The primary goal in O&P is to improve or restore mobility, enable individuals to participate in activities of daily living, or alleviate the impact of medical conditions they are facing. While these efforts frequently involve a multidisciplinary approach, within O&P they are the result of a partnership between clinicians providing direct patient care and the technicians fabricating the devices. In this issue, we look at how technicians can incorporate working with silicone, efficiency within the lab, and the way women are making their mark in an area traditionally dominated by men.
Silicone has a variety of O&P applications but can be intimidating to work with for techs unfamiliar with it. In “Demystifying Silicone Fabrication,” experts explain some of the unique aspects of working with silicone, some of the best ways to use it, and how to make it more approachable for those new to the material.
In any business, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine and not stop to ask whether our processes are the most efficient or as economical as they might appear on the surface. “Asking Why: How a Simple Safety Concern Transformed an O&P Lab” provides a striking example of what happens when we stop to analyze the status quo and explore how it can be done differently. And in this case, it was the catalyst for a shift to principles of lean manufacturing that led not only to increased efficiency and financial savings but also increased employee satisfaction.
Women have increasingly been entering the O&P profession that was once predominately populated by men. Some starting out in fabrication, however, found challenges due to preconceived notions about physical strength and mechanical ability. But as with the advances for women in the clinical arena, those perceptions too are changing, and women are now taking their places in the fab lab. We meet some of them and hear their stories in “Tech Talk: Highlighting Women in O&P Fabrication.”
Happy reading.
Andrea Spridgen
