CIR Reply: Central and South America Report

To:     Editor
           The O&P EDGE
From: Hector Casanova
            Director International Programs
            Center for International Rehabilitation
            Chicago, Illinois USA
Date:  September 03, 2002
Re:      Central and South America Report -
            Distance Learning in the Latin American Region
            By Rosie Jovane and Carolina Schiappacasse

Since a recent article on the oandp.com site appears to make reference to our program in the Latin American region, we would like to take a moment to clarify some misperceptions concerning our program that may arise from statements in the article.

1. The name of our organization is Center for International Rehabilitation (CIR) not Physicians Against Land Mines (PALM).
2. We offer a continuing education course via distance learning. It is available only to professionals employed by established prosthetic/orthotic clinics. This program, the first distance learning course of its kind, was developed in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization in response to demand from clinics in Latin America whose "prosthetic practitioners" have had little or no access to continuing professional education. These professionals are already seeing patients and badly need access to continuing education. The program has never been promoted or designed as an alternative to degree programs.
3. Moves to duplicate the effort and to expand it by creating distance learning degree programs are welcome and currently underway at the CIR, Don Bosco University (UDB) and elsewhere.
4. Mr. Sepp Heim, President of the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO), has endorsed the program by agreeing to Chair the CIR's Education Panel and provide advice in the area of program development and educational content.
5. A detailed description of our program was presented at the February 2002 ISPO "Prosthetics and Orthotics Training Institutes Non-Industrial Countries" Workshop, at UDB in El Salvador. Neither Ms. Jovane nor Carolina Schiappacasse was in attendance, but the presentation was well received by the participants.
6. A paper detailing the program has been accepted for presentation at the ISPO regional meeting to be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia in next month.

I would like to end with a cautionary note. It is fine to work on setting better educational standards with local governments but all of us working on such issues must strive not to spread misinformation, engage in petty politics or knock current efforts to educate professional staff in the process. We will need all the collaboration and support we can muster in order to raise standards of care around the world.