CompGeo Medical Appliance Technicians Salary Survey Benchmark Job Description and Competencies - Health Care Occupation Group

CompGeo Occupation Group: Health Care

Job Family: Medical Technology

Benchmark Title: Medical Appliance Technicians

Summary Job Description

Tasks

Construct, fit, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices, such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.

Fit appliances onto patients and make any necessary adjustments.

Make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand and power tools.

Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools that will be required.

Repair, modify, and maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, and surgical supports, according to specifications.

Instruct patients in use of prosthetic or orthotic devices.

Take patients' body or limb measurements for use in device construction.

Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.

Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.

Drill and tap holes for rivets and glue, weld, bolt, and rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices.

Lay out and mark dimensions of parts, using templates and precision measuring instruments.

Test medical supportive devices for proper alignment, movement, and biomechanical stability, using meters and alignment fixtures.

Cover or pad metal or plastic structures and devices, using coverings such as rubber, leather, felt, plastic, or fiberglass.

Polish artificial limbs, braces, and supports, using grinding and buffing wheels.

Service and repair machinery used in the fabrication of appliances.

Mix pigments to match patients' skin coloring, according to formulas, and apply mixtures to orthotic or prosthetic devices.

CompGeo Occupation Group: Health Care

Job Family: Medical Technology

Benchmark Title: Medical Appliance Technicians

Important Knowledge Competencies

Competency Description

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Design

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Medicine and Dentistry

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Therapy and Counseling

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Clerical

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Psychology

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

CompGeo Occupation Group: Health Care

Job Family: Medical Technology

Benchmark Title: Medical Appliance Technicians

Important Skill Competencies

Competency Description

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Operation Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Equipment Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Repairing

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Equipment Selection

Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Persuasion

Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Instructing

Teaching others how to do something.

Technology Design

Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.

Management of Personnel Resources

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

CompGeo Occupation Group: Health Care

Job Family: Medical Technology

Benchmark Title: Medical Appliance Technicians

Important Ability Competencies

Competency Description

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Visualization

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Arm-Hand Steadiness

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Manual Dexterity

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Finger Dexterity

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Control Precision

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Multilimb Coordination

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Far Vision

The ability to see details at a distance.

Visual Color Discrimination

The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

Depth Perception

The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.

Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Hearing Sensitivity

The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Originality

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Static Strength

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

Auditory Attention

The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

Number Facility

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Reaction Time

The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

CompGeo Occupation Group: Health Care

Job Family: Medical Technology

Benchmark Title: Medical Appliance Technicians

Tools/Technology Example

Product Category

Autodesk AutoCAD software

Computer aided design CAD software

Footmaxx Metascan software

Medical software

Gait analysis software

Medical software

Ohio Willow Wood OMEGA Tracer System

Computer aided design CAD software

Orthotic fabrication software

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software

Seattle Systems Shapemaker

Computer aided design CAD software

SoftSource CADview

Computer aided design CAD software

Vorum Research Corporation CANFIT-PLUS

Computer aided design CAD software

3D scanning systems

Scanners

Acetylene torches

Blow torches

Air compressors

Respiratory therapy compressors

Alignment stands

Alignment jig

Allen wrenches

Hex keys

Anvils

Arbor presses

Workshop presses

Band benders

Tube bending machinery

Band saws

Power saws

Bead blasters

Pneumatic sanding machines

Belt sanders

Power sanders

Bench lathes

Lathes

Bench punches

Punches or nail sets or drifts

Bending brakes

Wing benders

Buffing wheels

Power buffers

Cast cutting saws

Cast cutters or saws

Claw hammers

Hammers

Computer numerical controlled CNC milling machines

Milling cutters

Computerized lathes

Lathes

Cordless drills

Power drills

Cutting wheels

Milling cutters

Deburring tools

Deburring equipment

Dial calipers

Calipers

Digital camcorders

Digital camcorders or video cameras

Digitizers

Scanners

Disk sanders

Power sanders

Drill presses

Workshop presses

Drum sanders

Power sanders

End cutting nippers

End cut pliers

Flatbed sewing machines

Sewing machines

Force platforms

Pressure indicators

Glue guns

Grinding equipment

Power grinders

Grinding rasps

Rasps

Grinding wheels

Power grinders

Half-round files

Files

Heat guns

Hex wrenches

Hex keys

High temperature laboratory box furnaces

Laboratory box furnaces

High temperature laboratory ovens

Laboratory mechanical convection ovens

High volume dust collectors

Dust collectors

Laboratory infrared ovens

Laboratory mechanical convection ovens

Laboratory mechanical benchtop convection ovens

Laboratory mechanical convection ovens

Laptop computers

Notebook computers

Longarm sewing machines

Sewing machines

Measuring tapes

Tape measures

Metal bending mandrels

Pipe bending mandrels

Metal grinders

Power grinders

Metal-cutting bandsaws

Power saws

Personal computers

Pipe vises

Pneumatic oscillating saws

Power saws

Pneumatic riveting hammers

Pneumatic hammer

Power drills

Power planers

Power planes

Power routing tools

Power routers

Prosthetic bench vises

Bench vises

Protective ear muffs

Ear muffs

Rivet guns

Rivet tools

Rotary saws

Power saws

Rubber mallets

Mallets

Safety glasses

Swaging tools

Table saws

Power saws

Torque wrenches

Vacuum formers

Vacuum molding machines

Vacuum stations

Pneumatic vacuum equipment

Vertical routers

Power routers

Welders

Wood files

Files

Workshop bench vises

Bench vises

CompGeo Occupation Group: Health Care

Job Family: Medical Technology

Benchmark Title: Medical Appliance Technicians

Prerequisite Qualification Category

Education and Experience Level

Required Level of Education

Some College Courses

Related Work Experience

Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

CompGeo Occupation Group: Health Care

Job Family: Medical Technology

Benchmark Title: Medical Appliance Technicians

Alternate Job Title(s)

Arch Support Maker

Arch Support Technician

Arch-Support Maker

Artificial Limb Maker Apprentice

Artificial Plastic Eye Maker

Brace Maker

Brace Maker Apprentice

Certified Orthotist

Certified Pedorthotist

Certified Prosthetist

Designer

Fitter

Hearing Aid Repair Technician

Lab Supervisor

Lab Technician

Licensed Orthotist

Licensed Orthotist Assistant

Licensed Prosthetist

Medical Appliance Maker

Medical Assembler

Medical or Surgical Instrument Maker

Model Maker

Ocularist

Operation Manager

Orthopaedic Technician

Orthopaedic Technologist

Orthopedic Brace Maker

Orthopedic Technician

Orthotic / Prosthetic Lab Supervisor

Orthotic Fabricator Technician

Orthotic Finish Grinding Technician

Orthotic Technician

Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (O and P Technician)

Orthotics Fitter

Orthotics Technician

Orthotist

Prosthetic Lab Technician

Prosthetics Fabrication Technician

Prosthetics Lab Technician

Prosthetics Technician

Prosthetist

Registered Prosthetic Orthotic Technician

Restoration Officer

Restoration Technician

Surgical Appliance Fitter

Surgical Brace Maker

Surgical Instrument Maker

CompGeo Occupation Group: Health Care

Job Family: Medical Technology

Benchmark Title: Medical Appliance Technicians

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CompGeo Salary Survey Benchmark Job Summary and Competencies

Medical Appliance Technicians

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