President's Message
Hugh J. Panton, CPO
The prosthetist/orthotist shares responsibility with other healthcare professionals for
returning a person to a productive, meaningful life after that person has met with a catastrophic, physically disabling event. The education, skill and technical knowledge needed is extensive and sophisticated and requires considerable training before an individual is competent to handle these critical
tasks.
When so much is at stake, the public requires assurances that the orthotic/prosthetic
rehabilitation practitioner is competent to
do what needs to be done. ABC has established high and detailed standards essential
to quality prosthetic and orthotic care. The
public has assurance of quality care by
choosing an ABC-certified practitioner.
Our profession was unregulated until
1948, when several far-sighted practitioners
and orthopedic surgeons recognized the
need to identify those individuals and firms
capable of providing essential orthotic and
prosthetic care to the orthopedically disabled. The American Board for Certification
in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc. (ABC) was
incorporated on September 9, 1948, as the
accrediting/certifying body of the profession.
The purpose of ABC's existence was clearly
stated in the Articles of Incorporation:
To promote the welfare of the physically handicapped by establishing standards for those engaged in the fitting of
prosthetic or orthopedic appliances, particularly with respect to adequacy and
cleanliness of facilities and proficiency
and honesty in service rendered, and
with the object of discouraging the practice of this profession by technically unqualified persons.
To encourage and promote high standards of workmanship and service, to
encourage the maintenance of adequate
facilities and the use of adequately
trained personnel and to encourage, foster and promote honest dealings and fair
trade practices on the part of persons engaged in fitting prosthetic or orthopedic
appliances.
To collaborate with recognized educational and research organizations in order to develop constantly higher standards of service and competency.
The field of orthotics and prosthetics is a
complex profession which requires considerable general education, specific education in
orthotics and prosthetics, experience under
the supervision of knowledgeable practitioners and comprehensive testing of skills. Consequently, ABC has established rigorous
standards for those desiring to earn certification.
Candidates for certification must possess a
baccalaureate degree, a post-graduate certificate of education in orthotics/prosthetics
and one year of post-graduate experience in
orthotics/prosthetics under a certified practitioner. Candidates for certification must also
pass a comprehensive written examination
and a three-day practical exam. The written
examination tests the candidate' s knowledge
of the general health sciences and of orthotics/prosthetics. The practical examination is
patient-focused and tests the candidate's
clinical, patient management, decision making, communication and evaluative skills.
Real patients serve as models in this examination to make it reflective of real-life situations.
When the candidates have passed the two
examinations, they are certified for a period
of five years. After that period, and at five-year intervals thereafter, recertification is
required by participation in accredited continuing education activities.
ABC also engages in the registration of
orthotic and prosthetic technicians and in the
accreditation of orthotic and prosthetic facilities. Currently, efforts are underway to develop an internship program for the purpose
of standardizing the nature of pre-certification experience.
ABC certification is recognized by the
Veterans Administration and federal and
state agencies as the standard for practitioners and facilities in the orthotic and prosthetic fields. An increasing number of government and third-party agencies require ABC
certification and accreditation to ensure the
quality of orthotic/prosthetic services.
Further, the Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
mandates ABC certification for the provision of orthotic/prosthetic care in facilities
they accredit.
ABC's certification process has been approved since 1983 by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). In order for a credentialing organization to obtain
membership in the commission, it must meet
a lengthy and comprehensive set of criteria,
including examination validity and reliability, safeguards to protect the public interest
and the establishment of qualifications for
certification that are appropriate to the certified occupation.
Certification is the standard by which the
consumer can make a decision about the provider of his/her health care. It provides information about the practitioner's level of skill
and it reduces the number of unknowns in
the healthcare selection process. Additionally, consumers who select ABC-certified
practitioners have an organization to whom
they can address concerns. ABC certification has a Canon of Ethics which addresses
the practitioner's responsibility. The ABC-certified practitioner must abide by this
canon.
We are proud of our profession. We would
encourage young people who are interested
in the rehabilitation of the physically challenged to join with us in this endeavor. Students and others interested in our profession
should write to the National Headquarters of
ABC, 717 Pendleton Street, Alexandria,
VA 22314, to get information on our programs.
Hugh J. Panton, CPO, was President, 1990, American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics.
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