The Effect of Good Missions Overseas [OANDP-L] ROMP Contact info
EDDY LEOPOLDO FUENTES, CPO
Description
Collection
Title:
The Effect of Good Missions Overseas [OANDP-L] ROMP Contact info
Creator:
EDDY LEOPOLDO FUENTES, CPO
Date:
1/18/2015
Text:
To the O and P List
I was reading with attention Cameron's post regarding O and P services in
Guatemala and request to contact ROM (Range of Motion) to provide Orthotic
Services to a customer who is not happy with local O and P providers.
So, for you all to know I have an O and P Lab in Guatemala providing in our
modest opinion excellent O and P services for many many years with full
fabrication lab for Prostheses and Orthoses.
With 33 years of experience in the field and 20 as ABC Certified I am
certified on Genium Knees, C-Leg, Michelangelo Hand, I limb, Utah Arm,
Vacuum elevated systems, Orthoses with electronic joints, Carbon Fiber
braces and much much more, work extensible on expandable silicone inner
sockets, I do a lot of spinal work and have a large pediatric population
with O and P needs. We have a legitimate business and yet very hard to
consistently generate good income. Humanitarian work is good and badly
needed specially if it reaches the underserved, the poor or those who
otherwise don't have access to services. A lot of people don't like to pay
so they search and find these places where devices are provided free of
charge or at very low cost. Now I spend most of my time in Puerto Rico where
I work as I Clinical Director for Diabetic Solutions Corp. and as an O and P
Consultant in Latin America, leaving my wife and youngest daughter in
Guatemala. After you read the article below you will understand why.
The Effect of Good Missions Overseas
Just over 4 years ago I was enjoying a good practice as a Certified
Prosthetist and Orthotist at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Saint
Louis Missouri where I spent close to a decade with previous successful
experiences in Kentucky and Texas. When I told the chief of the Staff at the
hospital that I was moving back to Guatemala he was shocked and thought that
I was crazy. At the time I had two kids born in Guatemala (now I have
three). The fact is that for years my wife and I where facing the dilemma if
we should give ourselves another chance to live in Guatemala and be reunited
with our families. Another important factor was that if we moved back, it
had to be before our kids became teenagers in the US or they probably
wouldn't like to come back with us.
After the decision was made to return to Guatemala, we knew we had to face
the realities and a lot of challenges there especially as to how we were
going to survive financially and have a life style that would not too
drastically impact our children. So I invested in a small practice that my
brother Julio Cesar was running to make it the best in the region. I
evaluated the market and I thought that I had a good chance to make it. I
knew about the local prosthetists providing services at the Social Security
Hospital, the army hospital and others who also were providing private
services as well.
But I never thought that my biggest competitors where going to be some
medical teams providing O and P services in Guatemala.
For over 20 years I have been involved consistently with missions providing
humanitarian assistance in all Latin America but we always have done it in a
way as 1) not to affect local prosthetists and 2) always target specific
needs and specific cases that otherwise would never get a prosthesis.
I have participated with many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as
Children of the Americas from Kentucky for over 15 years and The Barr
Foundation from Florida as the Central and South America Prosthetist
Coordinator since the mid 90's. More recently I have worked with Children's
Aid Mission International from Kentucky and Heal The Children Missouri
Chapter. I also initially assisted with The Walking Free Project to
establish its mission at a local infantile hospital in Guatemala.
Some of these missions come to Guatemala loaded with their good heart and
good intentions but with little knowledge as to who is here and which
services are being provided. They go to different areas offering free
services thinking that they are doing a good thing for the patient and for
this country. Some of these teams have established themselves offering full
time services to local hospitals, rehab centers and even to private
institutions and physicians. Their services are free of charge but they are
always willing to accept monetary donations making it at the end a
commercial venture for some of them.
In some cases they partner with local Prosthetists who may be less than
honest and who see mission activities as an easy way to make some money in
many cases without the knowledge of those who came here to help. For
example, teams come with a lot of O and P supplies that were donated by
private facilities and distributors with good intentions to ease the pain
and suffering of those in need without knowing that these supplies may end
up in the wrong hands and only enriching the black market.
