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Prosthetics' Expert Discusses Chosing a Prosthetist
Author: | Tuesday April 12, 2005
Dan Zenas, CP, has worked in his profession and applies latest in technology and understanding to fitting artificial limbs.
Professional Insight
How do You Choose a Prosthetic Provider?
By Dan Zenas, C.P.
Whether you have lost a limb yourself, are a relative of an amputee, a physician, therapist, rehab nurse, or case manager, selecting a prosthetic practitioner is an important decision that will immediately and profoundly impact the independence and quality of life of the person who has suffered the loss of a limb. If you do not have a relationship with a Prosthetist, what do you look for, and how do you go about it?
The field of prosthetics is still very much an art and the prosthetic practitioner is a craftsman as well as an allied health professional.
We are using modern technology, but still need creative skills to achieve success.
Computer Aided Design (CAD) sockets are widely used, but do not provide an anatomically fitted prosthesis. CAD generated sockets still need to fitted and modified to the specific anatomy and the individual. No two prosthetists will fit a limb the same way, so it is important to work with an individual who is skilled and responsive to the needs of the various clients who rely on him.
The first thing to do is to shop around. You can start by asking your associates who they have used in the past and inquire if the experience was positive for not only the patient but the care coordinator as well. It is also a good idea to visit different facilities.
The Prosthetist and his or her company will be working for you and need to be responsive to your needs.
I recommend a consultation, which is usually a “no-charge” appointment. It is good to use this as an opportunity to “interview” the practitioner and get a feel for the office and its staff.
If you are a rehab nurse or case manager, you may have concerns about prosthetic design, life expectancy of the prosthesis, reasonable expected functional outcomes, and availability of follow up care. If you are an adjuster, you will be concerned with costs and warranty information as well as expected life span.
If you are an amputee yourself, you will want to be comfortable that your practitioner listens to your concerns, answers your questions, and includes you in the decision making process of designing, fitting, and adjusting the prosthesis, that you won’t have to wait long for appointments, and that the work will be completed expeditiously.
Most importantly, you will want your Prosthetist to be aggressive in responding to and resolving any problems you may have with the prosthesis. Achieving optimal outcomes requires teamwork, and the amputee is the most important member of the team.
When visiting different facilities, do not be afraid expand your travel radius. While location is often the deciding factor in choosing a prosthetic provider, it is not necessarily the best indicator for success. If a patient is having problems and requires many follow up visits for adjustments, it is definitely more convenient if the Prosthetist is close. But the clinical problems could possibly be resolved, reducing the need for as many follow up appointments, if a practitioner with more expertise is used, even if it means traveling a greater distance.
Ed. Note: Dan Zenas, Certified Prosthetist, is the owner and operator of Georgia Prosthetics, Inc. which has been providing custom prosthetic services in Atlanta since 1964. For more information on this article or to make a referral please contact Dan directly at 404-873-3725.
Georgia1st.com will seek to provide expertise from professionals who provide services to the workers' compensation and rehabilitation industry. Visit our web site at www.georgia1st.com for other articles.
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