Beginning the Quantum Leap
Thomas Gorski
Description
Collection
Title:
Beginning the Quantum Leap
Creator:
Thomas Gorski
Date:
3/16/2001
Text:
ACADEMY BEGINS MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITY EVER...
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
(This message is a long one. You may want to print a hard copy.)
The Academy has begun a three-phase plan to seek additional funding for O&P
schools, conduct a series of consensus conferences on clinical topics
leading to standards of practice for the profession, and gain government
funding for applied research in targeted O&P areas.
O&P SCHOOLS HAVE 2 PROBLEMS.
1) According to NAPOE (National Association of Prosthetic and Orthotic
Educators), the number and quality of students applying to O&P programs has
decreased significantly. The number of students graduating must increase
just to keep pace with the need for practitioners. Caroline Nielsen's study
on Issues Affecting the Future Demand for orthotists and Prosthetists
showed that by 2005, only two-thirds of the patient population will be
adequately served by practitioners.
2) The few O&P schools that receive RSA funds must by law distribute 75% of
the money directly to students leaving very little for enhancing the
curriculum or adding faculty. The Academy and NAPOE will seek a grant to
support O&P training and a national outreach program to attract additional
students to the profession and to assist schools with basic funding of O&P
programs.
CLINICAL STANDARDS OF PRACTICE ARE NEEDED.
The Academy will sponsor the first Clinical Standards of Practice (CSOP) for
the Orthotic Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Fall 2001. The conference
will produce a document on accepted treatments of idiopathic scoliosis and
will involve experts from within O&P and other parts of the medical
community involved in scoliosis.
The faculty will examine published materials on the topic, review recent
research, and prepare a written protocol on the appropriate use of orthoses
that will reflect the collective wisdom of recognized experts from around
the U.S. A select group of 12-15 experts comprised of orthopaedic surgeons,
ABC-certified orthotists, a psychologist, biomechanist, and a registered
nurse will be invited to the closed conference to determine points of
consensus, where possible, on initial evaluation of the patient,
prescription criteria, follow-up protocol and criteria for brace
discontinuation, recommendations for a team approach to bracing, and
identifying psychosocial issues.
The opportunity to compile a collective body of knowledge from nationally
recognized exerts on select O&P topics will do much to establish a benchmark
for care. It will greatly improve outcomes in patients as reimbursement for
assistive technologies continues to present significant challenges. The
Academy expects to replicate the CSOP model created for this consensus
conference to produce several conferences annually as it develops clinical
standards of practice for the profession.
APPLIED RESEARCH IS NEEDED - WHO WILL FUND IT?
The Academy has formed the Consortium for Orthotic and Prosthetic Education
and Research to determine priorities for needed research in O&P and to seek
government funding. An initial group of a dozen leaders from
university-based facilities met by conference call in January to discuss the
concept and to begin developing and prioritizing applied research focal
points. Much of today's O&P research is conducted by doctors and
statisticians and often on very theoretical topics. More emphasis must be
placed on issues involving the determination of what constitutes appropriate
care for various orthopedic impairments and neurological conditions.
Applied research would focus on those aspects of O&P care where known or
determined gaps in care exist. It is anticipated some research will be done
in collaboration with several university-based centers.
CALL TO ACTION:
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
Please write your Representative or Senator if they are on one of
appropriations committees. A second email to the OandP-Listserv will list
them by state. If they are not on the list, then please write a letter of
support to your two Senators. A sample text will be part of that email.
Thank you. Years from now people will say this was the Academy's finest
hour.
Thomas V. DiBello, CO, FAAOP
President
American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
(This message is a long one. You may want to print a hard copy.)
The Academy has begun a three-phase plan to seek additional funding for O&P
schools, conduct a series of consensus conferences on clinical topics
leading to standards of practice for the profession, and gain government
funding for applied research in targeted O&P areas.
O&P SCHOOLS HAVE 2 PROBLEMS.
1) According to NAPOE (National Association of Prosthetic and Orthotic
Educators), the number and quality of students applying to O&P programs has
decreased significantly. The number of students graduating must increase
just to keep pace with the need for practitioners. Caroline Nielsen's study
on Issues Affecting the Future Demand for orthotists and Prosthetists
showed that by 2005, only two-thirds of the patient population will be
adequately served by practitioners.
2) The few O&P schools that receive RSA funds must by law distribute 75% of
the money directly to students leaving very little for enhancing the
curriculum or adding faculty. The Academy and NAPOE will seek a grant to
support O&P training and a national outreach program to attract additional
students to the profession and to assist schools with basic funding of O&P
programs.
CLINICAL STANDARDS OF PRACTICE ARE NEEDED.
The Academy will sponsor the first Clinical Standards of Practice (CSOP) for
the Orthotic Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Fall 2001. The conference
will produce a document on accepted treatments of idiopathic scoliosis and
will involve experts from within O&P and other parts of the medical
community involved in scoliosis.
The faculty will examine published materials on the topic, review recent
research, and prepare a written protocol on the appropriate use of orthoses
that will reflect the collective wisdom of recognized experts from around
the U.S. A select group of 12-15 experts comprised of orthopaedic surgeons,
ABC-certified orthotists, a psychologist, biomechanist, and a registered
nurse will be invited to the closed conference to determine points of
consensus, where possible, on initial evaluation of the patient,
prescription criteria, follow-up protocol and criteria for brace
discontinuation, recommendations for a team approach to bracing, and
identifying psychosocial issues.
The opportunity to compile a collective body of knowledge from nationally
recognized exerts on select O&P topics will do much to establish a benchmark
for care. It will greatly improve outcomes in patients as reimbursement for
assistive technologies continues to present significant challenges. The
Academy expects to replicate the CSOP model created for this consensus
conference to produce several conferences annually as it develops clinical
standards of practice for the profession.
APPLIED RESEARCH IS NEEDED - WHO WILL FUND IT?
The Academy has formed the Consortium for Orthotic and Prosthetic Education
and Research to determine priorities for needed research in O&P and to seek
government funding. An initial group of a dozen leaders from
university-based facilities met by conference call in January to discuss the
concept and to begin developing and prioritizing applied research focal
points. Much of today's O&P research is conducted by doctors and
statisticians and often on very theoretical topics. More emphasis must be
placed on issues involving the determination of what constitutes appropriate
care for various orthopedic impairments and neurological conditions.
Applied research would focus on those aspects of O&P care where known or
determined gaps in care exist. It is anticipated some research will be done
in collaboration with several university-based centers.
CALL TO ACTION:
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
Please write your Representative or Senator if they are on one of
appropriations committees. A second email to the OandP-Listserv will list
them by state. If they are not on the list, then please write a letter of
support to your two Senators. A sample text will be part of that email.
Thank you. Years from now people will say this was the Academy's finest
hour.
Thomas V. DiBello, CO, FAAOP
President
American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists
Citation
Thomas Gorski, “Beginning the Quantum Leap,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/216047.
