Re: prosthetist leg/Request for help!
Tony Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: prosthetist leg/Request for help!
Creator:
Tony Barr
Date:
12/15/2001
Text:
I cant imagine many orthotist/pedorthotists having the proper
education,qualifications or knowledge in prosthetics, particularly for a
above knee amputee, to effectively treat your husband and properly fit and
fabricate a A/K prosthesis.
Unfortunately, your state of Tennessee, does not require a license or
certification of any kind for any provider to provide these services.The
public is generally unaware of the lack of regulation and the proper
education that is required in a specific area of expertise.Your doctor
should of perscribed a prosthesis from a certified prosthetist.
Not receiving training to walk , as recommended, on the new leg was a
crucial mistake that would of provided confidence for your husband to walk
without assistance or aids.
I would strongly suggest that you enroll him in a gait training program,
that was recommended, immediately.Contact your insurance company if he is
still having problems and inform him the leg is not acceptable and that the
provider was not certified in prosthetics. If you wait to long after
delivery of the leg and after receiving PT, you have no argument for a
replacement except with the State Department of Consumer Affairs which, in
most states is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture!!!
.
Since I am not a qualified practitioner, Il pass this on to other
professionals in hopes of you receiving some input from them. Tony Barr
----- Original Message -----
From: melissa thompson < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: Tony Barr < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 3:46 PM
Subject: Re: prosthetist leg/Request for help!
> Tony,thank tou for responding back to me,the leg he
> has
> was made in Memphis,TN
They had a orthotist certified pedorthist to come
> to our home & measure my hubands stump for a
> prosthetsis leg when they finally delivered it.I was
> shocked I thought it was going to be better than what
> it was,also the he has will not bend while he is
> wearing it.Could I ask you for alittle personal
> advice,
> should Icontact his insurance company if the
> prosthetsis is not unusable. When we finally got into
> Rehab closer to home he was not getting the rehab he
> was supposed to get,so I had him set up for home
> care,they got him strong enough so he could do for
> himself,but when he finally got his leg, they wanted
> him to go to out patient rehab, I guess to learn how
> to walk, but he never did go, I GUESS that is my
> fault,but he leaned how to use his cructhes by himself
> he has learned to do alot of things on his own.
> thank you <Email Address Redacted>
> --- Tony Barr < <Email Address Redacted> > wrote:
> > Melissa,our organization provides funding for a
> > basic prosthesis to
> > applicants whom have no other financial resources.
> > We will send you additional information pertaining
> > to our guidelines
> > I would suggest your husband locate a new
> > prosthetist whom may work with him
> > and his insurance provider to provide a more
> > comfortable prosthesis.
> > Your complaint of limited coverage is a common one
> > we get from amputees.
> > I am forwarding your plea for help to amputee and
> > professional subscribers
> > of the Amputee Listserve to which I suggest you
> > subscribe.
> > We are currently attempting to urge the Amputee
> > Coalition of America ,a
> > national amputee advocacy organization to schedule
> > advocacy workshops and
> > propose solutions to this problem at their next
> > meeting in July..
> > If you would like to be included as one of our
> > supporters please provide me
> > with your mailing address and telephone number.
> > However,your insurance should not be paying for leg
> > that your husband cannot
> > walk on unassisted.
> > Was the practitioner licensed or certified? In what
> > state do you reside.
> > Did you inform your insurance company that the
> > prosthesis is unusable?
> > Did your husband receive and gait training and
> > therapy sessions for using
> > the new prosthesis?
> > Tony Barr
> > Barr Foundation
> > www.oandp.com/barr
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: melissa thompson < <Email Address Redacted> >
> > To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
> > Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 3:25 PM
> > Subject: prosthetist leg
> >
> >
> > > My husband is 36 years old he lost his leg
> > December
> > > 2000,he also was diagnosed with Lupus 6 years ago,
> > his
> > > leg was aputated above the knee.He has already got
> > a
> > > prostetic leg,but he has to wear a belt around his
> > > waist to keep it on,it is very uncomfortable for
> > > him,he still can't walk by himself, he has to use
> > his
> > > cruthes to walk.The insurance he has will not pay
> > for
> > > him to have a better leg.He wants to be normal
> > just
> > > like everybody else, but with the leg he has now,
> > he
> > > doesn't feel that he his normal.All he talks about
> > is
> > > having a leg where he can put on go instead of
> > having
> > > to worry about the velcro belt he has now.
> > > PLEASE HELP US!!!!!!!
