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LABORATORIO GILETE. Are They Valuable?. Resident Projects. Kevin P. Meade, Ph.D. NCOPE Orthotic Resident BioConcepts, Inc. In a perfect world . . . . . . there are no limits on time, talent, and treasure. Time. Project time from normal work time, for example:
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LABORATORIO GILETE Are They Valuable? Resident Projects Kevin P. Meade, Ph.D. NCOPE Orthotic Resident BioConcepts, Inc.
In a perfect world . . . . . . there are no limits on time, talent, and treasure.
Time • Project time from normal work time, for example: • One-half to one day per week, or • 10-20 percent of the residency, or • 200-400 hours in one year • Project time from outside normal work • Writing and other time intensive tasks
Talent • NCOPE Resident • Residency Director • Patient(s) • Technician(s) • Other supporting staff • Outside advisor(s)
Treasure • Assume salary of $15/hour, for the sake of argument (not including benefits) • 200-400 hours = $3000-$6000 investment • 200-400 hours not doing clinical work that may generate income • Use of other company resources such as supplies, components, personnel, etc.
Is the project worth it? • Depends upon whether the desired outcome(s) were achieved • Depends upon the actual cost • Were there any conference presentations or publications? • Has the residency facility benefited from the project? • Has clinical practice improved?
Careful planning is essential • Identify the project early - before beginning the residency, if possible • Write a formal proposal with a budget and time-line (MS Project can help) • Proposal must be comprehensive • Obtain internal approval of the proposal • Block out weekly time for project work • Revise the project plan along the way, as needed
Some Published Papers on Residency Research . . . Supan, TJ. RESEARCH FORUM--Residency Research, Part I: Why Should an Orthotic/Prosthetic Resident Conduct Research? Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Vol. 7, No. 4, 1995, pp. 142-146. Shurr, DG. RESEARCH FORUM--Residency Research, Part II: Goals of Residency Research. Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Vol. 7, No. 4, 1995, pp. 147-148. Lin RS. RESEARCH FORUM--Residency Research, Part III: How To Do Research During Residency. Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Vol. 7, No. 4, 1995, pp. 149-151. Kapp, S and Wentz, G. Research Forum: Baccalaureate Student Research. Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Vol. 9, No. 1, 1995, pp. 42-47.
Literature Reviews • A high-quality literature review can be of great value to the O&P field • Shows state of the art • May generate and/or support new research and development ideas • However, this has sometimes been a “fallback” project involving review of a very limited number of publications • Probably does not significantly benefit the resident, the residency facility, or the O&P field in that case
Case Studies • Potentially very instructive for experienced practitioners (could be published in JPO) • Usually involves a brief literature survey • Requires careful documentation and follow-up • Forming “good habits” • More than writing SOAP notes • Single case or multiple cases • Prospective or retrospective
From “A Guide to a Simple Research Project” - Mike Raney, PhD, CO The case study provides an opportunity for unlimited creativity. . . . Consider the following points in deciding whether a case study is appropriate. The case(s): 1) should be important in some way. 2) may illustrate an unusual medical or bracing problem. 3) may demonstrate a unique solution not previously presented in the literature. 4) may show a failed solution that would help others avoid doing the same. 5) could demonstrate the use of a new device. 6) could demonstrate the use of an old device in a new way. 7) It may be a case without a solution that solicits others to consider the problem and possible solutions.
Value of Case Studies • “A way to generate or test a hypothesis” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_study • “Case studies are stories with an educational message.” National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science - University of Buffalo, http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/case.html • Examples of practice versus theory • Can provide a more valuable experience than a “fallback” literature review • Conclusions can be made!
Project With Human Subjects • Very rigorous, fits in with day-to-day routine of residency facility • Often part of a larger project associated with a university • To some extent, the resident project is “pre-planned” • Relatively few residency projects fall into this category
Device Development • In the spirit of advancing O&P • Potentially very time consuming and expensive • Modifying existing devices may be an alternative
Other Project Ideas . . . • Round out residency educational experience by doing a project in a clinical area that might be underrepresented • Design a project around building a specific clinical specialty • Develop educational modules for in-service instructional programs
Entrepreneurship Programs • Today, many universities have entrepreneurship programs, e.g., MIT • It is likely that many O&P education programs could have access to these programs, e.g., NUPOC • IIT’s program has a $10M endowment • Funding opportunities are numerous
Entrepreneurship Projects • Development of a business plan • For example, mobile O&P service • Address a specific facility need • Additional training and support in writing business plans may be required
National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance • The National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance fosters invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship in higher education as a way of creating innovative, commercially viable, and socially beneficial businesses and employment opportunities in the United States.
National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance • The program was founded on the premise that invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship are essential components of the higher education curriculum and vital to the nation’s economic future.
Take Home Messages • Plan project well in advance taking into account what may benefit the resident, the residency facility, as well as the field of O&P • Have a budget and time-line • Revise project plan as needed • Fit the project into the time allotted • Don’t allot time to fit the project
Summary of Recommendations The resident project could be chosen from: o Research and Development, e.g., § New technical techniques § Clinical outcomes § Multi-year studies § Conceptual design of new devices o Education, e.g., § Continuing education development § Patient education development § Public education development o Entrepreneurship, e.g., § Device development § Facility operation and design § Business problems