Quality of Care in O&P: What is it and why should you care?

Friday, February 20, 2026

10:45 AM - 12:15 PM CDT

Room: Volunteer Ballroom A

Session Leader(s)

Graci Finco, PhD, CPO

Faculty
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Moderator(s)

Graci Finco, PhD, CPO

Faculty
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Speaker(s)

Fanny Schultea, MS, MSEd, CPO, LP, FAAOP(D) (she/her/hers)

Executive Director
The Orthotics and Prosthetics Foundation for Education and Research
TOMBALL, Texas, United States
Andreas Kannenberg, MD (GER), PhD (he/him/his)

Executive Medical Director
Otto Bock HealthCare LP
Austin, TX, Texas, United States
Shane Wurdeman, PhD, CP, FAAOP(D)

Chief Clinical Officer
Hanger Clinic
Austin, Texas, United States

While quality of care has been discussed in the broader health care community for decades, it has remained overlooked in O&P. This session introduces O&P clinicians to quality of care, highlights why it is essential to clinical practice, and explores how embracing quality of care frameworks can lead to better patient outcomes, improved professional accountability, and alignment with evolving health care standards. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what quality of care means in O&P—and why it matters now more than ever.

Learning Objectives:

Define the concept of quality of care and describe key points according to leading frameworks.
Explain why quality of care assessment is important in orthotics and prosthetics clinical practice.
Identify potential strategies to measure quality of care to establish frameworks in O&P settings. Describe responsibilities of quality of care among the following key groups: researchers, manufacturers, clinic owners, clinicians, patients, and educators Recognize how integrating quality of care principles can enhance patient outcomes, support clinical decision-making, and align with health care policy trends.