Vol. 8, No.1

January 2003

NJ Chapter Donates $10,000 to Project Quantum Leap, NRP

One of the most active chapters of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists has donated $10,000 toward Project Quantum Leap, an initiative that advances the O&P profession and the Negotiated Rulemaking Process.

The chapter, founded in 1994, made the donation in two contributions of $5,000 over a six-month period. Douglas Reber, CO, chapter president summarized his Board of Directors feeling about the need to support Project Quantum Leap. “This is perhaps the most important activity the national organization has ever undertaken. It benefits all of us as practitioners, the profession as a whole, and equally important, it benefits our patients,” Reber said.

Project Quantum Leap is a series of activities to enhance the O&P profession. It includes initiatives such as a national awareness campaign to encourage students to consider O&P as a career choice, helping the remaining O&P schools obtain government funding, documenting clinical standards of practice, and funding applied research in O&P. The overall project began in 2002.

The NJ Chapter’s contribution will be used to fund, in part, the OPcareers website which recently launched at www.opcareers.org. The site is a one-stop resource for information about the O&P profession, what it takes to be a practitioner or technician, schools, scholarships, employment opportunities, and a list of practitioners willing to talk to students about a career.

The NJ Chapter’s officers include: President Doug Reber, CO; Vice President Adam Canvisser, CPO; Treasurer Bob Frank, CPO; and Secretary Bob Silvestri, CPO. The chapter has been able to make the substantial contributions because of the successful growth of its annual chapter meeting where they had 235 registrants and 75 exhibitors.

At the November meeting in Atlantic City, the chapter announced a new award named in honor of Walter Frank, CO who passed away in 2000. The award will be presented to a NJ practitioner who exhibits high patient care standards and a strong commitment to O&P continuing education. The recipient will receive a trophy, their Academy and chapter dues paid for one year and $500 will be donated to a school in their name.

JPO Quizzes Expand to Two Per Issue

Register for Annual Meeting by Feb 18 and Win Big Prizes Members immediately save $75 off the on-site registration fee by registering before February 18. You’ll also be eligible to win prizes worth up to $300, such as: A FREE one-year membership in the Academy Dinner at one of several San Diego restaurants A Day Pass to the Sheraton Spa and Fitness Center

The opportunity for really inexpensive PCE credits just doubled. Each year the Academy receives between 600-800 completed JPO quizzes. Beginning with the first issue in 2003 and going forward, members will have twice the number of quiz articles to choose from as the Academy increases the number of quizzes to two per issue. The articles are selected by the JPO Editor, currently James Campbell, PhD, based on a number of factors, such as the article’s clinical relevancy and scientific content. "We are now able to offer two self assessment examinations in each issue because there has been an increase in the submission and publication of high quality and clinically relevant manuscripts,” Campbell explained. The Academy charges members $20 to grade and process each JPO quiz which is worth two PCE credits. Nonmembers are charged $40.

Academy’s San Diego Meeting Totals More Than 101 Technical & Clinical Sessions, Plus Technician Program

Academy President Frank H. Bostock, MBA, CO, FAAOP praised the Annual Meeting Planning Committee for their work in developing perhaps the largest number of education sessions ever presented at an Academy Annual Meeting. The March 19-22 meeting in San Diego will include 31 technical workshops and about 75 clinical sessions over the four days and will offer 71 PCE credits to choose from. Most practitioners will be able to earn 27 credits over the course of the meeting.

The Preliminary Program was mailed to members in December and contains details on the sessions, workshops, OPAF Golf Tournament, Fitness for Everyone Clinic, and other events. An update to the program is being mailed in January. Details about the meeting and program content are updated frequently on the Academy’s website at www.oandp.org. Members can also begin to create their own personal itinerary via Your Personal Scheduler in the Members Only area of the website. The scheduler allows individuals to browse through the descriptions of workshops, instructional courses, symposia, and other sessions. Simply by pointing and clicking on their choices a member may print out a personal itinerary. If one wishes to makes changes, the scheduler software remembers your original choices and easily updates your itinerary. Members can do the same to plan their visits to the exhibit halls. In addition to listing the selected exhibitors, the scheduler will also highlight their location on the exhibit hall floor plan.

A special feature of the Academy’s Annual Meeting is a report on the first CSOP consensus conference on scoliosis, one of the activities within Project Quantum Leap. There are also five sessions created by the Academy’s scientific societies plus an instructional course by the new Craniofacial Society.

