On the eighth of April, I interviewed Marc Murfitt who is the owner of Treasure State Orthotic and Prosthetic Clinic in Bozeman, Montana. He has been working in this career field for twenty-two years. Mr. Murfitt began his career by studying exercise science at Montana State University. He then went on to do his postgraduate study at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois to become a certified orthotist and prosthetist. Once graduating from the postgraduate program, one must complete a one year residency and pass a test in order to become accredited. Once accredited, employees usually make about thirty thousand dollars a year. As they advance and get more experience, they usually make about eighty thousand dollars a year. Once one starts the job, they usually see about one patient per hour to do fittings or impressions. They are also on call to visit patients that arrive in the hospital due to spinal injuries and other accidents.
Mr. Murfitt believes that this job has advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is having the ability to help people in need. However, there are many disadvantages. The devices are very expensive and hard for the patients to get. Most people cannot afford the quality prosthetic devices. Instead they are stuck using devices equipped with older technology. The only way that people can get these devices are if they are veterans or independently wealthy. Devices can range anywhere from five thousand dollars to one hundred thousand dollars. When I asked him where all of this cost came from, he responded by saying that most of the cost goes towards funding more research and development. Only a small portion goes towards paying for the manufacturing of the device. Even though these devices are very expensive, they are only warranted for one to three years. They constantly need maintenance and adjustments causing the expense to constantly increase. To make matters worse, most insurance policies do not cover these devices for their customers.
Mr. Murfitt believes that this job has advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is having the ability to help people in need. However, there are many disadvantages. The devices are very expensive and hard for the patients to get. Most people cannot afford the quality prosthetic devices. Instead they are stuck using devices equipped with older technology. The only way that people can get these devices are if they are veterans or independently wealthy. Devices can range anywhere from five thousand dollars to one hundred thousand dollars. When I asked him where all of this cost came from, he responded by saying that most of the cost goes towards funding more research and development. Only a small portion goes towards paying for the manufacturing of the device. Even though these devices are very expensive, they are only warranted for one to three years. They constantly need maintenance and adjustments causing the expense to constantly increase. To make matters worse, most insurance policies do not cover these devices for their customers.
On the fourteenth of April, I interviewed Tanner Claridge who is an employee at Treasure State Orthotics and Prosthetics. He is a certified orthotist and currently working on his prosthetic residency. Tanner began his career path by studying mechanical engineering and then working as a machinist. He did not like that he was not able to interact with the people that he was making the parts for so he decided to become an orthotist and prosthetist. For someone that would like to pursue a degree in this field, he said that they could get any undergraduate degree that they choose before moving on to get a graduate degree in prosthetics.
When entering the job force for this career, it might be a little tricky to secure a job right away. There is a limited demand for this career and one may have to move to a bigger city in order to secure a job. Many times, they have to volunteer at a clinic or do an unpaid internship before they can get a job at a desired prosthetic clinic. However, once certified in prosthetics, one may do whatever they want with their career. They may get a patient that likes them and wants to continue to go to them. Once one has a number of patients that wish to stay with them, they may open their own business if they wish. They can really make their career whatever they wish for it to be.
Every job has its challenges and rewards. The most challenging parts of working as a orthotist and prosthetist is helping people to cope with their situation. Most of the patients have recently been through a traumatic event and struggle to cope with things. Sometimes, they may be difficult to handle because they are upset about their situation. It is also very hard to find the best option for each patient based on their condition and what they can afford. Every case is different so it is hard to tell which options are best for different people. Although, the job has its challenges, it also has its rewards. The biggest reward for this career is to have the ability to help people. Not only does one get to help them, but they also get to know them and watch them grow up and develop from their first visit.
During my interview, I asked Mr. Claridge how he felt about 3D printers making prosthetic devices since I was trying to make a prosthetic device with one. He responded by telling me that the technology was getting close and that using 3D printers could have some great advantages. They may be a cheaper alternative and a more efficient way of building prosthetic devices. However, he believes that the technology is not fine tuned enough to make prosthetic devices of as high of quality. It is better to make molds and casts to ensure the comfort of the device and ensure that it fits well. One day he hopes that the technology advances enough that prosthetic companies are able to utilize these devices and make prosthetic devices more available to individuals.
When entering the job force for this career, it might be a little tricky to secure a job right away. There is a limited demand for this career and one may have to move to a bigger city in order to secure a job. Many times, they have to volunteer at a clinic or do an unpaid internship before they can get a job at a desired prosthetic clinic. However, once certified in prosthetics, one may do whatever they want with their career. They may get a patient that likes them and wants to continue to go to them. Once one has a number of patients that wish to stay with them, they may open their own business if they wish. They can really make their career whatever they wish for it to be.
Every job has its challenges and rewards. The most challenging parts of working as a orthotist and prosthetist is helping people to cope with their situation. Most of the patients have recently been through a traumatic event and struggle to cope with things. Sometimes, they may be difficult to handle because they are upset about their situation. It is also very hard to find the best option for each patient based on their condition and what they can afford. Every case is different so it is hard to tell which options are best for different people. Although, the job has its challenges, it also has its rewards. The biggest reward for this career is to have the ability to help people. Not only does one get to help them, but they also get to know them and watch them grow up and develop from their first visit.
During my interview, I asked Mr. Claridge how he felt about 3D printers making prosthetic devices since I was trying to make a prosthetic device with one. He responded by telling me that the technology was getting close and that using 3D printers could have some great advantages. They may be a cheaper alternative and a more efficient way of building prosthetic devices. However, he believes that the technology is not fine tuned enough to make prosthetic devices of as high of quality. It is better to make molds and casts to ensure the comfort of the device and ensure that it fits well. One day he hopes that the technology advances enough that prosthetic companies are able to utilize these devices and make prosthetic devices more available to individuals.