just not a candidate responses
Joan
Description
Collection
Title:
just not a candidate responses
Creator:
Joan
Date:
6/10/2000
Text:
Short of posting all the responses, I will try to summarize the responses
briefly. S
In general I was informed that the MD and PT are not necessarily the best
professionals to determine candidacy and that the CP should indeed take that
responsibility. I agree. We have a unique circumstance in our small town
in that most amputees attend the Rehab for 2 weeks where the MD and PT get
to know them well. The other suggestion (which I already do) is to contact
the MD and PT if there is any question as to candidacy. The team approach,
as I suggested, is the best approach.
One other comment that I was not familiar with is the fact that many
facilities or practitioners use a VA standard to determine candidacy for
AK's (primarily). A patient must be able to raise from sitting to standing
independently and be able to ambulate with a walker (or crutches) at least
10 feet. If they cannot achieve this goal, they are returned for
pre-prosthetic training. This was the best advice I received and since this
is a VA standard, I feel confident using it.
My last comment is that one person stated that AK's are scrutinized more so
than BK's. BK's can generally use the Px for a transfer aid even if
ambulation is questionable. I never really thought about it, but I do (I
suppose unconsciously until now) rarely question candidacy for a BK. I may
bill as a K1 and even accept that the Px will be used for transfers only,
but would never deny a BK a prosthesis (within reason). I cannot do the
same for an AK.
Thank you all who responded. It was appreciated.
Joan Cestaro, CP
briefly. S
In general I was informed that the MD and PT are not necessarily the best
professionals to determine candidacy and that the CP should indeed take that
responsibility. I agree. We have a unique circumstance in our small town
in that most amputees attend the Rehab for 2 weeks where the MD and PT get
to know them well. The other suggestion (which I already do) is to contact
the MD and PT if there is any question as to candidacy. The team approach,
as I suggested, is the best approach.
One other comment that I was not familiar with is the fact that many
facilities or practitioners use a VA standard to determine candidacy for
AK's (primarily). A patient must be able to raise from sitting to standing
independently and be able to ambulate with a walker (or crutches) at least
10 feet. If they cannot achieve this goal, they are returned for
pre-prosthetic training. This was the best advice I received and since this
is a VA standard, I feel confident using it.
My last comment is that one person stated that AK's are scrutinized more so
than BK's. BK's can generally use the Px for a transfer aid even if
ambulation is questionable. I never really thought about it, but I do (I
suppose unconsciously until now) rarely question candidacy for a BK. I may
bill as a K1 and even accept that the Px will be used for transfers only,
but would never deny a BK a prosthesis (within reason). I cannot do the
same for an AK.
Thank you all who responded. It was appreciated.
Joan Cestaro, CP
Citation
Joan, “just not a candidate responses,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 6, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/214764.
