Prosthetist / Orthotist

The role of the Prosthetist / Orthotist (P&O) is to provide Prosthetic and Orthotic services within a multi-disciplinary setting. The P&O is able to assess, diagnose and manage common conditions for:

• Prosthetics patients that have undergone limb amputation. These will include assessment, measurement and fitting of upper and lower limb prostheses.
• Orthotic patients with musculoskeletal or neuromuscular conditions. These will include assessment, measurement and fitting of various types of orthoses.

(A) MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CORE COMPETENCIES AND CLINICAL DUTIES (80-90%)

1. Clinical Competencies and Duties

Quality of work

The P&O is required to:

1. Maintain consistent standard of care and professional standard
2. Maintain and manage workload which includes assessing, diagnosing and managing common conditions for:

• Prosthetic patients that have undergone limb amputation. These will include assessment, measurement and fitting of upper and lower limb prostheses.
• Orthotic patients with musculoskeletal or neuromuscular conditions. These will include assessment, measurement and fitting of various types of orthoses.
• Maintain accurate patient records and statistics (clinical outcomes, indicators)
• To assist in quality improvement activities/ projects
• Maintain zero harm to patient

2. Administrative Competency and duties

• In the course of provision of Prosthetics and Orthotics services, staff must develop skills and competency in self-management, and compliance to medicolegal and governance guidelines
• Be responsible for the caseload allocated and provide coverage as necessary
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date medical reports in continuity of care
• Be familiar with and adhere to basic tenets of JCI
• Ensure proper charging procedures
• Have basic IT skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint
• Be able to use hospital electronic medical records applications
• Maintain statistics on workload as needed by the Rehabilitation Services and Hospital
• Assist to manage services and resources to achieve department / hospital targets
• Assist with scheduled stock cycle counts
• Assist in leading department workgroup to deliver and improve service and care
• Participate in department projects

3. Demonstration of Teamwork and Professionalism

P&Os are members of a multi-disciplinary team. Staff must demonstrate esprit de corp and professionalism to ensure that the desired outcomes are attained

• Engage actively in patient and care-giver education
• Proactive cross-coverage of colleagues in team to even out workload (e.g. if own caseload cleared ahead of time
• Provide after hours and on-call therapist services as required
• Assist with care and maintenance of equipment, materials and resources in the Department/ Hospital
• Attend department meetings, wards rounds and other professional meetings as required
• Liaise and maintain good working relations with other healthcare professionals within the hospital and with external organizations
• Demonstrate / portray professional behaviour including respect for patient privacy, personal hygiene and to be a role model to subordinates
• Be involved in department activities e.g. Fitness Challenge/ Hospital activities as and when required

OTHER DUTIES

1. Continuous Education

• Take ownership of personal continuous professional development of skills and knowledge in Prosthetics and Orthotics which includes applying and demonstrating evidence-based practice, critically evaluating current research material, independent reading, and attending relevant courses and talks.
• Assist in organizing, coordinating and providing continuous professional development of skills and knowledge in Prosthetics and Orthotics of other colleagues, which includes provision of inservices, and peer reviews/ audits.
• Assist to develop resource materials
• Assist to conduct professional workshops and seminars
• Achieve training hours as assigned by Training Centre

2. Supervisory Role

• Assist in co-supervision/co-training of Prosthetics & Orthotics Assistants/Technical Assistants/Technicians
• Assist in supervision of 1st – 2nd year students, volunteers and other healthcare professionals on attachment

3. Quality Improvement

• Adhere to patient quality service
• Embrace continuous improvements as our way of life by improving and refining work performance on a daily basis.
• Contribute actively to department’s WOW, Kaizen or other service quality improvements projects and initiatives
• Assist to manage information and data to identify gaps and potential areas of change
• Report to Manager, seeking advice and providing feedback on service delivery and improvement to influence change

4. Research Contribution

• Participate and support research data collection / design / analysis as required and assigned by supervisor/ manager
• Assist to develop abstracts / posters / oral presentations

5. Others

• Perform any other duties assigned by Supervisor/ Manager
• Occasional contribution to team/ departmental projects outside of office hours as determined by reporting officer
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of the Hospital and Department

JOB REQUIREMENTS

1. Education, Training and Experience

• Degree in Prosthetics & Orthotics recognized by International Society for Prosthetics & Orthotics (ISPO) at Category I status