In many cases International Mission O&P Organizations have provided
prosthesis or orthoses to patients that have resources and can pay for
private services. I believe these NGOs have the moral obligation to refer
those patients to local legitimate practices but often instead they make the
legs in exchange for a monetary donation.
This leaves the local prosthetists/orthotists left behind for follow up with
resources to make legs for profit without investing on their own. This
places unsuspecting and well meaning NGOs in a position as a competitor with
an unfair advantage over the local practitioners trying to make a living. We
just can't compete against free legs. In this fashion legitimate
businesses have almost no chance to be successful; My practice in Guatemala
now still has a chance to survive but we have had to switch mainly to high
tech services to target a different market where there is still little
unfair competition.
There are always people in need and help is always welcome and always
needed. These missions can have a positive effect on those amputees in need
but only if is done the right way, only if they partner with the right
people and resources go to the right hands. My good friend Tom Di Bello, CPO
from Texas always tells me how happy he is to see me here working with my
own people in Guatemala. Many other friends and colleges wonder if I will
ever go back to the US, a thought that did not cross my mind for quite. I
guess now I better start thinking about it.
Eddy Leopoldo Fuentes, C.P.O.
Certified by The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics
& Pedorthics - ABC
Active Member of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists - USA
6 Avenida A 9-84 Zona 9, Guatemala, 01009 Tel 2334-5962
< <URL Redacted>> www.centrobionico.com
<mailto:<Email Address Redacted>> <Email Address Redacted>
Hello List-Serve
I have a patient from Guatemala who is here to receive medical treatment
and new orthoses before returning to Guatemala - she splits the year
between the US and Guatemala. They are not happy with the local O&P
business/clinic, and wanted to know if I recommended anyone for follow-up
care (growth adjustments, repairs, etc)
They gave me the impression they wanted an American group/overseen
clinic... Not a locally owned business. I mentioned (ROMP) the Range of
Motion Project/clinic and they had not heard or been there. Does anyone
have the address and contact info for the clinic - the website has an
Illinois address (Is this the correct contact info for the clinic?).
Thanks in advance,
-Cameron M. Lehrer, LPO
I was reading with attention Cameron's post regarding O and P services in
Guatemala and request to contact ROM (Range of Motion) to provide Orthotic
Services to a customer who is not happy with local O and P providers.
So, for you all to know I have an O and P Lab in Guatemala providing in our
modest opinion excellent O and P services for many many years with full
fabrication lab for Prostheses and Orthoses.
With 33 years of experience in the field and 20 as ABC Certified I am
certified on Genium Knees, C-Leg, Michelangelo Hand, I limb, Utah Arm,
Vacuum elevated systems, Orthoses with electronic joints, Carbon Fiber
braces and much much more, work extensible on expandable silicone inner
sockets, I do a lot of spinal work and have a large pediatric population
with O and P needs. We have a legitimate business and yet very hard to
consistently generate good income. Humanitarian work is good and badly
needed specially if it reaches the underserved, the poor or those who
otherwise don't have access to services. A lot of people don't like to pay
so they search and find these places where devices are provided free of
charge or at very low cost. Now I spend most of my time in Puerto Rico where
I work as I Clinical Director for Diabetic Solutions Corp. and as an O and P
Consultant in Latin America, leaving my wife and youngest daughter in
Guatemala. After you read the article below you will understand why.
The Effect of Good Missions Overseas
Just over 4 years ago I was enjoying a good practice as a Certified
Prosthetist and Orthotist at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Saint
Louis Missouri where I spent close to a decade with previous successful
experiences in Kentucky and Texas. When I told the chief of the Staff at the
hospital that I was moving back to Guatemala he was shocked and thought that
I was crazy. At the time I had two kids born in Guatemala (now I have
three). The fact is that for years my wife and I where facing the dilemma if
we should give ourselves another chance to live in Guatemala and be reunited
with our families. Another important factor was that if we moved back, it
had to be before our kids became teenagers in the US or they probably
wouldn't like to come back with us.
