FINDING A PROSTHETIST
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By far the best general information about how to find a qualified prosthetist is contained in the article "An Introduction to the Consumer Guide for Amputees" published by the ACA. "In Motion" Jan/Feb 1998. In the authors opinion this should be required reading for all new amputees no matter what level. Or visit the following site on "How to select a prosthetist":
usinter.net/wasa/contents9g.html
It is extremely important to learn what is available and appropriate for our particular level. Talk to as many people as you can who have the same type of amputation. Contact others through the Support Network List and check with your local amputee support groups or the ACA for references. Personally visit as many facilities as possible within an reasonable driving distance and ask about their experience. We have fewer choices simply because we are so uncommon. There are relatively few prosthetists who have the knowledge and experience to deal with our level of amputation. Not all CP’s are willing to take the time or effort it may take to satisfy us for personal and financial reasons.
Making a leg can be a very time consuming process requiring many visits, so if at all possible try to remain with a local facility. Depending on where you live it may be necessary to travel some distance requiring extra expense. Only you can decide what will work best for your personal needs and financial resources.
Ask for a free initial consultation. Understand what will be involved as far as fitting, socket materials, and possible components. How long do they estimate for completion? What assurances are offered if the first socket doesn’t fit right? Will they make another? Will you be charged? What is the warranty in new devices? What about adjustments, repairs or follow up service? Do not be afraid to discuss financial considerations and be sure that the CP will accept your insurance or HMO coverage. In our brave new world of managed care, not all providers will be accepted by your plan and visa versa.
Perhaps the most important qualification to look for in a prosthetist is the ability to communicate, a good rapport. The relationship you form with your CP will become extremely important. The author has used several different prosthetists over a period of 37 years because I’ve moved around the country and I prefer a local CP for convenience sake. In all honesty, only one has been a recognized "expert."
Each one had experience with fitting one or two other clients of a similar level which is about average for most CP’s. What set these practioners apart was their solid basic prosthetic knowledge and talents, and willingness to work with me to provide the services I needed. They were willing to take the time and effort required, no matter how long it took. They were patient and understanding as to my particular needs, lifestyle and priorities, and listened to me. Each kept up with the latest advancements in the field and offered me the best technology that was available at the time. They would take the time to explain the advantages and disadvantages of each new component or prosthetic advancement, allowing me to make an informed decision to accept or reject it. They were honest enough to admit they didn’t know all the answers to all my questions, but would try to find out. As first a student and later a professional, they would always accommodate my busy schedule. Lastly, I wasn’t nickeled and dimed to death for every minor repair, strap or screw. Financial considerations were handled reasonably and honestly.
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BEWARE THE HYPE AND ADVERTISING!Prosthetics is a business. Don’t expect miracles and have realistic expectations. Do your "legwork", educate yourself, and make informed decisions that suit your needs. If at first you don’t succeed, I urge to you try and try again.
The following is a partial list of those prosthetists
(organized by region) who have experience and will give
you an opportunity to talk to other satisfied clients. Only prosthetists who have been
specifically recommended by you, the hip-disartics and hemipelvectomies who are wearing
their legs are listed. I sincerely hope this list will become longer with your input. They
are arranged alphabetically
(Note: Novacare Prosthetics has recently been acquired by
Hanger Orthopedic. Some facilities names have changed, and some are now
independant. The Sabolich Prosthetic Center is not affiliated with Hanger
or Novacare.)
USA - EASTERN REGION
Matthew Bailey, CPO
Florida O&P Services, Inc.
Jacksonville, Orange Park and St. Augustine, Florida
(904) 737-7755
mabailey@attbi.com
Thomas M. Bremer, CP
Bremer Prosthetics, Inc.
5310 Hampton Place
Saginaw, Michigan 48604
(517) 249-9400
bremerpros@aol.com
John Clark CP
Hanger Prosthetics
115 S. Mac Dill Ave
Tampa, FL
(813) 251-1590
Bill Copeland CP
Copeland Prosthetics & Orthotics
2817 W. Virginia St.
Tampa Fl. 33607
(866) 330-5300 (Toll-Free)
(813) 875-3216
bcoplegman@aol.com
www.Copelandprosthetics.com
Peter Couture CP
Next Step O&P
9 Cedarwood Dr. Unit #8
Bedford, New Hampshire 03110
(800) 572-7938
www.nextstepoandp.com
Dino Cozzarelli CPO
(formerly from Thoms Rehab Hospital,
Asheville, North Carolina
has moved his practice to Costa Rica. See below for contact information)
Alan Finnieston Clinic
300Bird Rd
Coral Gables, FL 33146
(305) 444-6104
afc@oandp.com
David M. Harning CPO
c/o Ryder Orthopaedics
1500 Royal Palms Square Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33919
(239) 939-0009
dmharning@earthlink.net
Michael Joyce CP
Advanced Prosthetics and Orthotics, Inc.
50 Maple Place
Manhasset, NY 11030-1927
(516) 365-7225
Ron Junttonen, C.P.
