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, MEd.
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
