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“The shoe repair
industry has changed,” says Linda Tallent, C.
Ped of Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee. “When
I entered the field in 1976, there were 25,000
shops in the United States. Now, estimates vary
from 6,000 to 8,000. Footwear has changed. We’re
dealing with injection-molded soles and
polyurethane. Our work requires new chemicals
and new techniques.”
Tallent spoke to
shoe repairers at SSIA’s 101st Annual
Convention in Kansas City this summer. She
suggested that successful shoe repair businesses
need to adapt to the changing environment and
use it to their advantage. One way to do that is
by expanding into Pedorthic work.
What is
Pedorthics?
Pedorthics is the
design, manufacture, modification and fit of
shoes and foot orthoses to alleviate foot
problems caused by disease, congenital
conditions, overuse or injury.
There are
currently 18 million diabetics in the United
States. There are 70,000 amputations a year from
complications of neurophy. Seventy-five percent
of them can be prevented through conservative
foot care.
The United States
has an aging population. Additionally, four to
seven percent of the American population (10 to
18 million people) cannot wear off-the-shelf
footwear.
The bottom line?
While the shoe repair market may be declining,
the market for pedorthics is huge and getting
bigger.
“Why pedorthics?”
Tallent asks. “Profit. You get $40 to $65 for a
pair of half soles and heels. You’ll get $250
for a pair of orthotics. You also get the
rewarding feeling of improving the quality of
your customers’ lives.”
What do You
Need to do Pedorthic Work?
You already have
most of what you need for Pedorthic work,
according to Tallent. You have most of the
equipment. You have the necessary skills and you
have a knowledge of footwear. To open a
Pedorthic practice, you would need to change the
look of the business from shoe repair to
something that resembles a medical facility. You
would also need to purchase about $2,000 worth
of equipment including a vacuum press, a pump, a
convention oven and some hand tools.
You would also
need to change your mindset from customer
management to patient management. That requires
getting a medical history of your patient,
maintaining HIPPA-compliant patient records,
quality assurance, patient and family education
and compliance with follow-up procedures and
Pedorthic protocols. There’s also certification.
To become
certified, a Pedorthist must meet initial
educational requirements (a 120-hour
pre-certification course) and pass a
comprehensive written exam given by the
Board for Certification in Pedorthics (BCP).
The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice
questions focusing on four domains – Pedorthic
assessment, Pedorthic implementation, practice
management and professional development and
responsibility. Test takers are allowed three
and one-half hours to complete the exam. The
cost is $395 the first time it is taken and $295
should it need to be taken again. Here is a
summary of what comprises each domain:
Pedorthic
Assessment
Pedorthic
Implementation
-
Facilitate
patient’s understanding
-
Select
Pedorthic devices
-
Create
appropriate foot orthoses
-
Depth or
custom footwear
-
Modify
footwear
-
Conduct trial
fittings
-
Conduct
appropriate follow-up
Practice
Management
-
Comply with
occupational safety and health rules
-
Document all
patient matters
-
Communicate
with other professionals
-
Maintain
proficient staff
-
Suitable
facility
-
Quality
assurance plan
-
Governmental
requirements
-
May need a
state license
Professional
Development and Responsibility
-
Adhere to
legal and ethical standards
-
Participate in
continuing education (32 hours every three
years)
-
Participate in
research
-
Public
Education
-
Health
professional education
Resources
Here are some
resources on expanding your business to include
Pedorthics.
Pedorthic Footwear Association
Board for Certification in Pedorthics
Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee |
