The Academy Delivers Online Resources through its U.S. Dept. of Ed. GrantPlease visit www.oandp.org/grants to view the latest Academy grant reports and updates. The following is a synopsis of the work that has been done in a number of areas and can be found on the Academy's website. AwarenessThe awareness component has been the cornerstone of the Academy's grant since its inception. Through the growth and expansion of the O&P career website (www.opcareers.org) to the development and release of the Sky's the Limit video and supplemental radio and television PSAs, the Academy is getting the word out that O&P is a growing profession and a meaningful and rewarding career. All ABC certifees were mailed a copy of our new career and media kit early this year. The kits include a new turnkey brochure which provides a comprehensive look at entering the profession. They also include information on O&P trends and statistics and an Academy fact sheet. All printed materials are also available online. You can also see measurable results by reviewing statistics from student surveys completed at outreach programs conducted by Academy members and O&P students. Historic applicant data has been gathered from O&P education programs to measure qualitative and quantitative trends. Increasing website hits indicate that more individuals are using www.opcareers.org as a resource for information. Geographic MapAcademy members and other professionals can access a geographic mapping analysis of the ratio of certified practitioners to the potential demand for O&P services in their states and elsewhere in the United States. Also included online is a more detailed analysis derived from the data when compared against metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). In this secondary analysis, state lines may be crossed to more adequately assess areas that may be underserved. The information in both reports is valid for a five-year period. The Academy also identified potential factors behind these areas of variance in access to care. This data can be helpful to new graduates as well as established professionals looking to expand their businesses. Strategic Plan for Advanced DegreeThe Academy's AERTI (Advanced Education & Research Training Initiative) report outlined a plan for the development of advanced education and research in orthotics and prosthetics. The information in the AERTI report includes:
The 2007 Guide to Financial Aid for Advanced Education in Orthotics & Prosthetics helps address some of these recommendations. It provides a concise summary of potential sources for financial aid for P&O baccalaureate through doctoral-level studies, including loans, stipends, awards, scholarships, and grants. These resources potentially offer up to $300,000 to help offset the cost of tuition, books, and living expenses incurred while earning academic degrees. In the fall of 2007, the Academy launched a certificate program on EBP. The course, soon to be available online, helps participants understand EBP, outlines where you can gather the evidence through research, how to understand it, and how to apply it to your clinical practice. Master Agenda, State-of-the-Science Conferences (SSCs) and Professional Continuing Education Courses (PCEs)Based on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) model, the Academy developed a roadmap for conducting SSCs through its Master Agenda project and held eight conferences. Each one is developed around an "Evidence Report," which consists of a systematic review of the literature and an evaluation of the evidence on the conference topic. Because this report is so critical to an SSC, the Academy established Evidence Report Guidelines. Conference proceedings offer clinical guidance about those practice fundamentals that have been scientifically validated, define best practice in the field and training programs, and also identify research priorities that will strengthen the science used to support clinical decision-making in the future. Online PCE courses are then developed to readily incorporate these findings into daily practice. Entry-Level EducationThe Academy has worked collaboratively with the National Commission on Orthotic Prosthetic Education (NCOPE) to address entry-level education. At our 2005 Education Summit, consensus was reached among the conference participants that the entry-level education for the O&P profession should transition to the master's level by 2010. Entry-level stakeholders and other subject-matter experts identified core competencies and the educational approaches that will best teach those essential skills, leading to a revised core curriculum guide for O&P education with increased emphasis on critical analysis of available research to foster evidence-based clinical practice. Currently, O&P educators are critically assessing the future of the O&P residency program and directed study. |
