Mobile Clinic Inhibits Choice........
KMH - Regional ALB
Description
Collection
Title:
Mobile Clinic Inhibits Choice........
Creator:
KMH - Regional ALB
Date:
3/24/2005
Text:
To members of the list serve:
Recently, I received an informational letter containing Gillette Children's Hospital Technology Mobile Outreach Program and several outreach clinic sites they have established. Appearently, they supply assistive technology devices to include: custom seating, orthotics, adaptive equipment, prostheses, protective headgear and so forth. This organization travels most of northern Minnesota with some stops in North Dakota. They are expanding their locations yearly!
They have a pediatric physician who see patients in these clinics throughout the greater Minnesota area to include North Dakota. He is a part of this Mobile Outreach Program. Also included members of this mobile lab are orthotist/prosthetists, seating specialist, assistive technology practitioners and rehab engineers.
Does this not worry anyone? I have several questions and here are a select few......
Why is a non-profit organization such as Gillette's removing business from smaller communities and diminishing local jobs for local people?
How can a small business which is for profit compete with a non-profit organization who is receiving federal funding for their mobile lab to operate?
How does the Stark Legislation affect this organization with its own physician and self referral?
How is the money put back into these communities from which business has been taken?
Do these local communities realize they are setting themselves up for a loss of base revenue when referring patients outside their local community?
What happens to patients who need adjustments after they leave?
I truly understand competition and the healthy environment it offers. However, when organizations setup clinics and remove business from local communities, we all loose. What is your opinion on this matter? Am I focusing in the wrong direction? Or maybe....I just don't understand!
Sincerely,
Kenneth M. Heide, CPO/LPO
Regional Artificial Limb & Brace Company, Inc.
---------------------------------
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Recently, I received an informational letter containing Gillette Children's Hospital Technology Mobile Outreach Program and several outreach clinic sites they have established. Appearently, they supply assistive technology devices to include: custom seating, orthotics, adaptive equipment, prostheses, protective headgear and so forth. This organization travels most of northern Minnesota with some stops in North Dakota. They are expanding their locations yearly!
They have a pediatric physician who see patients in these clinics throughout the greater Minnesota area to include North Dakota. He is a part of this Mobile Outreach Program. Also included members of this mobile lab are orthotist/prosthetists, seating specialist, assistive technology practitioners and rehab engineers.
Does this not worry anyone? I have several questions and here are a select few......
Why is a non-profit organization such as Gillette's removing business from smaller communities and diminishing local jobs for local people?
How can a small business which is for profit compete with a non-profit organization who is receiving federal funding for their mobile lab to operate?
How does the Stark Legislation affect this organization with its own physician and self referral?
How is the money put back into these communities from which business has been taken?
Do these local communities realize they are setting themselves up for a loss of base revenue when referring patients outside their local community?
What happens to patients who need adjustments after they leave?
I truly understand competition and the healthy environment it offers. However, when organizations setup clinics and remove business from local communities, we all loose. What is your opinion on this matter? Am I focusing in the wrong direction? Or maybe....I just don't understand!
Sincerely,
Kenneth M. Heide, CPO/LPO
Regional Artificial Limb & Brace Company, Inc.
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Make Yahoo! your home page
Citation
KMH - Regional ALB, “Mobile Clinic Inhibits Choice........,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/224551.
