| VOLUME 1 # 17 | DECEMBER 11, 1995 |
IN THIS ISSUE
1.) NOTES FROM John & Joyce
Miscellaneous
Travel: Air travel over short distances is often booked on "puddle jumpers," small-ish airplanes considered commuter planes. A last minute booking, delivered John to the gates of a potential problem, not for him but folks that rely on wheelchairs. The modern airports have ramps and enclosed gateways for large "jumbo" jets. However, the "puddle jumpers" required, in this case a descent down two flights of stairs and then back up folding stairs again, into the plane. Inquiring at the desk what provision they made for passengers in wheel chairs their answer is to take you down to ground level in an elevator and then an airline employee carries you up the stairs.
Mmmm....
Well, those "stairs," are more like a ladder and looked pretty narrow to me and not particular stable, and I don't know that I would feel particularly comfortable having someone carrying my up and down those.
The insides of these planes are "SMALL" with a capacity of maybe 30, the aisle is not practical and the seats are "tight."
I almost think that if time wasn't a crucial matter and it wasn't a long distance I'd rather take a bus?
--Well, just be sure to not only check with the travel agent, but the airline at the departing and destination airport and see what provisions they have. The airlines are generally cooperative and will nearly "bend-over backwards" to help and accommodate you, but they do need advanced notice.
Trade shows
If you have the opportunity to attend a trade show, I would highly recommend doing so, at least once. There is much to be learned at these shows...not only by the amputee, but the prosthetists can be enlighten to some of the needs and concerns of the amputee as well. Keep in mind that a trade show is targeted for the professionals, BUT you can gain something from attending as well.
John recently attended a trade show, Alabama State Prosthetics and Orthotics Association. The meeting was held Dec. 8-9 at Gulf Shores, Alabama. John was a "guinea pig" <grin> to test and demonstrate products (at NO monetary gain--the way *he* wanted it.) More about this trade show in the next newsletter.
New WWW sites:
The World Wide Web is a quickly changing "universe." Sites come and go, areas grow and there are changes made to existing sites, somewhat irregularly. Some months back a "broad" search of the word "amputee" produced 97 "hits" (sites including amputee in the name or description.) A search several weeks ago produced fewer "hits" and several new sites. If you haven't checked these sites yet, you might over the Holidays, find a few moments to explore.
Newsgroups:
We check occasionally to see if there is an amputee newsgroup. I have found several newsgroups for "disabled" or "handicapped," but so far, I haven't located a newsgroup for amputees. Perhaps there will be one in the future. If you know of a newsgroup for amputees that we are not aware of, please send us the information and we will share it with the newsletter mailing list.
Available Statistics:
I recently sent a request for statistics to the below mentioned address via a Web page for health information:
Subj: FW: Amputations
From: nchsquery@NCH10A.EM.CDC.GOV (NCHS QUERY)
To: John
Per your request, NCHS has limited information on amputations. Data from our National Health Interview Survey, a survey of the civilian non-institutionalized population residing in the United States producing estimates of acute conditions, episodes of persons injured, restriction in activity, prevalence of chronic conditions, limitation of activity due to chronic conditions, respondent-assessed health status, and the use of medical services, yield statistics on persons with missing extremities.
Data are collected through household interviews and are a reflection of the respondent's memory. According to data collected in 1993, a total of 1,546,00 conditions were noted as missing extremities. You can view these data in the NCHS publication, "Current Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, 1993." The report is located on our Home Page and can be viewed using the Acrobat software. Instructions for downloading the Acrobat software are located directly below the Note From the Editor Section.
The URL for the information request is http://www.cdc.gov
2.) "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR"
We received email from one of the members of the mailing list including an attached file--something a little different for the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR section today. John contacted Robert Bedotto for permission to include his comments here. I know this is a bit long, but it is interesting and a "caring and sharing" thing.
12/09/95 via -- C. (thank you)
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS
... OR IT WON'T BE THERE IN THE FUTURE
!!This is a sign that appeared in the window of a local family run business. It is symbolic of the systematic elimination of CHOICE in America today:
Bigger is better! Is it better for the consumer to have less choice? It is better for "Corporate America" to offer less choice because it is easier and cheaper to administrate. Business is no longer run by business people but rather by administrators and bean counters. The corporate structure has become multi-layered and top heavy. As a result, the cost of doing business has risen and there is little left to provide competitive products or services. We are faced with less choice every day! Department stores are becoming one store with different names. Banks are fewer. Health insurance providers have priced choice beyond the reach of many. Auto insurers would like us to have our cars repaired by facilities of their choosing, not ours. In the past, competition in a free market situation allowed the consumer to choose quality products or services at a fair price. Today the trend is to eliminate competition through mergers and takeovers. Bigger may not be better, but it is certainly happening at an alarming rate.
