The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP) is pleased to announce the launch of its online membership directory available on the Academy Web site at www.oandp.org.

The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists is the allied health organization representing professionals in the field of orthotics and prosthetics. These medical professionals provide orthotic and prosthetic services in every state of the nation. The Academy’s mission is to promote high standards of patient care through advocacy, education, literature and research.

The need for highly qualified and certified orthotic and prosthetic professionals is increasing dramatically due to the dual epidemics of diabetes and obesity. Cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of limb loss, continues to escalate putting millions more Americans at increased risk for amputation. In addition to that, we are seeing many of our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with injuries that will require lifelong care.

The AAOP membership consists of certified, licensed or registered practitioners and professionals in orthotics and prosthetics. We are pleased to announce that the Academy’s online membership directory is available to the general public and will serve as the key tool for locating a highly qualified and certified O&P professional when someone is faced with the need to find orthotic and prosthetic care. It will allow them to seek out O&P professionals based on education and the demographic parameters defined by the user.

The online membership directory will provide the user with contact information for O&P professionals, including address, phone number and e-mail, as well as listing the credentials describing the member’s specific certifications and specialties. Users can define their searches and narrow them down to find orthotists, prosthetists, and Fellows of the Academy by distance from their ZIP code (50, 100, 150 miles).