Optimus Prosthetics
News and Notes from optimus November 2009
In This Issue
C-Leg RoadShow
Prosthetics for Therapists Update
Prosthetic Fairness Bill
Quick Links

Scott's Certification Update
John and I agreed early in 2007 before launching Optimus Prosthetics that my personal goal of becoming an ABC-Certified Prosthetist fit well with the Optimus Prosthetics 3-year business plan. 

There are less challenging paths to become a certified and licensed prosthetist but ABC certifications are considered the profession's highest standards for professionals providing prosthetic patient care. 
ABC

And with my MSE in Rehabilitation Engineering, I had the prerequisites and education already behind me.  I opted for Northwestern University's Prosthetic Certificate program in Chicago which is the same program that John attended almost 20 years ago (and the same program that started 51 years ago). 

Now I anxiously await sitting for the ABC written and practical exams in May and June 2010, respectively.  Once passed, I will eagerly and proudly add the CP after my name.


CP:  ABC-Certified Prosthetist
CO:  ABC-Certified Orthotist
CPO:  ABC-Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist
RTP:  ABC-Registered Prosthetic Technician
BOCP:  'Board of Certification/Accreditation International'-Certified Prosthetist
BOCO:  'Board of Certification/Accreditation International'-Certified Orthotist
LP:  Ohio-Licensed Prosthetist
LO:  Ohio-Licensed Orthotist
LPO:  Ohio-Licensed Prosthetist/Orthotist

Our Calendar

Wed 11/11/09
HAPPY VETERANS DAY! 

Wed 11/11/09 (7:30am) Maria Joseph Center, Course 5

Wed 11/18/09 (8am) UVMC, Course 1

Wed 11/18/09 (Noon) CareSpring-Springboro, Course 3

Thu 11/26/09
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (closed)

Fri 11/27/09
CLOSED

Wed 12/9/09 (Noon) CareSpring-Springboro, Course 4

Wed 12/16/09 (Noon) CareSpring-Springboro, Course 5

Fri 12/25/09
MERRY CHRISTMAS! (closed)

Fri 1/1/10
HAPPY NEW YEAR! (closed)

Would you like to schedule a course?

Call the office at 937-454-1900

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Accredited by:
The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics.
 
ABC

ABC is the national certifying and accrediting body for the orthotic and prosthetic professions. The public requires and deserves assurance that the persons providing orthotic, prosthetic, and pedorthic services and care are qualified to provide the appropriate services.

Greetings!
 
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I thought it would be an ideal time to give thanks and express some gratitude. 

John and I would like to thank all of our referring physicians and therapists who have given us the opportunity to serve them and their patients throughout 2009.  Not only do we appreciate the referrals but we also appreciate the confidence they have placed in us.

If you've got any suggestions, compliments, complaints or feedback on our email newsletter or on Optimus Prosthetics - we'd love to hear it! 

Call us at 937-454-1900 or click here to send us an email.

Sincerely,

John Brand_Scott Schall
Optimus Prosthetics * 8517 N. Dixie Drive * Suite 300 * Dayton OH 45414

PS - "optimus online" is archived online! If you missed an issue, click here.
C-Leg RoadShow stops at Optimus Prosthetics 11/5/09

Otto Bock's clinical specialist in prosthetics Byron Backus CP, sales representative Angi Danner, and model patient Robert Jordan (read Robert's story here) rolled into the Optimus Prosthetic complex in their mobile lab at 8am last Thursday morning for a full day event focused on the C-Leg.

John et al
(pictured left to right; Jon, Byron, Angi, Linda, Robert and Scott)

Mobile labThe Otto Bock C-Leg is a microprocessor-controlled knee that a patient with an above-knee (transfemoral) amputation can speed up, slow down, take on hills and go down stairs step-over-step-all with a secure, more natural gait. 

Video of Robert jumping/landing on C-Leg and Tim Buehl going down step over step for the first time!

Byron spent the morning providing advanced C-Leg training to John, Scott and Ellie of Optimus with the help of Optimus model patients Linda Lyons (2-year-C-Leg-wearer pictured below with Robert Jordan)

Linda and Robert

and Tim Buehl (first-time-C-Leg-wearer, pictured below). 

TimB
Byron also spent mid-day educating 15 local therapists on the features and benefits of the C-Leg before heading to their next stop.
 
Byron

Optimus Prosthetics would like to thank the crew from Otto Bock and all the therapists who joined us for taking time out of their busy schedules to spend with us.
'Prosthetics for Therapists' 2010

2009 
Optimus Prosthetics offered 5 courses in 2009 to 30 therapy groups representing more than 325 therapists. 

If you are a therapist and your group has not scheduled the 5th and final course for 2009, give us a call!

1. Immediate Post-Op Modalities (for transtibial level amputations)
2. Transtibial Prosthetics
3. Transfemoral Prosthetics
4. Amputee Mobility Predictor
5. Gait Training and Deviations

2010 
As mentioned in last month's eNewsletter, Optimus Prosthetics will be offering 4 courses in 2010 available on a quarterly basis.  You can call us to schedule the 2010 courses when your group is ready to do so. 

The following are the topics for 2010 which will have new approval numbers (and will be video-enhanced):

1. Overview of Prosthetics (includes an overview of all levels of amputations with emphasis on upper extremity, partial foot, and Symes)
2. Transtibial Prosthetics (including post-op modalities)
3. Transfemoral Prosthetics (including an introduction to our computerized gait alignment system and a refresher on the Amputee Mobility Predictor)
4. Lower Extremity Prosthetic Gait Training and Deviations (a refresher based on course #5 from 2009)

Give us a call to schedule your course!
937-454-1900
Prosthetic Fairness Bill Introduced

Most people don't read the fine print of their insurance policies until something happens to them.  While programs like Medicare and Medicaid cover at least 80 percent of the cost for prostheses, private insurance companies are allowed to have annual 'caps' or maximums on prosthetics, placing them in the same category as canes, crutches and walkers. 

Some private insurance caps are $2500 and $4000 which seems like a reasonable amount to those who know little about the actual costs of prostheses.  Below-knee or transtibial prostheses can cost $8000-$15,000 while above-knee or transfemoral prostheses can cost $12,000-
$35,000.  In any case, these caps are usually a huge financial burden to amputees. 
 
State Rep. Denise Driehaus (D-Cincinnati) introduced the Prosthetic Fairness Bill- or House Bill 310 - on October 13, 2009 which would remove prosthetics from the Durable Medical Equipment category and make private insurance companies provide the same coverage as Medicare and Medicaid.  Some states, like Indiana, California, and Texas, have already passed similar bills; others pushing for it include Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan, according to the Amputee Coalition of America.
 
About 40,000 people in the state of Ohio would be impacted by the legislation, according to the Buckeye Amputees for Action's founder and amputee Bob Thurman.  Thurman is heading up the Ohio initiative and hopes to see the bill voted out of committee before the holiday break.
 
For more information, please contact Bob Thurman.

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