OPCA 1780 - Prosthetic, Orthotic, Pedorthic Practicum

Credits: 4
Hours/Week: Lecture 0 Lab 0
Course Description: This practicum provides supervised, real-world experience in orthotic, prosthetic, and pedorthic facilities. Placement and course activities are aligned with the intended career focus - technician, pedorthic, fitter, or assistant. Course activities include completion of common practicum outcomes that meet The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) technical-level standards. Course expectations include ethical conduct, professional communication, quality assurance, basic facility management, financial awareness, and documentation. The practicum emphasizes professional identity, teamwork, accountability, lifelong learning, and personal well-being.
Prerequisite(s): Instructor consent
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: Completion of OPCA 1015  , OPCA 1025  , OPCA 1035  , OPCA 1045  , OPCA 1045  , OPCA 1055  , OPCA 1065  , OPCA 1075  , OPCA 1085  , and OPCA 1095  

Major Content
1. Professionalism, ethics, and scope of practice in Prosthetic, Orthotic, Pedorthic (POP) settings

2. Communication and teamwork in patient care and fabrication environments

3. Quality assurance principles, inspection, and adherence to manufacturer guidance

4. Facility management including safety, equipment, documentation, and inventory control

5. Technical and clinical applications related to fabrication, fitting, and maintenance of POP devices

6. Professional development, reflection, and strategies for lifelong learning and well-being
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to:

1. demonstrate professional behavior, accountability, and cultural respect within a clinical/technical setting.

2. communicate effectively with patients, caregivers, and professional staff in written and verbal formats.

3. apply quality-assurance and facility-management practices aligned with industry standards.

4. perform fabrication, fitting, and maintenance of orthotic, prosthetic, or pedorthic devices within the scope of practice.

5. explain awareness of the financial, regulatory, and safety considerations in O&P practice.

6. engage in professional development, reflection, and lifelong learning to improve performance and well-being.

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