The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc. (ABC) announced April 5 that it has formally changed its name to The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics Inc. Following the successful completion of the integration of the Board for Certification in Pedorthics (BCP), the ABC Board of Directors unanimously approved changing the name to one that serves as a more accurate representation of the organization, ABC said. "The name change reflects the composition of today's ABC, a united group of orthotic, prosthetic, and pedorthic professionals," said ABC President Stephen Fletcher, CPO. "We're continuing to build on the strong reputation of ABC in the healthcare community and are pleased to represent the new addition of the Certified Pedorthist credential." With the integration of the Board for Certification in Pedorthics complete, the total number of ABC-credentialed individuals and accredited organizations is nearly 13,000, including ABC-certified pedorthists and accredited pedorthic facilities, the organization said. This is the second name change in ABC's 59-year history, the organization noted. Founded in 1948 as The American Board for Certification of the Orthotic and Prosthetic Appliance Industry Inc., in 1959 the Board of Directors voted to modernize the organization's formal name by removing the term "Appliance Industry." For more information on ABC, visit www.abcop.org
