stay viable
The Community as a whole
· Increase in Federal, Provincial and Municipal taxes to offset the potential
thousands of dollars spent on unnecessary medical devices in the name of a free
pair of shoes
· Work stoppages as contracts are renegotiated, with decreases or elimination of
benefits for foot orthoses, compression stockings and orthopaedic bracing
· Elimination of local jobs as local service providers have to pair down the services
they provide to remain even remotely competitive
· Watering down of the high level of services currently offered
· Significant decreases in the ability to contribute to local events by local
businesses will mean an increase in registration fees, and a decrease in
contributions to charitable events
Foot Orthotic Service Providers
· With a code of ethics and standards of practice, Canadian Certified Pedorthists
and Canadian Certified Orthotists can not offer incentives or kick backs, and are
held accountable to national certifying bodies with respect to the services and
products they provide.
· Rampant overuse of the foot orthotic benefit will result in a significant decrease
or elimination of the benefit in the future, decreasing the need for their services
· As members of our community, our local business owners support local events,
pay local taxes and shop daily at local retailers. We have a face in the community
· Use of a medical device, like foot orthoses, as an incentive to receive free
footwear damages the public understanding and opinion of the professional
service, the education required, and the accountability to the community, referral
source and the profession
Compression stocking providers
· Overuse of the compression stocking benefit will result in a decrease or
elimination of the benefit in the future
· Prescription Medical Stockings are a medical product, which can harm if not
appropriately measured and dispensed. When not dispensed appropriately, this
can harm the users, and damage their opinion of the medical device for future use
· Use of a medical device, like compression stockings, as an incentive to receive
free footwear damages the public understanding and opinion of the professional
service
Footwear providers
· Provision of free footwear, based on the dollar amount billed to the patient’s
insurance company, eliminates the ability of a footwear retailer to even see
customers. They never have a chance to provide top quality service or fit them
with appropriate footwear based upon their needs.
· Offering footwear at no cost devalues the product lines offered by reputable, local
providers
Your local Canadian Certified Pedorthists, Canadian Certified Orthotists, Medical
Compression stocking retailers and footwear retailers would like to ask for your support.
If you, your co-workers, friends or family are supporting these out of town companies, or
a considering doing so, make sure they are making an informed decision.