> > > <Email Address Redacted>
>
education,qualifications or knowledge in prosthetics, particularly for a
above knee amputee, to effectively treat your husband and properly fit and
fabricate a A/K prosthesis.
Unfortunately, your state of Tennessee, does not require a license or
certification of any kind for any provider to provide these services.The
public is generally unaware of the lack of regulation and the proper
education that is required in a specific area of expertise.Your doctor
should of perscribed a prosthesis from a certified prosthetist.
Not receiving training to walk , as recommended, on the new leg was a
crucial mistake that would of provided confidence for your husband to walk
without assistance or aids.
I would strongly suggest that you enroll him in a gait training program,
that was recommended, immediately.Contact your insurance company if he is
still having problems and inform him the leg is not acceptable and that the
provider was not certified in prosthetics. If you wait to long after
delivery of the leg and after receiving PT, you have no argument for a
replacement except with the State Department of Consumer Affairs which, in
most states is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture!!!
.
Since I am not a qualified practitioner, Il pass this on to other
professionals in hopes of you receiving some input from them. Tony Barr
----- Original Message -----
From: melissa thompson < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: Tony Barr < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 3:46 PM
Subject: Re: prosthetist leg/Request for help!
> Tony,thank tou for responding back to me,the leg he
> has
> was made in Memphis,TN
They had a orthotist certified pedorthist to come
> to our home & measure my hubands stump for a
> prosthetsis leg when they finally delivered it.I was
> shocked I thought it was going to be better than what
> it was,also the he has will not bend while he is
> wearing it.Could I ask you for alittle personal
> advice,
> should Icontact his insurance company if the
> prosthetsis is not unusable. When we finally got into
> Rehab closer to home he was not getting the rehab he
> was supposed to get,so I had him set up for home
> care,they got him strong enough so he could do for
> himself,but when he finally got his leg, they wanted
> him to go to out patient rehab, I guess to learn how
> to walk, but he never did go, I GUESS that is my
> fault,but he leaned how to use his cructhes by himself
> he has learned to do alot of things on his own.
> thank you <Email Address Redacted>
> --- Tony Barr < <Email Address Redacted> > wrote:
> > Melissa,our organization provides funding for a
> > basic prosthesis to
> > applicants whom have no other financial resources.
> > We will send you additional information pertaining
> > to our guidelines
> > I would suggest your husband locate a new
> > prosthetist whom may work with him
> > and his insurance provider to provide a more
> > comfortable prosthesis.
> > Your complaint of limited coverage is a common one
> > we get from amputees.
> > I am forwarding your plea for help to amputee and
> > professional subscribers
> > of the Amputee Listserve to which I suggest you
> > subscribe.
> > We are currently attempting to urge the Amputee
> > Coalition of America ,a
> > national amputee advocacy organization to schedule
> > advocacy workshops and
> > propose solutions to this problem at their next
> > meeting in July..
> > If you would like to be included as one of our
> > supporters please provide me
> > with your mailing address and telephone number.
> > However,your insurance should not be paying for leg
> > that your husband cannot
> > walk on unassisted.
> > Was the practitioner licensed or certified? In what
> > state do you reside.
> > Did you inform your insurance company that the
> > prosthesis is unusable?
> > Did your husband receive and gait training and
> > therapy sessions for using
> > the new prosthesis?
> > Tony Barr
> > Barr Foundation
> > www.oandp.com/barr
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: melissa thompson < <Email Address Redacted> >
> > To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
> > Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 3:25 PM
> > Subject: prosthetist leg
> >
> >
> > > My husband is 36 years old he lost his leg
> > December
> > > 2000,he also was diagnosed with Lupus 6 years ago,
> > his
> > > leg was aputated above the knee.He has already got
> > a
> > > prostetic leg,but he has to wear a belt around his
> > > waist to keep it on,it is very uncomfortable for
> > > him,he still can't walk by himself, he has to use
> > his
> > > cruthes to walk.The insurance he has will not pay
> > for
> > > him to have a better leg.He wants to be normal
> > just
> > > like everybody else, but with the leg he has now,
> > he
> > > doesn't feel that he his normal.All he talks about
> > is
> > > having a leg where he can put on go instead of
> > having
> > > to worry about the velcro belt he has now.
> > > PLEASE HELP US!!!!!!!
> > > <Email Address Redacted>
>
Citation
Tony Barr, “Re: prosthetist leg/Request for help!,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 8, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/217770.
