responses to fitter search

Chris Dang, CPO

Description

Title:

responses to fitter search

Creator:

Chris Dang, CPO

Date:

5/17/2019

Text:

Many people have asked me to post responses to my original email below (in italics). The two useful responses I've gotten so far are listed below. It seams like many facilities out there are in a similar dilemma. I did reach out to our local Certified Athletic Trainer program and did get one interested person but he only wanted employment temporarily, I will keep trying this avenue. Since my post I found the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association resume bank with over 600 resumes and found about 10 resumes of possible candidates in the area or who were willing to relocate but only got one hit so far and that persons resume contact information (phone number and email) was not current so I could not get in touch with them. Many of the resumes there I noticed were very old, you can pick as many anonymous resumes as you want and pay $35 for each one who is interested in contacting you. I am planning to run a print ad in the O and P Almanac next month so we shall see how that goes...
Chris 




We have had enormous success with hiring Certified Athletic Trainers then sending them to an Orthotic Fitter course. Many of the athletic trainer program are masters level, so candidates are already well experienced with injury and have some training in managing bracing. 
To learn more about Certified Athletic Trainers check out the NATA website:  <URL Redacted>


You will rarely find ABC fitters, you have to find and train them yourself.  I have been successful hiring patient care technicians from hospitals and putting them through courses and training them and then credentialing them through the BOC or ABC exams.  PCT's are very hard workers and a shift to an ABC fitter usually is a jump in opportunity and a better paying wage (a double win-win for them).  We have 4-5 on staff now.


Hi all,
I am writing to see if anyone can share a resource that they might have from which to recruit certified fitters. Either ABC or BOC. I've always found it difficult to find certified people to fill vacant fitter positions. Sometimes people are hired on non certified and trained on the job with the expectation that they will take the exams and obtain certification but they often do not pass or do not follow through with this plan. Having certified fitters is mandatory to comply with ABC guidelines and I have always found them to be in short supply. I am hoping someone can share a recruiting resource or strategies to fill these positions with certified staff.
thanks,
Chris Dang, CPO

                          

Citation

Chris Dang, CPO, “responses to fitter search,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/209608.