HLTAHA038 Support the use of orthoses or prostheses

Release: 1

HLTAHA038 Support the use of orthoses or prostheses

Modification History

Not applicable.

Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide assistance to an Allied Health Professional such as an Orthotist or Prosthetist. Work includes supporting persons who use orthoses and prostheses, their carers and other members of a multi-disciplinary team, to assist with the manufacture and provision of orthoses and protheses.

This unit applies to Allied Health Assistants and should be performed under the direct, indirect or remote supervision and delegation of an Orthotist or Prosthetist.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Allied Health Assistant Framework, Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Competency Field

Allied Health

Unit Sector

Health

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENTS	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Elements describe the essential outcomes	Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.
1. Receive delegation and gather information.	1.1. Obtain written or verbal delegation for an allied health activity from the Orthotist or Prosthetist. 1.2. Obtain information from relevant sources and delegating Orthotist or Prosthetist, according to organisational policy and procedures. 1.3. Discuss and confirm details and service requirements of orthosis or prosthesis with delegating Orthotist or Prosthetist. 1.4. Identify any service requirements outside scope of role and discuss with delegating Orthotist or Prosthetist.
2. Assist with the manufacture and modification of orthoses or prostheses.	2.1. Determine procedural requirements from the treating Orthotist or Prosthetist. 2.2. Seek assistance or clarification to procedural requirements. 2.3. Ensure the physical environment required meets work health and safety (WHS) and procedural requirements, as directed by the Orthotist or Prosthetist, and organisational policies and procedures. 2.4. Identify existing usable resources, as delegated by the Orthotist or Prosthetist. 2.5. Obtain relevant measurements and data collection where required or requested as delegated by the Orthotist or Prosthetist. 2.6. Identify and remove any faulty or unsafe component of the orthosis or prosthesis under the supervision of an Orthotist or Prosthetist, and complete necessary reporting and or documentation. 2.7. Confirm components of orthosis or prosthesis comply with requirements and manufacturer warranty as delegated by Orthotist or Prosthetist. 2.8. Under the supervision and delegation of the Orthotist or Prosthetist, use machinery and equipment for manufacture and modification in accordance with manufacturer guidelines, and organisational policies and procedures. 2.9. Review completed orthosis or prosthesis with Orthotist or Prosthetist and interpret and respond to instructions regarding further manufacture or modification requirements.
3. Assist with the provision and use of orthoses or prostheses.	3.1. Ensure orthosis or prosthesis is clean and in safe working order before provision. 3.2. Assist in the provision of orthosis or prosthesis under the supervision or delegation of the Orthotist or Prosthetist 3.3. Instruct the persons who use orthoses or prostheses and carers in the safe use, transportation and maintenance of the orthosis or prosthesis 3.4. Confirm the person who uses orthoses or prostheses, or their carer have documentation and understand any further action that needs to be taken regarding the use of the orthosis or prosthesis and clarify any issues. 3.5. Document maintenance periods and requirements for the orthosis or prosthesis.
4. Prepare for use of orthoses or prostheses within clinical setting.	4.1. Confirm the nature of the orthosis or prosthesis and resource requirements with delegating Orthotist or Prosthetist. 4.2. Select and confirm suitability of resources, type of orthosis or prosthesis and specified goals of the person who uses orthoses and prostheses, as delegated by the Orthotist or Prosthetist. 4.3. Remove or minimise potential hazards and prepare the setting for use and instruction as delegated by the Orthotist or Prosthetist. 4.4. Obtain consent from the person who uses orthoses or prostheses before commencing orthotic or prosthetic service. 4.5. Ensure orthosis or prosthesis is clean and in safe working order before use. 4.6. Confirm requirements for orthosis or prosthesis assembly or adjustment specifications and complete in accordance with manufacturer specifications and delegating Orthotist or Prosthetist. 4.7. Check and document completed assembly or adjustments and seek support from Orthotist or Prosthetist if difficulty arises. 4.8. Follow stepping down procedures outlined in treatment plan or organisational procedures when the persons become distressed, in pain or communicate their desire to slow down, change activity or stop. 4.9. Report any adverse effect, or, and major progress due to the orthosis or prostheses to the Orthotist or Prosthetist. 4.10. Provide constructive feedback to the person who uses orthoses or prostheses and monitor the effectiveness of the use.
5. Comply with supervisory requirements.	5.1. Seek assistance when the persons who use orthoses or prostheses present with needs or signs outside limits of own scope of role. 5.2. Consult with delegating Orthotist or Prosthetist when additional information is required. 5.3. Report the person who uses orthoses or prostheses difficulties to the delegating Orthotist or Prosthetist before continuing the orthotic or prosthetic service. 5.4. Participate in supervision processes with the delegating Orthotist or Prosthetist in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
6. Clean and store orthoses or prostheses and materials.	6.1. Clean orthoses or prostheses and materials in accordance with manufacturer requirements. 6.2. Store orthoses or prostheses and materials in accordance with manufacturer requirements and organisational procedures. 6.3. Tag and report defective orthoses or prostheses in accordance with organisational procedures and ensure replacement.
7. Document information regarding the use of orthoses or prostheses.	7.1. Document information relating to the person’s orthotic or prosthetic service in accordance with organisational requirements. 7.2. Provide regular feedback to the person who uses orthoses or prostheses and the delegating Orthotist or Prosthetist. 7.3. Document symptomatic expression of identified problems related to the orthotic or prosthetic service. 7.4. Use professional terminology when documenting and discussing persons’ information.

Foundation Skills

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Unit Mapping Information

Supersedes and is not equivalent to HLTAHA016 Support the fitting of assistive equipment.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ced1390f-48d9-4ab0-bd50-b015e5485705