Ok I have had enough.
I am now offended.
Please do not make gross generalizations regarding orthotic and prosthetic
practices or refer to us as “snake-oil salesman”.
I am a Canadian trained and board certified orthotist, in addition I am now
an American board certified orthotist.
I take immense pride in every patient assessment and item fabricated in our
facility.
We believe in continuity of care where the same orthotist that evals, also
modifies the cast.
Who better to know what the patient limb alignment and tissue integrity is
like.
We, as Canadian trained orthotists, have an undergraduate degree, two full
years of schooling at a recognized school, and a two year residency followed
by 3 days of National exams.
Not to mention mandatory continuing education.
We value the working relationships that we have with many physical and
occupational therapists.
That is where I am coming from.
Barbara Boutin, BSc., CO(c), CO
—– Original Message —–
From: “Sheredos, Carol (NIH/NICHD)”
To:
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 3:39 PM
Subject: [OANDP-L] Qualifications
Hi, Craig –
I appreciate your comments and information. Just to tell you where I’m
coming from —
When I was in PT school, we had a course in our senior year entitled
“Rehabilitation Practicum,” which took all that we had learned in previously
taken courses (such as biomechanics, kinesiology, anatomy, physics,
chemistry, etc.) and put a clinical “spin” on it – We spent over 6 weeks
each semester delving into various principles of clinical practice,
especially orthotics and prosthetics. We spent time with actual patients,
performing evaluations, recommending components and systems, taking casts
and measurements, leaning ABOUT fabrication and fitting, training the
amputee in their use (hygiene, donning and doffing, pre-prosthetic training,
balance, gait training, etc.). After graduation, many of us took a
concentrated 4-week (160-hour) course at NYU (2 weeks for orthotics and 2
for prosthetics), which took all of us beyond the above-named skills. When
completed, I felt very confident in treating amputees, and, in a pinch, I
could fabricate a basic prosthesis or orthosis. I could discern between
systems, materials, and components. Several questions regarding O&P were on
our state boards, both written and practical.
If what you say is true (I will ask several of my colleagues who are
Department Heads in various PT schools), I am VERY upset! That would be a
major void. I will always value the breadth and depth of the education in
O&P that I received – yes, 40 years ago. A PT without that kind of training
should, indeed, NOT perform anything like fitting and fabrication! Agreed.
BUT – Hypothetically – What’s the difference between a PT who has little O&P
skills and some so-called “prosthetist” or “orthotist” whose lack of skills
(and maybe scruples) makes him/her not much more than a snake-oil salesman?
Seems to me that the O&P field has quite a few of them – unregulated due to
the lack of state licensure. [I have a few comments about this in another
ListServ posting, to be up in a day or so.]
And, Craig – It’s NOT about money – Really! It’s about the ability to
maintain practice areas and to hold onto what is defined (and what CMS and
several states recognize) as PT —
The APTA is definitely organized, presenting a unified front, in its
pursuit of advancing the profession of physical therapy. [Maybe O&P could
learn from them…]
Best wishes and Happy Holidays,
Carol
—–Original Message—–
From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Craig Smith
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 11:38 AM
Subject: [OANDP-L] Qualigications
Greeting Carol,
There is the possibility that PT certification 40 years ago included more
hours of training in prosthetics than is currently being taught. I
personally have taught PTs at the university level about prosthetics and
functional levels. This is some of the only training that PT students get
about prosthetics today. They are unaware of prosthetic sock management,
measuring and casting, bio and pathomechanics, fabrication, current
componentry or fit. If the PTs are not trained to deliver such services and
certified as such by a CAAHEP accredited program in prosthetics, then PTs
have no business stating that they are a qualified to deliver these
services. I believe that this whole argument is about money, period, not
turf, not qualifications, not anything but money, and the ability to blow
smoke up some senators skirt through PAQs in order to reach into another
disciplines pocket and steal more money legally. Who suffers, the PT, the CP
or CPO, or maybe, the patient?
Craig R. Smith BS, CPO, M.Ed.
Program Coordinator
Orthotic/Prosthetic Technology Program
Baker College of Flint
Health Sciences
1050 W. Bristol Rd.
Flint, Mi. 48507-5508
(810) 766-4194
FAX (810) 766-2055
