ABC Mastectomy Scope of Practice

ABC

The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc. (ABC) establishes and promotes the highest standards of organizational and clinical performance in the delivery of orthotic, prosthetic and pedorthic care. It is the mission of ABC to advance the competency of practitioners, promote the quality and effectiveness of orthotic, prosthetic and pedorthic care and maintain the integrity of the profession. 

Anthropometric

Pertaining to the measurement of the size, weight and proportion of the human body. Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture.

Custom Fabricated Device

An orthosis, prosthesis or pedorthic device fabricated to comprehensive measurements and/or a mold or patient model for use by a patient in accordance with a prescription and which requires clinical and technical judgment in its design, fabrication and fitting. 

Mandatory Continuing Education

ABC credentialed individuals are required to maintain competency through mandatory continuing education by earning professional continuing education credits.

Mastectomy Fitter

A health care professional who is specifically educated and trained in the provision of breast prostheses and post-mastectomy services. This includes patient assessment, formulation of a treatment plan, implementation of the treatment plan, follow-up and practice management. 

Prefabricated Device

A prefabricated device is one which is manufactured in quantity without a specific patient in mind. The device may be supplied as separate prefabricated components that may require some assembly and/or fitting and adjustment. These devices may require some trimming, bending, molding (with or without heat), or modification for use by a specific patient. 

Supervision and Privileging of a Credentialed Caregiver

Privileging of credentialed individuals to provide services beyond their defined scope of practice must ensure appropriate, effective, ethical and safe delivery of patient care. The credentialed caregiver may be privileged, under Indirect Supervision, to provide patient care beyond the scope of their credential based on Written Objective Criteria. 

Privileging of a credentialed caregiver is limited to the following:

Prosthetists, Orthotists, Prosthetic Assistants, Orthotic Assistants and Orthotic Fitters who are credentialed by a nationally recognized Orthotic, Prosthetic and Pedorthic certifying board or are licensed, if applicable, may be privileged based on Written Objective Criteria to provide post- mastectomy care. 

The post-mastectomy patient care services provided by the privileged credentialed caregiver which are beyond their scope of practice must not exceed ABC’s defined scope of practice for Mastectomy Fitters. The Supervisor must review the results of care and the documentation of the services rendered by the supervised individual and is responsible for countersigning within 15 days all entries by the caregiver in the patient’s clinical record. The Supervisor is responsible for all services that the caregiver is being privileged to provide. 

Supervision and Privileging of a Non-Credentialed Caregiver

Supervision and privileging of a non-credentialed caregiver must ensure appropriate, effective, ethical and safe delivery of patient care. The non-credentialed caregiver may be privileged to assist in the provision of patient care based on Written Objective Criteria. In situations where custom fabricated post-mastectomy items are being provided the initial patient assessment, formulation of the treatment plan and the final fitting and delivery must be done under Direct Supervision (see Supervision Matrix below). For all other levels of care the non-credentialed caregiver may be privileged under Indirect Supervision, where the Supervisor must be available for consultation throughout the patient care process. 

The post-mastectomy patient care services provided by the non-credentialed caregiver must not exceed ABC’s defined scope of practice for Mastectomy Fitters.

The Supervisor must review the results of care and the documentation of the services rendered by the non-credentialed caregiver and is responsible for countersigning within 15 days all entries by the caregiver in the patient’s clinical record. The supervisor is responsible for all acts performed by the privileged individual. 

Indirect Supervision

Does not require the supervising credentialed Mastectomy Fitter to be on site however they must be available for consultation throughout the patient care process. The supervisor must review the results of care and the documentation of the services rendered by the supervised individual and is responsible for countersigning within 15 days all entries in the patient’s clinical record.