Clinical Methods in Orthotics & Prosthetics
About the Program
The Clinical Program is a post degree/diploma program. Graduates from the Orthotics/Prosthetics Technical Program, graduates in Kinesiology, Physical Education, Nursing, Engineering, and other related backgrounds will be considered as suitable candidates. The program accepts only 8 students per year.
The program's first class was selected in the Spring of 1979 and the program began the following September. The program's first two years were based out of the Casa Loma Campus at George Brown College with clinical sites at West Park Hospital, and the Ontario Crippled Children Centre (now the Bloorview MacMillan Rehabilitation Centre) in the Toronto region, and Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals in Hamilton. Due to problems with the transportation of supplies, projects and students, lack of available space at the Casa Loma Campus and the lack of proximity to a patient care facility, the program moved to West Park Hospital (Weston) in the summer of 1981. In the summer of 1995 the programs moved to the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and are currently located in the Sunnybrook Centre for Independent Living (SCIL). Over 8,000 square feet of space was renovated and allocated solely for the program's use. The programs are now located in one of the best facilities for Prosthetic & Orthotic education in the world.
The strength of the program is the structured clinical education provided by various clinical settings. In conjunction with many curriculum changes over the years, there are many clinical facilities and practitioners participating to deliver the various segments of the program.
Upon graduation from the program, the students enter a 22 month internship in either prosthetics or orthotics under the supervision of a certified practitioner before they are eligible to sit for exams set by the Canadian Board for Certification of Prosthetists and Orthotists (CBCPO) in the discipline in which they have interned. Graduates initially have the entry level skills as an orthotist or prosthetist, to be a functioning member of the clinical team and fulfill the needs of referred patients.
The program has an exemplary record in terms of attrition and graduates making significant contributions to the field. The program has a historical attrition rate of only 8% with 95% of the graduates still currently employed in the profession. Many graduates of the program now hold senior positions in the profession with many being Directors, Managers, or Owners of various facilities across Canada. Others are directly involved in education, research, and a few are employed by major manufacturers of Prosthetic and Orthotic components and/or supplies.
The program has many unique activities that have become fixtures in the operation of the program. Since the inception of the program it is mandatory for all students to present a related topic in a formal setting on a monthly basis. These "Grand Rounds" sessions occur once a month in the presence of faculty, students, and professionals from the field.
Program Goals & Objectives
The Clinical Methods in Orthotics and Prosthetics program at George Brown College prepares individuals in the clinical and technical aspects of Orthotic and Prosthetic management and develops problem solving skills necessary for the graduate to function as an integral part of the health care team.
Graduating students will have the entry level skills as an Orthotist or Prosthetist and allow them to proceed into the required 22 month Residency in either orthotics or prosthetics. This Residency period is under the supervision of a certified practitioner before the graduate qualifies to sit for professional certification exams in the discipline they are interning.
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Clinical Methods in Orthotics and Prosthetics program the graduate intern prosthetist or orthotist will be able to:
- Gather and assimilate information about a patient via medical records, prosthetic/orthotic history, patient's comments, clinical examination, etc., and be sensitive to the implications of the relevant information.
- To recognize patient conditions requiring medical/health care beyond the scope of Orthotic and Prosthetic practise.
- Based on the appropriate prescription, design and articulate a prosthetic/orthotic treatment plan based upon the prescription and assessment of the patient and, when necessary, inform various members of the health care team.
- Analyze information concerning the proposed prosthetic/orthotic treatment plan and forecast the success of the appliance in terms of clinical principles and the patient's disability/pathology and expectations.
- Obtain all appropriate measurements, casts, layouts etc., necessary to proceed with the prosthetic/orthotic treatment plan.
- Perform and prepare all the appropriate positive cast modifications,layout adjustments, etc., to proceed with the fabrication of the prosthetic/orthotic appliance.
- Formulate and fabricate prosthetic/orthotic appliances utilizing a knowledge of the appropriate prosthetic/orthotic materials and by employing prescribed and accepted laboratory procedures.
- Perform patient fittings of the appropriate prosthetic/orthotic devices, including static and dynamic alignments, evaluating the appliance on the patient, and instructing the patient in it's use.
- Perform re-assessments, adjustments or replacements of the prosthetic/orthotic appliance, in consultation with the referring physician, as the patient's age, physical condition, or life-style change.
- Keep abreast of new developments concerning prosthetic and orthotic care.
- Maintain organized patient records, encompassing all pertinent information relating to the ongoing prosthetic/orthotic treatment.
- Identify and relate to the various health care resources that are available to the Prosthetist/Orthotist and his or her patients.
- Appreciate the roles relating to the supervision of support personnel and laboratory activities and also the administrative duties required in the management of a prosthetic/orthotic practise.
- Appreciate the roles that the Prosthetic/Orthotic professional bodies play in the maintenance of standards and the development of the profession and to be willing to contribute towards it's advancement.
Course Listing
Semester 1
Clinical Techniques - Practical
Clinical Techniques - Theory
Laboratory Techniques
Anatomy
Kinesiology & Biomechanics
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Semester 2
Clinical Techniques - Practical Clinical Techniques - Theory
Laboratory Techniques
Anatomy
Physiology
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Semester 3
Clinical Techniques - Practical
Clinical Techniques - Theory
Laboratory Techniques
Clinical Case Studies
Pathophysiology
Powered Prosthetics
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Semester 4
Clinical Techniques - Practical
Clinical Techniques - Theory
(25% of grade is towards an Independent Research Project)
Laboratory Techniques
Practice Management
Pathophysiology
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Statistical Information
Students per Class: 8 Classes running per year: 2 Faculty:Student ratio: 1 : 8 Attrition (past five years): 0
Employment Record: 95% or better
Program Schematic
Selection Process
As is clearly stated in the introduction and the College Calendar course description, the Clinical Methods in Orthotics and Prosthetics Program is a post-graduate program whereby only those individuals with the appropriate degree or diploma are eligible to apply.
Our selection of students involves a three step procedure:
i) An admissions test involving subjects covering Biology (anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc.), Biophysics and Biomechanics, Spatial Relations, and Prosthetics and Orthotics knowledge. The test will also include an application questionnaire that must be completed during the Admissions Test time period. Testing will take place on Saturday March 10 at the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre or in a more local region for out of province applicants. Scheduling and arrangements for this testing will be done via our office.
ii) The submission of a standardized application portfolio must be received at our Sunnybrook address no later than Tuesday, March 20, 2011. This portfolio is made up of a resume, relavant transcripts and a maximum of 2 reference letters. This portfolio will only be evaluated if a candidate receives an interview. The application package will be evaluated based on completeness, quality, and relevance to the Clinical Methods in Prosthetics and Orthotics Program.
iii) The top 18 ranked students from the Admissions testing will be scheduled (after March 15th) for interview on Saturday March 31st, starting at 8:30 am. Every applicant that qualifies, will go through a series of interview questions over a two hour time period. The interviews are held on one day only.
The selection of the class for September 2012 will use the following weighted formula – admissions test - 25%, application portfolio – 15%, interview – 60%. The weighted formula will generate an overall applicant score, which will be used to rank all the applicants granted an interview. The top 8 will be offered a position in the next academic calendar year; the next 8 (those ranked 9-16th) will be put onto a waiting list and contacted if a position becomes available.
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Revised:
October 4, 2011
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