Later this month, members of our EDGE team will join O&P professionals from around the country—and even some from across the globe—at the Academy Annual Meeting & Symposium to learn about new techniques and technologies and clinical best practices. Adding to these conversations, in this issue we share research on the development of a prosthetic patient-preference tool, considerations for clinicians deciding to pursue a doctoral degree, the theory behind socket design approaches, and what a new president and Congress may mean for O&P.
“Patient Preferences in Prosthesis Decision-making: Driving Forward Value-based Care” discusses a project undertaken to determine the attributes patients value in choosing an upper-limb prosthesis with their providers. The next phase of the study will involve validation on a larger scale of the list of factors patients consider to develop a final decision-making tool practitioners can use with their patients.
Currently the entry-level educational requirement for new O&P clinicians is a master’s degree—and with it, various opinions about whether the market reflects the time and money required to attain this level of education. But as technology and research in the field advance, a growing number of clinicians are considering going beyond this requirement and earning a doctoral degree. In “Who Needs a PhD in O&P?” we spoke with O&P professionals who chose to pursue doctoral degrees about their experiences and the pros and cons others considering this path should weigh before making their decision.
It’s well established that socket fit and comfort are essential in successful prosthetic use. “Biotensegrity and Prosthetic Interface Design” explores the theory behind a compression and stabilization approach to socket design and how that can impact the user experience.
Finally, while the 119th Congress had only begun at the time of this writing, “What Does the New President and New Congress Hold for O&P?” outlines recent committee appointments and O&P priorities that can be impacted by the makeup of the new administration.
If you are attending the Academy meeting, please stop by booth #144 and say hello to our staff. We look forward to seeing you and learning more about what’s new with you and your O&P journey.
Happy reading.
Andrea Spridgen