Hanger Add in Amputee Coalition First Step guide- Alternative reponse

Hanger Add in Amputee Coalition First Step guide- Alternative reponse

Jason Kahle

1/16/2015

I think the issue is more complex than represented. I work in an independent facility, and I was on the contributory committee for First Step. The Amputee Coalition (AC) is a 501c3, that relies solely on donations. I know AC has been seeking national sponsorship from all sources including our representative organizations and would welcome sponsorship from our representative organizations for the printing of First Step. as financial assistance is needed to produce a quality product. I understand your concern, and I agree with the basic premise. But it is one more example (in my opinion) of how our representative organizations do not always support agendas important to our and our patient’s needs. AC does not recommend one prosthetist over another. This stance is well spelled out all over their website, handouts, brochures and clearly narratively outlined on page 29 of First Step. I think the content of the resource speaks louder than an advertisement. AC is trying to survive and produce nice useful products and resources, they need better support from independent companies and our organizations. If they do not get it, then they are forced to make hard decisions, like allowing an advertisement from Hanger. The importance of the project and the end product as a valuable resource is my personal focus. I think those aspects outweigh a one page Hanger ad. For the most part, I think the majority of patients have made up their mind about Hanger either way. In summary, it would have been better to see an ad from AOPA, OPGA, AAOP, ABC…but that was not an option to AC. They did what they had to to survive.

Jason T. Kahle, MSMS, CPO, FAAOP
Prosthetic Design + Research
Director of R&D
OP Solutions
CEO
1888.990.0888
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