F R O M t h e
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Brian Lagana PFA Executive Director brian @ pedorthics . org
PFA Plans for the New Year and Beyond
Happy 2012 , and thank you for your loyal support of the Pedorthic Footcare Association ( PFA ).
As you know , PFA is the only national association solely dedicated to the pedorthic practitioner and the pedorthic profession in general — and we ’ re loyal to you as well . Maintaining that important role requires short- and long-term planning to effectively manage the association and ensure that we ’ re providing the strategic guidance necessary to effectively represent and service the pedorthic profession .
To this end , in the fall of 2011 , the PFA Board of Directors conducted a strategic review of the association and its role as the sole representative of pedorthics in the United States and many countries around the world . The results of the review confirmed PFA ’ s current direction . It also created a plan for the next three years in areas that are key to the successful management of the association and its provision of education and advocacy for the profession .
PFA ’ s Future is Clear
The association ’ s three-year plan ( 2012- 2014 ) includes :
I . Effective Board Governance
• Develop position descriptions and measurable expectations for members of the executive committee , board of directors and standing committees ( already in final stages ).
• Create a policy or adopt a by-laws change that would allow the removal of board members who are not performing per the metrics of the position description and measurable expectations for board members ( in progress ).
II . Council on Pedorthic Education ( COPE )— Raising the Bar on Pedorthic Continuing Education
• Recruit speakers on topics that meet new educational standards and exceed perceived pedorthic scope of knowledge for general and breakout sessions at PFA ’ s Annual Symposium and Exhibition .
• Complete a review of PFA ’ s Resource Center Bookstore inventory , eliminate outdated products and introduce new and enhanced products in the areas of business management , clinical , anatomical , etc .
• Continue to build the stock of available online / on-demand learning programs for sale through PFA ’ s Resource Center Bookstore .
• Review avenues of providing online resources through better delivery methods and allowing a more flexible timeline for completing an online course .
• Identify which programs should continue on the new educational pathway and which should be dropped ; identify which programs are ideal for beginners and which for more advanced pedorthists .
• Produce at least four original webinars in 2012 on topics potentially including government affairs , practice marketing , patient management and clinical knowledge .
III . Marketing / Communications / Membership and Editorial
• Develop a cost-effective strategy to promote pedorthics to the general public .
• Place pedorthic articles in publications aimed at the general public as well as specific practitioner groups .
IV . Government Affairs
• Continue PFA ’ s efforts to educate decision makers at the federal and state levels on the pedorthic profession and the critical role that it plays in allied health care .
• Monitor for opportunities to advance PFA ’ s pedorthic licensure legislation at the state level based on the interest of practitioners in states considering pedorthic licensure legislation .
• Continue to advance PFA ’ s definition of a qualified supplier for purposes of Medicare ’ s Therapeutic Shoes for Person ’ s with Diabetes ( TSD ) benefit with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS ).
• Continue to inform membership about legislative and regulatory changes that impact pedorthics via the PFA website , Current Pedorthics magazine , PFA OnLine e-newsletter , regulatory and legislative emails and grassroots calls to action .
• Develop a strategy to educate third-party insurance payors and Medicaid on the pedorthic profession and its role in conservative , cost-effective foot care .
PFA ’ s volunteer leadership has set an aggressive strategic agenda for 2012 through 2014 . This is just a brief overview as they work to provide PFA ’ s membership and the pedorthic profession with the best possible representation , education and resources to advance pedorthics .
A key to the success of PFA ’ s strategic plan lies in the membership — each member ’ s willingness to continue to support the association , attend its annual symposia , utilize available members-only resources and encourage their colleagues to join PFA . While planning is an excellent foundation to ensure success , support from the profession is critical to its execution .
As always , we encourage your comments . Please email PFA at info @ pedorthics . org to provide any input relative to PFA ’ s new three-year strategic plan or if you simply have questions about its direction . ■
8 Pedorthic Footcare Association www . pedorthics . org