Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Practice Analysis Task Force
- Introduction
- Executive Summary
- Survey of Practice
- Results Related to Professional Background, Work Setting, and Demographic Information
- Domains, Tasks, Knowledge and Skill Statements
- Domains
- Tasks
- Knowledge and Skills Statements
- Results and Discussion Related to Practice Areas, Devices, and Activities
- Highlights of Results Related to Qualitative Responses
©2024 by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this document may be produced in any form without written permission of the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics, Inc.
Practice Analysis of ABC Certified Orthotic Fitters
January 2019
Introduction
The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc. (ABC) contracted with Professional Examination Service (PES) to develop and implement a practice analysis and validation study for those credentialed as a Certified Fitter-orthotics (CFo). To accomplish the objectives of the study, PES worked with ABC’s Director of Clinical Resources and a Practice Analysis Task Force over the course of a seven month project during 2010.
ABC last performed a practice analysis study of the orthotic fitter profession in 2004 and 2006. In 2010, as planned, the profession was resurveyed in order to identify changes in the profession related to the delivery of care, the orthotic devices available, and the technology in use today.
Why do a Practice Analysis?
The goal of a practice analysis study is to determine current trends in patient care, technology, and practice management in the provision of prefabricated orthotic services by ABC certified orthotic fitters.
Why do a Validation Study?
The goal of the validation study was to identify unique priorities in the delivery of prefabricated orthotic patient care, e.g.: What highly critical tasks are performed by all ABC credentialed orthotic fitters? What subset of knowledge and skills is essential at the time of initial certification? Which procedures are the most frequently implemented?
What will ABC do with the Results of the Study?
The results are being used to generate defensible credentialing test specifications designed for entry-level orthotic fitters. The results will also be used to identify specific topics for in-service and/or continuing education and to provide guidance for education program enhancement in regard to curriculum review and/or programmatic self assessment.
