Orthotists and Prosthetists
Health Science > Therapeutic ServicesProjected Growth: Much faster than average
Projected Job Openings
Extensive Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.
Common job titles of Orthotists and Prosthetists include:
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Experience and Education
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
42.42% said they needed a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate.
30.3% said they needed a Bachelor's Degree.
Tasks & Responsibilities
Essential Tasks
Maintain patients' records.
Fit, test, and evaluate devices on patients, and make adjustments for proper fit, function, and comfort.
Train and supervise support staff, such as orthopedic and prosthetic assistants and technicians.
Construct and fabricate appliances or supervise others constructing the appliances.
Make and modify plaster casts of areas that will be fitted with prostheses or orthoses, for use in the device construction process.
Design orthopedic and prosthetic devices, based on physicians' prescriptions and examination and measurement of patients.
Select materials and components to be used, based on device design.
Instruct patients in the use and care of orthoses and prostheses.
Examine, interview, and measure patients to determine their appliance needs and to identify factors that could affect appliance fit.
Regular Tasks
Repair, rebuild, and modify prosthetic and orthopedic appliances.
Confer with physicians to formulate specifications and prescriptions for orthopedic or prosthetic devices.
Research new ways to construct and use orthopedic and prosthetic devices.
Show and explain orthopedic and prosthetic appliances to healthcare workers.
Occasional Tasks
Update skills and knowledge by attending conferences and seminars.
Publish research findings or present them at conferences and seminars.
What Tools and Technologies do Orthotists and Prosthetists use?
Tools
Workshop lathes
Workshop heat guns
Workshop bench vises
Welders
Vertical transfer jigs
Variable speed routers
Vacuum presses
All ToolsVacuum molding systems
Utility knives
Tube reamers
Tube cutters
Trautman routers
Tablet computers
Surgical masks
Single-cut mill saw files
Shears
Scarpas knives
Safety goggles
Revolving punch pliers
Pressure transducers
Precision rulers
Power sanders
Power planers
Power drills
Power buffers
Pipe clamps
Personal digital assistants PDA
Personal computers
Medical measuring tapes
Medical examination protective gloves
Laser scanners
Laser levels
Laptop computers
Laboratory air circulating ovens
Infrared laboratory ovens
Industrial sewing machines
Holding tongs
Hand rasps
Half-round files
Grinding machines
Goniometers
Force platforms
Electromyographs EMG
Dust masks
Digitizers
Digital video cameras
Digital protractors
Digital calipers
Desktop computers
Deburring tools
Computer numerical controlled CNC milling machines
Claw hammers
Circular saws
Cast spreaders
Cast cutters
Bending irons
Belt sanders
Anvils
Allen wrenches
Technologies
Alibre Design
Autodesk AutoCAD
Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
Infinity CAD Systems AutoSculpt
Intuit QuickBooks
Ohio Willow Wood OMEGA Tracer System
Polhemus FastSCAN
All TechnologiesSeattle Systems Shapemaker
Vorum Research Corporation CANFIT-PLUS
American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association CodingPro
Artsco OrthoPro Complete
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
Computer graphics software
Email software
Futura International O.P.S.
Gait analysis software
Gez Bowman THE O&P HUB
MedePresence
MedEvolve eCeno
OPIE Practice Management Suite
What Skills Do Orthotists and Prosthetists Need to Have?
Skills
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Analysis
Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Abilities
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Comprehension
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Comprehension
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Expression
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Deductive Reasoning
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Inductive Reasoning
Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Problem Sensitivity
Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Expression
Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Spatial Abilities › Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Category Flexibility
Generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Everything Orthotists and Prosthetists Should Know…
Knowledge
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Clerical
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.