In this episode of The O&P Check-in: an SPS Podcast, we spoke with Dr. Phoebe Scott-Wyard, Board President of the Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinic (ACPOC), about the work this organization is doing to improve the quality of prosthetic care provided to children in the U.S. Dr. Scott-Wyard is a rehabilitation medicine specialist at Rady’s Children’s Hospital in San Diego and an associate professor UC San Diego School of Medicine. She is double board-certified in pediatrics and physical medicine and rehabilitation.
The following includes an excerpt from our conversation, edited for length and clarity. Click here to listen to the full interview.
The O&P Check-in: an SPS Podcast unpacks trends and stories from the tight-knit community of O&P professionals. From patient care to technology, best practices, and regulations, this podcast features topics that help you stay current.
What is ACPOC for listeners who may not be familiar?
The Association of Children's Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinics, or ACPOC, originated over 50 years ago when a subcommittee was formed of the National Academy of Sciences and the Prosthetic Research and Development Committee. Their aim was to raise the standard of prosthetic care for children in the United States. Since then, it has grown to include people from all different backgrounds.
ACPOC is the only pediatric multidisciplinary medical society that deals with children with musculoskeletal differences, so it's not just children with limb differences, but also children with other diagnoses that affect their musculoskeletal system, like cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, and skeletal dysplasia. It creates a space where physicians, prosthetists, orthotists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and researchers can collaborate to promote innovations and research in this field.
Could you speak about ACPOC’s annual meeting and what to expect?
ACPOC is a place where you can hear from experts from all over the world. It is also an excellent opportunity for trainees. When you're out practicing in one place, you might not get to see or hear much of the research happening around the country, and you don't experience as much of that collaboration. This is where you can get that true collaboration to drive innovation and better patient care. It’s also an excellent opportunity to network. I am constantly reaching out to people I've met through the conference for their advice and insight.
How can listeners get involved with ACPOC?
We just opened a DocMatter community, which is free to use with your ACPOC membership. The HIPAA-compliant app provides our members with access to the ACPOC community. Members can post questions, patient photos, videos, and x-rays, and get expert opinions and advice on difficult cases. We also hold monthly webinars, which are recorded so members can get continuing education credits for them or listen to them later.
Lastly, we are always looking for volunteers. If anybody is as passionate about this population as we are and wants to get involved, we have multiple committees that need wonderful volunteers.
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