Vol.11, No.1

December 2005

The 2006 Academy Annual Meeting – Exceptional Education
March 1-4, 2006, Chicago, IL

Known for its high quality content, the Academy's Annual Meeting is four days of focused education sessions, networking opportunities and an across-the-table exchange on the latest in O&P Services. Preliminary Programs are in the mail and filled with details on the more than 80 outstanding sessions being offered. Annual Meeting Highlights include:

• International Symposium on Osseointegration features Roy Bloebaum, MD AND two newly confirmed presenters from Sweden, leaders in the field, Stewe Jonsson and Kerstin Caine Winterberger

• The Integration of Contemporary Orthopedic and Orthotic Management of Clubfoot presented by Dr. Ignacio Ponseti, MD

• DEBATE – Trends in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Concerning COBB Angle vs. Overall Balance and the Application of Forces – four experts from the United States and the United Kingdom debate the issue with input from the attendees

• 55 Free Papers, 11 Professional Development sessions, 3 Clinical Techniques sessions, 3 Instructional Courses, 3 Symposia and 4 Thranhardt lectures, and much more.

For complete program details and to register online, please visit the Academy’s Annual Meeting website at www.academyannualmeeting.org. Early Registration Deadline is February 4.

Societies Participate in Annual Meeting Programming

Keith M. Smith CO, LO, Scientific Societies Chair

The Academy's scientific society chairs have collaborated over the past year and have set goals which we hope will lead to future success. The Academy societies submitted abstracts to compete for two presentation opportunities at the Academy Annual Meeting. The Craniofacial and Lower Limb Prosthetics societies won the two presentation positions.

• Members of the Spine society are participating in the debate on Trends in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Concerning COBB Angle vs. Overall Balance and the Application of Forces.

• Miguel Mojica, CPO, chair of the Lower Limb Orthotics Society, is participating in the Pharmacologic and Orthotic Management of Lower Limb Spasticity, Treatment Protocols, Clinical Application and Outcomes session with Keith Smith, CO, LO, Academy Scientific Societies Chair.

• The Role of Orthotic Intervention in the Management of Craniosynostosis is being led by Joe Terpenning, CO with participation from Craniofacial Society members.

• A session on Healthcare Litigation is being led by the Lower Limb Prosthetics Society and society chair, Gordon Bosker, CPO, CPed, FAAOP.

• Fabrication Society chair Tony Wickman, RTPO has put together a full Technician Program for Saturday, March 4.

The societies are excited about the upcoming events and look forward to seeing all society members at the Academy Annual Meeting. All members of the Academy are invited to become members of one or more of the societies and to be part of the efforts to enhance the societies roles in the work of the Academy.

Grant Update: Academy State-of-the-Science Conferences Provide Solid Clinical Base

The Academy's State-of-the-Science Conferences (SSCs) serve two equally vital purposes. They offer clinical guidance about those practice fundamentals that have been scientifically validated — defining and encouraging best practices in the field and training programs. They also identify research priorities that will strengthen the science used to support clinical decision-making in the future. The findings from the State-of-the-Science Conference on Outcome Measures in Lower Limb Prosthetics will be available in early 2006.

Working with accredited O&P schools, the Academy is developing online continuing education courses based on the best practices identified in the SSCs, enabling clinicians to readily incorporate these findings into daily practice. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, practitioners can access and complete the courses online to earn Professional Continuing Education credits. Courses based on the first two SSCs are available now in the Paul E. Leimkuehler Online Learning Center; number three will be online shortly. For anyone needing year-end PCE, you can earn up to 16 credits for these courses.

Visit the Paul E. Leimkuehler Online Learning Center and download the SSC course of your choice. Successfully complete the test by December 31 and earn a $25 credit toward your next course. Take advantage of this special offer, available until December 31, 2005 only!

Professional Issues Council Keeps Abreast of Key Issues:

Medicaid/Worker’s Compensation Coverage Limitations, Development of Licensure Manual and Chapter Relations

The Professional Issues Council (PIC) remains on top of key issues affecting O&P including the need for intervention in state efforts to limit coverage for O&P devices either through Medicaid or worker's compensation policy limitations. The Academy's Licensure Taskforce, chaired by board member James Rogers, CPO, FAAOP, continues to develop a licensure manual. This guide is intended to serve as a resource to those states wishing to undertake licensure by offering basic guidelines as well as lessons learned from those who were successful in the licensure process. Expect a draft manual by the Academy Annual Meeting in March 2006. PIC members continue to work with the G-4, a collaborative effort between The Academy, AOPA, ABC, and NAAOP, to serve the interests of O&P in an effective and efficient manner.

Last month, Mark Kaufman, CPO, FAAOP, the Board Liaison to the Academy Chapters, hosted a call of the Chapter Presidents. Kaufman provided the chapter leaders with an update on the latest work of the PIC and asked for their feedback on key issues affecting their states and chapters. Future calls will take place quarterly and show the Academy's commitment to developing an effective bilateral communication from the members directly to the Academy Board. The Academy intends to create a mechanism where the state chapters form the basis of a grassroots network that improves effectiveness and response time in dealing with emerging state issues.

Academy’s Research Council Focuses on Evidence-Based Practice for O&P

The Academy continues to make progress laying the framework for what will ultimately result in evidence-based practice for the O&P profession. A common definition of evidence-based practice is "the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values".

The Research Council was recently unveiled as part of the Academy's initiative to promote research by O&P clinicians. Council Chair Gary Berke, MS, CP, FAAOP is enthusiastic about the long-term plan as he explains, "One goal is to help create educated consumers of research so that O&P professionals can critically evaluate and appropriately apply information presented. Only then will we see the development of a body of knowledge that will help clinicians identify appropriate treatment options and demonstrate the efficacy of O&P care".

The three committees that comprise the Research Council include leading practitioners, researchers and educators in the world of O&P. Together with Academy leadership they are prepared to drive the profession towards evidenced-based practice.