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The ABC Advantage
The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC) is the national certifying and accrediting body for the orthotic and prosthetic professions. The public requires and deserves assurance that the persons providing orthotic, prosthetic, and pedorthic services and care are qualified to provide the appropriate services, and it was on this basis that the ABC was established as a credentialing organization.
The ABC was formed in 1948 by a group of concerned practitioners and orthopedic surgeons who recognized the Orthotist/Prosthetist as an integral part of the rehabilitative team responsible for returning the patient to a productive and meaningful life.
The clinical skills and technical knowledge required to accomplish orthotic and prosthetic tasks are extensive, complex, and sophisticated. Proper care requires not only extensive training in the field, but also a comprehensive understanding of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and kinesiology - in short, how the body's components operate and interrelate. The education requirements for ABC practitioner certification are the only orthotic and prosthetic educational standards recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Alied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Orthotics/prosthetics is a leader among the allied health professions as the first to establish Standards for the post-graduate clinical experience. With the introduction of the ABC residency requirement, post-graduate clinical training has become a structured learning experience for the resident requiring an objective and equitable evaluation process to assess learning outcomes for both residents and residency sites. Residency requirements are maintained by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE).
To ensure that a practitioner has successfully mastered the knowledge and skills that the education and residency requirements are designed to impart, they must pass a series of three rigorous examinations before certification is awarded. For Technician Registration, a series of two-exams is required.
Continuing education is the norm in the health care profession, and is meant to maintain and improve the healthcare system and delivery of services. Practitioners must seek education to meet two continual demands: 1) to maintain performance at the basic level of professional competence; and, 2) to advance training and specialized skills beyond the basic level.
An ABC registered technician provides all of the technical implementation tasks and services associated with the support of patient care. This includes fabrication, modification and the repair of orthoses and prostheses. The registered technician is obligated to support and conform to professional responsibilities that promote and assure the overall welfare of the patient and the integrity of the profession. The ABC Technician Registration program offers technicians whose education and or/experience correspond to existing ABC requirements an examination process designed to evaluate their knowledge of current orthotic and prosthetic technology and the ability to fabricate a variety of orthoses/prostheses.
By applying for and achieving ABC accreditation, organizations demonstrate a commitment to excellence in orthotic and prosthetic health care. This commitment to excellence is critical for improving the quality of life of our nation’s orthotic and prosthetic patients, and is commonly used as a standard of quality patient care by insurance companiesn and regulatory bodies.
ABC is recognized nationally and internationally for its adherence to the highest standards for the orthotics, prosthetics and pedorthics profession. These standards are critical to the ABC certification, facility accreditation and professional discipline programs.
Educated consumers are making healthcare choices based not on where they can get care most inexpensively, but where they can get the best quality care. Certification is the standard by which the consumer can make informed decisions about the provider of his/her orthotic, prosthetic and/or pedorthic . Certification is not a guarantee of quality, but it does indicate that the practitioner has met established standards; and since it is voluntary, it indicates a high level of dedication and commitment to the profession. When selecting your certified practitioner, make sure they have met the professions highest standards: ABC certification.
ABC has thrived for over 50 years because of the dedication of its volunteers. Our board and committee members are all dedicated professionals whose primary objective is to continuously innovate and increase the body of knowledge available to the profession.
Look for these logos when you are seeking a certified orthotist or prosthetist. Ask your practitioner if he or she is ABC certified and if their facility is ABC accredited. Remember, when you are looking for a practitioner who will be improving your quality of life, the credentials of the American Board for Certification have been Assuring patients Better Care for over 50 years!
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