How many Certified Pedorthists is the industry going to lose in 2014?

I connected with a Certified Pedorthist today on LinkedIn and received this email note back ( see below) and it got me wondering how endemic are the issues this particular C.Ped is facing are within the orthopedic & diabetic shoe fitting industry?

“Thanks but I’m really not currently working much as a CPed. Many pedorthic related stores here have shut down or had financial troubles and gone out of business. I will not be renewing my license at the end of the year.”

What, if anything, can be done to arrest the decline in the number of critically important providers of diabetic footwear that are required in order to provide Medicare patients that are most at risk with appropriate footwear?

If you've got some thoughts on this please email me stephenohare@pedors.com or join some of the Pedorthic Groups on LinkedIn and share there. 

Thanks.