It’s frequently been said that one distinguishing factor in O&P care is that the relationship between clinician and patient is long—sometimes even lifelong. And when it comes to pediatric care, that includes not only replacing devices to accommodate children’s growth, but working with them as they hit developmental milestones, gain independence, and grow into their individual personalities. In this issue, we discuss how clinicians manage care for this special population.
Amputations and other conditions that require patients to seek O&P care are daunting no matter the person’s age. But compounded with the usual challenges of growing up and navigating the transitions between childhood and adolescence and adolescence on the cusp of adulthood, they can be particularly daunting. While O&P clinicians often see a surprising ability in children to adapt to the difficulties presented by their devices and conditions, this adaptability is not a given. “Promoting Resilience in Pediatric Patients” explores the nuances of children’s experiences as they work through the medical trauma inherent in their conditions and treatment and how practitioners can support their young patients.
Dealing with the mercurial moods of toddlers, elementary school-age children, and definitely teenagers can be challenging (I’m a mom so I’ve seen them all), but it is witnessing this growth and transitioning from mostly conferring with parents to seeing the patient take the lead that pediatric specialists report as particularly rewarding. So strong is the bond forged during those formative years that many prosthetists continue to see patients they met as youngsters well into adulthood. In “O&P Kids, Then & Now: How Care Changes Over Time,” clinicians share their experience treating pediatric patients as they’ve grown over the years and what to expect in this specialty.
In our final feature, we look at how to incorporate outcome measures into clinical practice. When I first started at The O&P EDGE nearly 13 years ago, it seemed the profession was in the beginning stages of recognizing the importance of outcome measures. Since then, the necessity has become near universal, but incorporating them into day-to-day practice remains challenging. “Embracing Outcomes: Actionable Steps to Start Measuring Patient Success” provides practical tips on ways to make this a part of your clinical operations.
Happy reading.
Andrea Spridgen