Medical Appliance Technicians

Career Description: Construct, fit, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices, such as braces, artificial limbs, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.

Industry: Production

Other Job Titles for Medical Appliance Technicians:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• 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.
• Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
• Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, and engineering information to determine methods and sequences of operations needed to fabricate products, and determine product dimensions and tolerances.
• Select the appropriate tools, machines, and materials to be used in preparation of machinery work.
• Lay out, measure, and mark metal stock to display placement of cuts.
• Observe and listen to operating machines or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions and to determine need for adjustments or repairs.
• Check work pieces to ensure that they are properly lubricated and cooled.
• Maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, shop mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
• Position and fasten work pieces.
• Operate equipment to verify operational efficiency.
• Install repaired parts into equipment, or install new equipment.
• Clean and lubricate machines, tools, and equipment to remove grease, rust, stains, and foreign matter.
• Advise clients about the materials being used for finished products.
• Program computers and electronic instruments such as numerically controlled machine tools.
• Set controls to regulate machining, or enter commands to retrieve, input, or edit computerized machine control media.
• Confer with engineering, supervisory, and manufacturing personnel to exchange technical information.
• Dismantle machines or equipment, using hand tools and power tools, to examine parts for defects and replace defective parts where needed.
• Clean fabrics, using vacuums or air hoses.
• Melt and roll out metal into sheets or bars, and stamp out jewelry such as gold and silver chains, using presses or dies.
• Build sand molds in flasks, following patterns and heat flasks to dry and harden molds, using furnaces or torches.
• Rotate molds in order to distribute molten material and prevent formation of air pockets.
• Remove molds from cast articles, clean them, and apply shellac and powder to preserve them for reuse.
• Immerse gemstones in chemical solutions to determine specific gravity and other key properties necessary for identification and appraisal.
• Burn grooves or crevices in molds in order to correct defects, using soldering guns.
• Press models into clay, and build up clay around exposed parts of models to retain plaster.
• Chase decorative designs on silver blanks that are to be used as models for steel production dies.

Emerging Tasks

• Refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines.
• Fill ink fountains, maintain ink and water balance, mix ink colors, and move levers to adjust the flow of ink.
• Load and unload paper into printers, presses or other equipment.
• Monitor the quality of output product by examining proofs or printed sheets for adequacy of impression clarity, color variations, smudges, deletions, ink density and consistency to detect errors.
• Perform minor repairs and maintenance of presses and printers, including lubricating moving parts.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• construct medical supportive devices
• examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
• fit medical supportive devices
• follow patient care procedures
• instruct patient in use of supportive device
• lay out machining, welding or precision assembly projects
• maintain medical supportive devices
• make independent judgment in assembly procedures
• perform safety inspections in health care setting
• read specifications
• read technical drawings
• read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
• repair medical supportive devices
• test manufactured products or materials
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• perform safety inspections in manufacturing or industrial setting
• program computer numerical controlled machines
• read blueprints
• read specifications
• read technical drawings
• recognize characteristics of alloys
• recognize characteristics of metals
• set up and operate variety of machine tools
• set up computer numerical control machines
• set up production equipment or machinery
• solve machine tool problems
• understand machine setup instructions
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use arc welding equipment
• use drafting or mechanical drawing techniques
• use hand or power tools
• use knowledge of fire suppression methods in industrial emergencies
• use knowledge of metric system
• use machining practices
• use non-destructive test equipment
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use robotics systems technology
• use technical information in manufacturing or industrial activities
• use x-ray or magnetic inspection techniques
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures
• read specifications
• read technical drawings
• read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
• recognize characteristics of alloys
• recognize characteristics of metals
• recognize characteristics of pulps
• recognize wood species characteristics
• record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
• sort manufacturing materials or products
• test manufactured products or materials
• understand engineering data or reports
• understand measuring devices
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
• use hand or power tools
• use hazardous materials information
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of metric system
• use long or short term production planning techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use quality assurance techniques
• use research methodology procedures within manufacturing or commerce
• use spreadsheet software
• use technical information in manufacturing or industrial activities
• use x-ray or magnetic inspection techniques

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$15.69
• Average annual wage (2007) - $32,640.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 9.45%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 1,164
• Employment (2006): 12,323

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