March 2006 • Vol. 2, No. 1
	Advancing Orthotic and Prosthetic Care Through Knowledge

PQL Profile: All in the Family

Much of what Mike Allen, CPO, FAAOP, knew growing up was orthotics and prosthetics, so O&P was a natural choice as a profession for him. He lived only four blocks from his father’s facility and spent many of his days playing with the kids he now treats as his own patients.

Years ago, most who entered the profession were either O&P consumers or those who had a family connection. Allen says, “The times have certainly changed now. Many colleagues have crossed over from other professions. This is another opportunity we need to tap into to assure we meet the growing demands for services.”

Allen has been a regular supporter of Project Quantum Leap (PQL) since its inception. Earlier this summer he met with two hospital districts, one independent school district, two community colleges, a science/technology center, the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, and a nurse recruiter. This group is part of the Health Career Consortium (HCC). The group meets regularly to discuss concerns about issues surrounding rural health care.

Although the current priority is addressing the increasing nursing shortage, everyone involved is aware of one another’s needs and is able to look at particular rural areas from various perspectives. Depending on the educational offerings, messages can be targeted to the differing audiences encountered at primary or specialty education high schools, community colleges, universities, residency or intern programs, involving county and teaching hospitals and return-to-work programs.

Allen was invited to participate in the HCC due to the connections he made on an Allied Health Professions Committee at a county hospital. The chairperson of this committee is also an HCC participant. “After she learned what O&P was all about, she asked me to present to the Consortium.”

Allen continues, “I had fifteen minutes at a breakfast meeting. I used a slightly modified version of the O&P career PowerPoint presentation and handout materials developed by the Academy. The presentation was a breeze with the materials; 95 percent of the work was already done for me!”

“I defined the profession and the joy that it has brought me throughout the years,” Allen explains. “I explained the knowledge and various skills necessary to provide O&P. I described the different pathways leading to ABC certification and the different providers (practitioner, assistant, fitter, and technician) who practice in accredited facilities. Afterwards there were questions and discussions about salaries, educational opportunities, job markets, and the increasing need.”

Allen’s “15 minutes of fame” paved the road for additional exposure for O&P and is in keeping with the goals of the Academy’s continued awareness and outreach programs that will tap into underserved areas in the future. Allen explains, “The Texas Workforce Commission has established Area Health Education Centers to improve awareness of health care opportunities in the very rural areas. One of their activities is to travel to these area high schools and use a PowerPoint presentation to describe various professions to the students. O&P will now be included in that series.”

Another opportunity that presented itself as a result of Allen’s meeting with the HCC is the addition of O&P to the Ector County Independent School District (ECISD) Career Center. The Center focuses on science and technology training and education. ECISD awards both high school- and college-level equivalency to some classes because of the advanced nature of the educational experience. At the beginning of a student’s term at the ECISD, he or she is exposed to various health careers. Allen says, “Now students at the ECISD will be learning about careers in orthotics and prosthetics in addition to some of the other allied health and medical professions.”

He explains, “It takes no more effort to prepare your presentation than to present it, so I encourage others to find the time to do so. It is every person’s responsibility to give back to his or her profession and community.”