Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life
Medical Appliance Technicians
Medical Appliance Technicians construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
Table of Contents
Job Description
Medical Appliance Technicians construct, fit, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices, such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances. They also drill and tap holes for rivets and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices.
Other tasks include:
- Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools that will be required.
- Make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand or power tools.
- Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.
- Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients’ torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
- Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
- Cover or pad metal or plastic structures or devices, using coverings such as rubber, leather, felt, plastic, or fiberglass.
We asked Medical Appliance Technicians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.
78%
90%
78% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 90% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.
Typical Day At Work
On a daily basis, Medical Appliance Technicians repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications. They make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand or power tools.
A typical day for a Medical Appliance Technician will also include:
- Test medical supportive devices for proper alignment, movement, or biomechanical stability, using meters and alignment fixtures.
- Lay out and mark dimensions of parts, using templates and precision measuring instruments.
- Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients’ torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
- Polish artificial limbs, braces, or supports, using grinding and buffing wheels.
- Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.
We asked some Medical Appliance Technicians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.
Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? | 44% said yes | |
How important is it to work in a team in this job? | 47% said very important | |
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? | 63% said yes | |
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? | 33% said yes | |
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? | 19% said yes | |
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? | 75% said yes |
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Medical Appliance Technicians also service or repair machinery used in the fabrication of appliances. They may also mix pigments to match patients’ skin coloring, according to formulas, and apply mixtures to orthotic or prosthetic devices.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Medical Appliance Technicians Instruct patients in use of prosthetic or orthotic devices. They might also Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.
In addition, they Fit appliances onto patients and make any necessary adjustments.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them Lay out and mark dimensions of parts, using templates and precision measuring instruments.
To some Medical Appliance Technicians, it is also their responsibility to Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
Working life
Standard 40 hour work week
Regular schedule like a 9 to 5
In a typical work week as a Medical Appliance Technician, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.
Is this right for me
The Builders and The Thinkers
People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..
They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
Learn more about Medical Appliance Technicians
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