After the decision was made to return to Guatemala, we knew we had to face
the realities and a lot of challenges there especially as to how we were
going to survive financially and have a life style that would not too
drastically impact our children. So I invested in a small practice that my
brother Julio Cesar was running to make it the best in the region. I
evaluated the market and I thought that I had a good chance to make it. I
knew about the local prosthetists providing services at the Social Security
Hospital, the army hospital and others who also were providing private
services as well.
But I never thought that my biggest competitors where going to be some
medical teams providing O and P services in Guatemala.
For over 20 years I have been involved consistently with missions providing
humanitarian assistance in all Latin America but we always have done it in a
way as 1) not to affect local prosthetists and 2) always target specific
needs and specific cases that otherwise would never get a prosthesis.
I have participated with many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as
Children of the Americas from Kentucky for over 15 years and The Barr
Foundation from Florida as the Central and South America Prosthetist
Coordinator since the mid 90's. More recently I have worked with Children's
Aid Mission International from Kentucky and Heal The Children Missouri
Chapter. I also initially assisted with The Walking Free Project to
establish its mission at a local infantile hospital in Guatemala.
Some of these missions come to Guatemala loaded with their good heart and
good intentions but with little knowledge as to who is here and which
services are being provided. They go to different areas offering free
services thinking that they are doing a good thing for the patient and for
this country. Some of these teams have established themselves offering full
time services to local hospitals, rehab centers and even to private
institutions and physicians. Their services are free of charge but they are
always willing to accept monetary donations making it at the end a
commercial venture for some of them.
In some cases they partner with local Prosthetists who may be less than
honest and who see mission activities as an easy way to make some money in
many cases without the knowledge of those who came here to help. For
example, teams come with a lot of O and P supplies that were donated by
private facilities and distributors with good intentions to ease the pain
and suffering of those in need without knowing that these supplies may end
up in the wrong hands and only enriching the black market.
In many cases International Mission O&P Organizations have provided
prosthesis or orthoses to patients that have resources and can pay for
private services. I believe these NGOs have the moral obligation to refer
those patients to local legitimate practices but often instead they make the
legs in exchange for a monetary donation.
This leaves the local prosthetists/orthotists left behind for follow up with
resources to make legs for profit without investing on their own. This
places unsuspecting and well meaning NGOs in a position as a competitor with
an unfair advantage over the local practitioners trying to make a living. We
just can't compete against free legs. In this fashion legitimate
businesses have almost no chance to be successful; My practice in Guatemala
now still has a chance to survive but we have had to switch mainly to high
tech services to target a different market where there is still little
unfair competition.
There are always people in need and help is always welcome and always
needed. These missions can have a positive effect on those amputees in need
but only if is done the right way, only if they partner with the right
people and resources go to the right hands. My good friend Tom Di Bello, CPO
from Texas always tells me how happy he is to see me here working with my
own people in Guatemala. Many other friends and colleges wonder if I will
ever go back to the US, a thought that did not cross my mind for quite. I
guess now I better start thinking about it.
Eddy Leopoldo Fuentes, C.P.O.
Certified by The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics
& Pedorthics - ABC
Active Member of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists - USA
6 Avenida A 9-84 Zona 9, Guatemala, 01009 Tel 2334-5962
< <URL Redacted>> www.centrobionico.com
<mailto:<Email Address Redacted>> <Email Address Redacted>
Hello List-Serve
I have a patient from Guatemala who is here to receive medical treatment
and new orthoses before returning to Guatemala - she splits the year
between the US and Guatemala. They are not happy with the local O&P
business/clinic, and wanted to know if I recommended anyone for follow-up
care (growth adjustments, repairs, etc)
They gave me the impression they wanted an American group/overseen
clinic... Not a locally owned business. I mentioned (ROMP) the Range of
Motion Project/clinic and they had not heard or been there. Does anyone
have the address and contact info for the clinic - the website has an
Illinois address (Is this the correct contact info for the clinic?).
Thanks in advance,
-Cameron M. Lehrer, LPO
Citation
EDDY LEOPOLDO FUENTES, CPO, “The Effect of Good Missions Overseas [OANDP-L] ROMP Contact info,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/237048.
