64B14-4.100: Requirements for Prosthetic or Orthotic Residency or Internship
64B14-4.110: Requirements for Orthotic Fitter, Orthotic Fitter Assistant and Pedorthic
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: In Rule 64B14-4.100, the purpose and effect of the rule development is to provide a more comprehensive description of the elements of approved training for applicants for licensure as orthotists and prosthetists, and to set a limit on the amount of time an intern/resident can practice without a license in the state of Florida. In Rule 64B14-4.110, the purpose and effect of the rule development is to delete references to specific providers of the approved education for orthotic fitter and orthotic fitter assistant candidates, because the previously identified providers have changed titles and other providers are anticipated who will meet the statutory and rule requirements for training programs.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Requirements for Prosthetic or Orthotic Residency or Internship; Requirements for Orthotic Fitter, Orthotic Fitter Assistant and Pedorthic.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 468.802, 468.803 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 468.803 FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE NOTICED IN THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE WEEKLY.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Joe Baker, Jr., Executive Director, Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3259.
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:
64B14-4.100 Requirements for Prosthetic or Orthotic Residency or Internship.
(1) To meet the requirements for licensure as an orthotist or prosthetist, the applicant must document an internship that meets the requirements of this rule, or must complete a residency program accredited by NCOPE. An applicant for combined licensure as a prosthetist/orthotist must document a discrete internship or residency in each field.
(2) An internship must consist of 1900 hours of orthotic or prosthetic clinical experience practicing under the supervision of a licensed or ABC-certified orthotist or prosthetist, respectively. The internship must consist of a minimum of 1900 hours and may not exceed 2700 hours. The intern is eligible to take the approved licensure examination upon completion of 1900 hours. If the intern has not taken and passed the applicable licensure examination at the expiration of 2700 hours of clinical experience, the intern may not practice as an orthotist or prosthetist in the state.
(3) Internships must be completed at facilties primarily engaged in providing orthotic and prosthetic patient care. Interns must provide direct patient care, but only under the supervision of a licensed orthotist or prosthetist; the educational mission must not be compromised by an excessive reliance on residents to fulfill facility service obligations. Students should progress from observing to actually providing direct patient care. Sufficient amounts of lab and technical experience must accompany the clinical training.
(4) The internship must require the intern to meet the following objectives:
(a) Clinical Assessment. Determine the orthotic or prosthetic needs of the patient by integrating the information obtained from history, examination, measurement and observation; develop a treatment protocol for the patient through review of patient data in order to formulate an orthotic or prosthetic recommendation and treatment plan.
(b) Patient Management. Apply a properly fitting prothestic/orthotic device by using accepted prosthetic/orthotic techniques to achieve optimum outcomes; inform the patient of the various procedures to be performed by using appropriate communication skills; provide continuing patient care and periodic evaluation to ensure proper fit and function of the prosthetic/orthotic device.
(c) Professional Responsibility. Select the most appropriate course of action when faced with patient-related problems while adhering to the laws and rules applicable to practice in
(d) Practice Management. Demonstrate proper documentation of a patient's history and financial records by using established record-keeping techniques and demonstrate an understanding of the facility's financial and safety policies and procedures.
(e) Technical Implementation. Interpret patient data and modify a patient model to ensure optimal fit and function; demonstrate the ability to fabricate or repair a prescribed device, selecting appropriate materials and components based on patient criteria to ensure optimum strength, durability and function.
(5) The objectives must include experience in the acute, rehabilitative and chronic phases of the care of pediatric, adult and geriatric populations, and shall include experience in lower and upper extremity and spinal orthoses or lower and upper extremity prostheses.
(6) Each intern shall keep a daily patient log, subject to review by the Board. Each intern shall be evaluated by his/her supervising practitioner on a quarterly basis and at the conclusion of the internship.
The internship must be of sufficient variety and volume to afford the intern adequate educational experience in orthotics or prosthetics to include clinical assessment, patient management, technical implementation, practice management and professional responsibility in the acute, rehabilitative and chronic phases of the care of pediatric, adult and geriatric populations. This shall include experience in lower extremity, upper extremity and spinal orthoses, or upper and lower extremity prostheses. Each intern shall keep a daily patient log, subject to audit by the Board.
(7)(3) Clinical experience in prosthetics and orthotics, to satisfy the requirements of internship or to satisfy the experience requirements of Section 468.803(4), F.S., may not be achieved concurrently.
Specific Authority 468.802, 468.803 FS. Law Implemented 468.803 FS. History–New 11-1-99, .
64B14-4.110 Requirements for Orthotic Fitter, Orthotic Fitter Assistant and Pedorthic.
(1) Requirements for Licensure as an Orthotic Fitter. The applicant must demonstrate:
(a) Successful completion of 40 hours of training in orthotics that meets the requirements of Rule 64B14-4.111. the 32-hour Trulife Healthcare or the 32-hour Surgical Appliance Industries orthotics course and examination, and completion of an approved eight hour course in custom-molded shoes.
(b) No change.
(2) Requirements for Licensure as an Orthotic Fitter Assistant. The applicant must demonstrate successful completion of 40 hours of training in orthotics that meets the requirements of Rule 64B14-4.111. the 32-hour Trulife Healthcare or the 32-hour Surgical Appliance Industries orthotics course and examination, and completion of an approved eight hour course in custom-molded shoes.
(3) No change.
Specific Authority 468.802, 468.803 FS. Law Implemented 468.803 FS. History–New 11-1-99, Amended 1-16-06, 9-21-06, .