In addition, a full day of programming was developed by the Technician Education Committee which includes Tony Wickman, RTPO on the design, and finishing of a conventional metal short leg orthosis; Scott Tracewell on “one-shot laminations;” Steve Hill on heating with infrared technology; Jeff Green, RTPO on fabrication techniques; and Darrin Vincent on creating a Symes prosthesis.

New Members

(Since October 2002)

Excerpts From the Last Board Meeting:

• The Board accepted the recommendations of the Accounting Task Force which included the addition of some additional columns to the monthly financial statements and staff taking more control of the input process. The recommendations will be implemented in January and will enhance the Board’s ability to exercise its financial oversight role.

• The Board endorsed the Department of Labor’s new O-Net occupational database with standardized terminology and indicated the Joint Committee on O&P Awareness plans to work with DOL to provide greater exposure for the profession.

• The Academy has developed text titled The Four Pillars to further describe its role in advocacy, education, literature, and research.

• The Board approved a policy governing the types of records and length each should be retained.

Scientific Societies to Meet

The Academy’s eight scientific societies will meet March 21 and 22 during the Annual Meeting. Meeting times are subject to change. Review your final program for times and locations.

Results from Society Elections

Fabrication Sciences
Anthony Wickman, RTPO - Chair
Greg Mattson, RTPO - Vice Chair
Jeffrey Green, RTPO - Sec/Treas

CAD/CAM
David Jolly, CP - Chair
Jeffrey Peterman, CP - Vice Chair
Alan Finnieston, CPO - Sec/Treas

Academy Awards Announced

The following awards will be presented at the Academy’s Annual Meeting in San Diego:

Titus-Ferguson Award - Sam Hamontree, CP
Distinguished Practitioner Award - Dennis Clark, CPO
Clinical Commitment Award - Mike Allen, CPO, FAAOP
Clinical Creativity Award - Gary Horton, CO, FAAOP
Honorary Membership - Mark DeHarde
Outstanding Educator Award - Timothy Staats, EdD, CP

Are you ready for HIPAA Compliance?

Don’t miss this crash course at the Annual Meeting

Everything You Need to Know to be HIPAA Compliant by the April 14 Deadline

This two-hour session on Friday, March 21 will provide a step-by-step explanation of what you need to have in place to meet the privacy standards. Practices will have to develop notices of their privacy practices, create “business associate” contracts for vendors that receive protected health information, develop a privacy compliance program, have written policies to address patient privacy, train their staff, and take other steps to meet the Privacy Standards’ obligations. (Help is also available from the Academy in the form of a Model HIPAA Compliance Plan on CD-ROM and the corresponding Privacy Officer’s Supplement notebook, an Academy exclusive.)

Members Encouraged to Shine a Light on O&P Profession

In a couple of weeks Punxsutawney Phil may see his shadow, but the Academy is hoping practitioners see theirs on Friday, January 31, as part of Groundhog Job Shadow Day. For those practitioners who have indicated an interest in talking with students about the O&P profession, this is an activity that will make a difference! Job shadowing is designed to give kids an opportunity to “shadow” an adult during their daily work activities.

Studies confirm that more than 86 percent of students report that participation in Job Shadowing activities positively changes their attitudes about working. 72 percent were highly engaged and informed by the experience. Job shadowing is a win-win situation for all involved. Each participant gains unique benefits from job shadowing:

For the students:

• Job shadowing provides answers to “Would I want to make this job a career?”

• Provides an up-close look at how skills learned in school are put to use in the workplace.

• Gives views into all aspects involved in a job. Students can observe the skills and responsibilities required of the O&P profession to see if they have “what it takes”.

For the practitioner:

• Job shadowing helps prepare the future workforce. There is a growing need for practitioners in the O&P field. Practitioners can take an active role in helping to spread the word about the profession.

• Practitioners can demonstrate how they help people regain their independence and make a difference every day through your work.

• Potential to develop a long-term mentoring relationship.

The job shadowing program kicks-off nationwide on January 31, 2003, with Groundhog Job Shadow Day, but continues throughout the school year. (Some schools observe the event at different times during the school year.) For more information, log on to www.jobshadow.org or contact the Job Shadow Coalition at info@jobshadow.org or by phone at (800) 373-3174.

The Academy asks participating practitioners to contact Julie Hayes at (703) 836-0788, ext. 203 or jhayes@oandp.org. The Academy can provide copies of the new O&P career brochure to share with your “shadow”.