Medical Appliance Technicians
Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
Sample of reported job titles:
Certified Pedorthotist, Hearing Aid Repair Technician, Lab Technician, Orthopedic Technician, Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (O and P Technician), Orthotic Technician, Prosthetic Technician, Prosthetics Technician, Registered Prosthetic Orthotic Technician
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Fit appliances onto patients, and make any necessary adjustments.
- Make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand or power tools.
- Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools required.
- Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
- Instruct patients in use of prosthetic or orthotic devices.
Technology Skills
- Computer aided design CAD software:Autodesk AutoCAD,Ohio Willow Wood OMEGA Tracer System,Seattle Systems Shapemaker,SoftSource CADview,Vorum Research Corporation CANFIT-PLUS
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software:Orthotic fabrication software
- Medical software:Footmaxx Metascan software,Gait analysis software
- Spreadsheet software:Microsoft Excel
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Getting Information:Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials:Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems:Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Detailed Work Activities
- Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production.
- Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
- Cast molds of patient anatomies to create medical or dental devices.
- Construct customized assistive medical or dental devices.
- Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
Work Context
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled:90% responded"Every day"
- Exposed to Contaminants:80% responded"Every day"
- Frequency of Decision Making:75% responded"Every day"
- Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable:69% responded"Every day"
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment:65% responded"Every day"
Worker Requirements
Skills
- Active Listening:Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking:Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Quality Control Analysis:Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Reading Comprehension:Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Speaking:Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Knowledge
- Production and Processing:Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- Customer and Personal Service:Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- English Language:Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mechanical:Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Design:Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
- 26%Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
- 21%High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
- 18%Bachelor's Degree
- 10%Master's Degree
- 10%Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
- 9%Some College Courses
Worker Characteristics
Abilities
- Near Vision:The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension:The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Problem Sensitivity:The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Arm-Hand Steadiness:The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- Deductive Reasoning:The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Interests
- Realistic:Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Investigative:Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Social:Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Work Values
- Relationships:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Support:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Working Conditions:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail:Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Dependability:Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Concern for Others:Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Cooperation:Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Integrity:Job requires being honest and ethical.
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