According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Maintain patients' records. | 99% |
| Fit, test, and evaluate devices on patients, and make adjustments for proper fit, function, and comfort. | 98% |
| Examine, interview, and measure patients to determine their appliance needs and to identify factors that could affect appliance fit. | 97% |
| Design orthopedic and prosthetic devices, based on physicians' prescriptions and examination and measurement of patients. | 96% |
| Instruct patients in the use and care of orthoses and prostheses. | 96% |
| Select materials and components to be used, based on device design. | 93% |
| Construct and fabricate appliances, or supervise others constructing the appliances. | 92% |
| Make and modify plaster casts of areas to be fitted with prostheses or orthoses to guide the device construction process. | 90% |
| Repair, rebuild, and modify prosthetic and orthopedic appliances. | 84% |
| Train and supervise support staff, such as orthopedic and prosthetic assistants and technicians. | 81% |
| Update skills and knowledge by attending conferences and seminars. | 79% |
| Confer with physicians to formulate specifications and prescriptions for orthopedic or prosthetic devices. | 77% |
| Show and explain orthopedic and prosthetic appliances to healthcare workers. | 74% |
| Research new ways to construct and use orthopedic and prosthetic devices. | 68% |
| Publish research findings or present them at conferences and seminars. | 52% |