The prosthetic and orthotic profession is merely a microcosm of what is happening to business in this country today. I am a professional and a small business owner. I choose to be in this position in order to provide the type of professional service that I feel is appropriate. I make decisions and solve problems without the fanfare. I wear many hats in my situation. I am the administrator and all the other corporate positions rolled into one. I am good at what I do. I feel that I can solve any problem that a patient presents. While I may not have the full color brochure to "prove" it, I do have 25 years of learning something new every day with proven results. I am a successful professionally because I have control of how I conduct myself and my business. I can solve problems because that is my business, NOT the bottom line. I do not desire any reward for this other than to continue to practice my profession. I like what I do and would like to continue for another 25 years, but this seems unlikely given the business environment today. Small business people are on the verge of extinction. Governmental regulations and the volume of paperwork necessary to run a business (especially health care related) has become prohibitive. The administration of a business has become the business. This favors large corporations. Our own national office in P&O is considering regulations to allow organizations to supervise many offices with one practitioner. This also favors the large organization. Lobbying efforts on the part of large corporations gain political support. Medicare and insurance companies want to negotiate with national corporations. I recently read where they describe it as "one stop shopping." We are in the business of helping people with disabilities return to a "normal" (quotes by editor) life. We are NOT grocery shopping. Reality has been reduced to "sound bites", clever advertising, and lobbying efforts. Legislators should not have to be paid to do the right thing! I do not want to work for THE PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC COMPANY OF AMERICA. This IS America and I am an American. Young practitioners entering this field may not have the opportunity to own their own business or work in a small facility. I should be able to maintain my independent practice because I am a conscientious professional providing quality service at a fair price. This is good for the consumer. We have lost sight of the big picture. What is good for all is good for one. What is good for a few may not be good for all. Like many small business owners, some practitioners feel that they must sell out or become part of a large corporation. In some cases they may be coerced to sell. This is not good for the profession or the consumer. Diversity, choice, and the enterprising competitive spirit that made this country great is being threatened. The threat is real. If we allow this to happen, we do ourselves, the profession, and our patients a great injustice. As small business owners and consumers, we must stand up and be counted for the right to choose and to compete regardless of size. I hope that collectively, we can DO THE RIGHT THING! Time will tell.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS.
(signed) Robert A, Bedotto, CPO/LPT
### end file
EDITORS NOTE: We'd like to point out that we are not suggesting you make your choice, strictly on the criteria of being a small local operation or a nation wide chain. Base your choice on quality. I feel it is a mistake to assume a nationwide chain can offer you any better service than a local or smaller company. Again, we recommend talking to other amputees and other health professionals to make an educated choice based on your needs. Obviously, in the opinion of --C., who sent this, this facility is top rate in her area for her needs. From John's discussion with Mr. Bedotto it was apparent that he is patient oriented, well informed and concerned about the decline of health care professionalism brought on by new medical insurance criteria.
John says: "I have had the opportunity to receive service from small facilities and nation wide chains and have found, based strictly on my experience that both are capable of producing high quality products and excellent service.
"It should not be a surprise to you that all businesses must make enough income to keep their doors open. However, when decision making policy is in the hands of a corporate office, sometimes on the other side of the country, by someone that knows little or nothing about the field of prosthetics, there is a potential for 'compromise' of a patient's needs and care."
"Be of open mind, as the employees of the large chains, do not set policy they carry out the policies of their employers and so, while individually, genuinely working for the best interests of the patients, may encounter 'barriers.' I can't emphasize enough that size has nothing to do with quality, and I am not saying that you should not use a nationwide chain. I am merely stating that it is incorrect to assume that a chain can offer more than a local facility can."
THE ADVICE (DISCLAIMER)
Please be sure to read the information at this link at least once.
4.) HINTS AND TIPS
TIPS
For Upper Extremity
There are jar openers that are circular rubber, often given out as promotional material (like floppy Frisbees. <grin>) Instead of using these at the top of the jar, use them as a base to keep jars (like mayonnaise, for example) from scooting all around the counter. This helps a lot for one handed jar opening and closing.
For Lower Extremity
For those of you that do not use silicon sleeves, cold weather can be uncomfortable/dangerous for your residual limb. I found that by wrapping my residual limb with plastic wrap (Saran or Glad wrap) helps retain body warmth. CHECK WITH YOUR PROSTHETIST BEFORE DOING THIS.
Have a hint, tip, or suggestion? Please email us and we will consider it for use in the newsletter.
5.) QUOTE/THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"Man is a tool-using animal. . . Without tools he
is nothing, with tools he is all."
-- Thomas Carlyle
© Copyright December 11, 1995 J. Meyer. All rights reserved.