Orthotics and Prosthetics Advisory Committee

The Orthotist and Prosthetist Committee's mandate is to protect the public's health and safety, and to promote the welfare of the state by regulating the competency and quality of professional health care providers under its jurisdiction. The committee accomplishes this through a variety of activities working with the Department of Health, Health Systems Quality Assurance division.

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Committee Information

Mission statement

The Orthotics and Prosthetics Advisory Committee's mandate is to protect the public's health and safety, and to promote the welfare of the state by regulating the competency and quality of professional healthcare providers under its jurisdiction. The committee accomplishes this through a variety of activities working with the Department of Health, Health Systems Quality Assurance division.

Committee duties:

  • Provide advice on matters specifically identified and requested by the secretary, such as applications for licenses.
  • Approve examinations required for licensure.
  • Review and monitor the exemptions to requirements of certain orthoses and prostheses and recommend to the secretary any statutory changes that may be needed to properly protect the public.
  • Recommend rules relating to standards for appropriateness of orthotic and prosthetic care.

Qualifications

The committee has one orthotist, one prosthetist, one physician, and two public members.

The orthotist and prosthetist members:

  • Must be a holder of license for practice of either prosthetics or orthotics, or both, in this state.
  • Must be practicing.

The physician member:

  • Must specialize in orthopedic medicine or surgery or physiatry.
  • Must be licensed by the state.

The public members may not:

  • Be affiliated directly or indirectly with the profession being credentialed.
  • Be or have been a licensee of a health occupation committee or an employee of a health facility.
  • Derive his or her primary livelihood from the provision of health services at any level of responsibility.

Committee participation expectation guidelines

These guidelines are a reference for current members and prospective appointees:

  • All new members must attend a three-hour virtual orientation.
  • Attend regular committee meetings, scheduled twice a year, on Fridays during business hours. The committee sets its meeting schedule each fall for the following calendar year. All meetings during the COVID-19 emergency have been held by webinar.
  • Prepare for regular meetings by reading materials sent one to two weeks in advance of the scheduled meeting date. The packets take an average of two to four hours to read.
  • Attend the one-day Department of Health Board, Commission, Committee conference for chairs and vice-chairs.
  • Mentor newly appointed committee members as necessary.

Total annual time commitment

  • Meetings: Two days per year. Two to four hours of preparation and follow-up per meeting.
  • Conferences: One day per year for chairs and vice-chairs

Compensation

  • Members of the advisory committee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as authorized in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
  • Members of the committee shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 when engaged in the authorized business of their committees.
Committee Members
Members Term Term Expires
Daniel Abrahamson, prosthetist and orthotist 1 March 30, 2026
Shevy Treichel, prosthetist and orthotist 1 March 30, 2026
Erin Andrade, physician 1 April 1, 2025
Vacant, public member - - - -
Vacant, public member - - - -
Committee Meetings

All meetings start at 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

Date and Location Activity Documents
October 13, 2023
Location to be determined		 Committee meeting  
Meeting Minutes

2022

2021