June 2008 • Vol. 4, No. 3
	Advancing Orthotic and Prosthetic Care Through Knowledge

Make a Difference

The Academy has been both fortunate and successful in the last several years. We have received four consecutive $1 million grants from the Department of Education and now have been awarded a fifth grant for almost $1 million, which begins on October 1, 2008. These grants have allowed us to work more aggressively toward addressing our primary concerns in education, awareness, and research, and to make progress on some of the issues confronting our profession today.

The Academy's members understand that we are uniquely qualified to provide comprehensive orthotic and prosthetic services by virtue of our education, residency, examination system, and continuing-education requirements. We need to ensure that our qualifications keep pace with the changing environment in healthcare for us to effectively eliminate encroachment, encouraging others to raise their requirements to a level commensurate with our own for the betterment of all those needing orthotic and prosthetic care.

The Academy, in conjunction with the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE), held a series of conferences to critically look at our entry-level education programs. Not only have practices altered since the last such comprehensive review of O&P education 14 years ago, but we also need to make changes to address the increasing demand for provider services. Until such time as there are only truly qualified O&P practitioners, we must continue to differentiate ourselves by our education and qualifications and educate others about these differences. Toward this end, the Academy has created an extensive awareness campaign to educate potential students, the public, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and our elected officials on what O&P is, the qualifications necessary to provide quality care, and the importance of this care to the lives of millions of people.

We must prove the efficacy of our work if we are to demand appropriate coverage and reimbursement for our services. The Academy has held eight State of the Science conferences in which a group of subject matter experts were convened on nine broad topics. After extensive search and analysis of the published literature on each subject, these experts determined what has been scientifically validated, identified areas of uncertainty that require additional research for validation, and, when possible, developed best practices based on these findings. Each of these State of the Science reports was mailed to every practitioner certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC) in the country, and they are now available to the public on the Academy's website (www.oandp.org). The State of the Science conference results were also converted into online education courses to enable more clinicians to incorporate the findings into their daily practices.

Scientific validation and outcomes studies will go far toward providing the foundation for us to fight for both coverage an reimbursement. But we will not be successful in getting such studies funded or done appropriately without doctoral-level individuals to apply for such funds and to publish the results. Many funding agencies and journals will not consider projects without an MD or a PhD as the principal investigator. Currently, there are a mere handful of practitioners with these qualifications. The Academy has created a roadmap to recruit and foster those interested in earning such advanced degrees. We need to be doing our own research; we need people knowledgeable in our profession with advanced degrees for this to be successful.

And we need volunteers in our profession willing to help drive these initiatives. I was elected to the Academy Board of Directors eight years ago. During the time I have served on the Board, I have had the privilege of working with a fabulous group of practitioners who are passionate about our field and determined to help our profession move forward. These volunteers have all been practicing orthotists and prosthetists who fit the Academy work into their busy days because it matters.

One does not need a job with ample auxiliary staff to be on the Board, or to be president of the Academy for that matter. It does not take a tremendous amount of time to make a difference; it only takes good time management, an understanding of the importance of who we are and what we do as a profession, and support from your co-workers and families. If you are interested in volunteering time to our profession, I urge you to contact me. I would be happy to talk with you about what is involved. I know that those of you who decide to become involved with the Academy will find it as challenging and rewarding as I have.

I have been fortunate in the opportunities presented to me. I have been fortunate to find this profession, fortunate in the people I work with, and fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in volunteer leadership. I encourage those of you who feel the same good fortune to join our membership and help us to achieve our vision.

As my term comes to an end, I would like to thank you for allowing me the honor of serving as your president.