October 2007 • Vol. 3, No. 4
	Advancing Orthotic and Prosthetic Care Through Knowledge

Orthotics and Prosthetics:
   Ask Not What Your Profession Can Do for You,
   but What You Can Do for Your Profession

I spent the weekend before starting my term as president of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy) attending a meeting for the Academy in Washington DC. While in our nation's capital, I was able to view John F. Kennedy's inaugural address. In it he touches on the huge tasks the country was undertaking. President Kennedy spoke of the power of individuals working together for a common cause. "United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do—for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder." Our profession must heed this warning and join together to face today's challenges.

The Academy has numerous goals, many of which we have been working toward for long years. Education has always been the primary work of the Academy. While in the past, this has referred to the continuing education of the practitioner, our goals for education have, by necessity, expanded. We must now also work to educate those outside our field on the benefits our services provide to those with injury and physical disabilities. There are several different audiences that we need to make more aware of the field of orthotics and prosthetics.

Aging baby-boomers, diabetes, and obesity all will increase the population that requires our services. Our field will need a continual influx of new, talented clinicians. Toward this goal, the Academy has implemented an outreach program to introduce potential students to careers in orthotics and prosthetics. To make this effective, we need local contacts to allow those interested to ask questions and visit a facility. Students can locate area practitioners via our website, www.opcareers.org. I urge you to have your name added to the database of clinicians who have volunteered for this service.

Even today, with all of the press coverage of people who have achieved so much following the loss of limbs from the wars, from climbing accidents, and from shark attacks, there is little, if any, focus on the individuals who make the prostheses or orthoses. Prostheses and the vast majority of orthoses require appropriate design, selection, fitting, and modification for proper function. Our services are critical for good outcomes.

We must take the opportunities that present themselves to reach out to the media and highlight our profession. I encourage you to contact local media if you have a case that would be of particular interest to the public. If an article appears in your newspaper regarding such a case, take the opportunity to respond, emphasizing the profession, not only the product.

Ironically, there are many who feel that they are capable of doing our jobs with little or no education or that our services are not always necessary. I am afraid that most people do not appreciate the complexities of this field, which is why they feel they are competent enough to enter into it. Pathology, biomechanics, material properties, and anatomy are all critical elements to the delivery of appropriate orthotic and prosthetic care. Much of what we do is unique in the healthcare arena, and requires education specific to it for competence, with rigorous examinations to verify this competency.

Thus, we must reach out and educate our lawmakers and payers on the importance of our specialized services. Education, certification, licensure, and accreditation all play critical roles in the protection of the patient and the protection of the integrity of the healthcare system. We must each encourage strong licensure, and its appropriate enforcement. We all must spread the word that comprehensive orthotic and prosthetic care should only be provided by qualified providers.

Many of these tasks fall within the Academy's mission and area of expertise. Much will be done in conjunction with other organizations. The sheer number and scope of the work facing us is daunting. There is no way we will be able to complete this work without the aid of volunteers. If you would be willing to help, please write to me, and I will include you in these endeavors. To paraphrase President Kennedy: And so, my fellow practitioners, ask not what your profession can do for you—ask what you can do for your profession.