Dennis Oehler and Todd Schaffhauser

Dennis Oehler and Todd Schaffhauser

Sheredos, Carol (NIH/NICHD)

4/3/2006

Dear List,
I just took a day-long course from the Chesapeake Health Education Program (CHEP) entitled, Advancements for Lower Extremity Amputees -- and these two guys were a major part of the presentation. They are from Long Island, NY, and their focus is on amputee fitness and higher level functional activities, such as running. My impression was that they are not prosthetists or orthotists but fitness trainers (??). They apparently are well-connected in the P&O field, however - See for yourself at < <URL Redacted>> www.dynamictrainingseries.com.
 
The interesting thing is that they both have affiliations within the O&P community: Dennis served on the board of directors for the American Board for Certification and the O&P Assistance Fund. In 2002, he was named an honorary member of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists and Todd has served on the board of directors of the O&P Assistance Fund since 1997. He became an Honorary Lifetime member of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists in 2002. So - If there is indeed an issue with their stealing patients, who is policing their activities? Who's watching the store?

Carol A. Sheredos, PT, MA


-----Original Message-----

From: Orthotics and Prosthetics List [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>] On

Behalf Of Mike Corcoran CO

Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 10:24 AM

To: <Email Address Redacted>

Subject: [OANDP-L] Dennis Oehler and Todd Schaffhauser

Attn: all prosthetic companies who have engaged or plan to engage the

assistance of Dennis Oehler and Todd Schaffhauser for their patients, a word

of warning. They will come to your facility and try to steal your business

and referral sources.

I have had a very friendly professional relationship with them since 1999. A

couple of years after I started my practice I thought it would be a very

good idea to have them come and assist my patients in a fitness/running

clinic. I collaborated with a local rehab hospital to put on the event.

Together we spent a lot of time, resources and money to bring Dennis and

Todd down for the clinic. We also brought a number of wounded soldiers from

Walter Reed to participate in the clinic. This generated much media

attention CNN and local TV stations as well as print media. My company

stayed out of the spotlight. This was for my patients. Both Dennis and Todd

were treated like celebrities. They put on a great clinic and everyone was

happy.

After the clinic there was very positive feedback from the patients,soldiers

the hospital. This also helped facilitate Dennis and Todd to put on a clinic

at Walter Reed.

And then they stabbed me in the back! Todd and Dennis approached the rehab

hospital with a proposition. They would open an office in this area and do

gait training clinics for the amputees at the hospital if they could have an

exclusive contract to provide the prosthetics as well. They are not

prosthetists however they have partnered with one. They were brought to

this area and paid to provide a fitness clinic and in return the are trying

to steal my business and referrals. Anyone can open a business, that's

competition, but Dennis and Todd are sneaky and underhanded in the way they

operate. My advice to any prosthetist contemplating bringing them in for a

gait clinic watch your back

Mike Corcoran CPO

Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics Silver Spring, MD