Prosthetic Center
1200 S Washington Avenue
Lansing MI 48910
(517) 372-7007
Fax: (517) 372-0261
pclimb@juno.com
Jeff Keuhn CP
Swanson Regional Orthotic and Prosthetic Research Center
3102 Sylvania Ave.
Toledo, Ohio 43613
(419) 472-8910
Dave Knauff CP
Hanger Prosthetics
4030 Monroeville Blvd.
Monroeville, PA 15146
(800) 589-5081
valenciaknauff@yahoo.com
Jim Price, CPO, PhD
1025 Concord Parkway North
P.O. Box 792
Concord, North Carolina 28026
(800) 680-5218
jim.price@mindspring.com
Paul Prusakowski, CPO
O&P Clinical Technologies
6830 NW 11th Place, Suite A
Gainesville, FL 32605
(352) 331-4221
paulcpo@oandp.com
www.oandp.com/clinic
John Rheinstein, CP, FAAOP
Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics
1049 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028
(917) 589-1015
jrheinstein@nyc.rr.com
Eric Schaeffer CP
17 W. John St.
Hicksville, New York 11801
(516) 681-3484
astep.ahead@verizon.net
Timothy K. Shriel, CP
Scoville Prosthetics Inc.
197 New Britain Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 247-3209
or (800) 932-0971
TShrielsenior@aol.com
Stokosa Prosthetic Clinic
2145 University Park Drive. Suite 100
Okemos, Michigan 48864
(517) 349-3130
(888) 786-5672
info@stokosa.com
Jerry Vilminot, C.P., Executive
Director
Institute for the Advancement of Prosthetics (IAP)/Hanger
424 South Pennsylvania Ave.
Lansing, MI 48910-5695
(800) 427-3442
info@theiap.com
http://www.theiap.com
Judy Wagner, PT, CP
Harmarville Orthotics and Prosthetics
P.O. Box 11460
Guys Run Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
(412) 826-2727
USA - CENTRAL REGION
Kevin Carroll CP
Hanger Prosthetics
4301 North Classen
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
(800) 522-4428
Scott Sabolich
Prosthetic & Research Center
9801 N. Broadway Ext.
Oklahoma City, OK 73114
1-87-SABOLICH
ksabolich@aol.com
www.scottsabolich.com
Jim Kaiser and
John Angelico
Scheck & Siress
Advanced Orthotics & Prosthetics
Central Office
One S. 376 Summit Ave. Court E
Oakbrook Terrace, IL. 60181
(630) 424-0467
www.scheckandsiress.com
(They have 6 facilities located in and around the Chicago area and are also affiliated
with the Shriners)
Mike Gozola C.P.
Prosthetic Laboratories of Rochester
121 23rd Avenue S.W.
Rochester, MN 55902
(888) 281-5250
Al Ingersoll C.P.
Winkley Orthotics & Prosthetics
740 Douglas Drive North
Golden Valley, MN 55422
(763) 546-1177
aingersoll@winkley.com
www.winkley.com
Jake R.
Wood C. P., President (and co-owner)
Orthotics and Prosthetics Associates, Inc.
10101 Innovation Dr., Suite 500
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
(414) 257-2727
KWOODK@aol.com
USA - ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
Scott E. Allen C.P.
50 South 900 East #1
Salt Lake City UT, 84102
(801) 364-3100
scott@fit-well.com
www.fit-well.com
Noberto Graf, BSOP, BOCP
Braulia “Judy” White, CPO
Center for
Prosthetic and Orthotic Design
1600 University Blvd. NE, Suite B.
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505)
244-0404
Fax: (505)
244-0708
cpodglot@aol.com
www.centerforpandodesign.com
Kimberly Hoyt, C.P.
Christopher Hoyt, C.P.
BioDesign Inc.
2460 W. 26th Ave.
Suite 175-C
Denver, Colorado 80211
(303) 477-7044
bdi@ecentral.com
Danette Larson, CP
Hanger Prosthetics
5669 N. Oracle Road #2102
Tucson AZ 85704-3855
(520) 888-4757
FAX (520) 888-5267
Kevin Kohler, C.P.
Michael Pack, C.P.
Artificial Limb Specialists
2916 North 3rd Street
Phoenix, AZ 58012
(877) 216-5016
(602) 745-2080
mike@limbspecialists.com
www.limbspecialists.com
USA - WEST
COAST REGION
Steve Alpert, CP
Lerman & Son
8710 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 659-2290
Michael Clapp CPO
Scope Orthotics & Prosthetics
1920 E. Katella, Suite I
Orange, CA 92867
(714) 639-7422
David Littig, CP
Ventura Prosthetic & Orthotic
1645 Donlon Street
Suite 112
Ventura, CA 93003
(805) 339-0670
FAX (805) 339-0493
Ralph W. Nobbe, CPO
Nobbe Orthopedics, Inc.
3010 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 687-7508
(805) 687-6251 fax
info@nobbeorthopedics.com
www.nobbeorthopedics.com
RGP Prosthetic Research Center
6147 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92115
(800) 5451932
www.rgp.com
Carlos Sambrano BOC
Life-Like Prosthetics, LLC
1319 W. Carson St
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 320-5777
lifelike1@earthlink.net
www.lifelikeprosthetics.com
CANADA
John Girling CP
Girling Prosthetic Clinic
1812 Cook St
Victoria, BC, Canada V8T 3P6
(205) 384-4312
David Home CP(c)
Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital
10230 111 Ave.
Edmonton, Alberta
T5G 0B7
DavidHome@cha.ab.ca
David Nielen RTPO, CPO
Royal Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre
505 Smyth Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1H 8M2
(613) 737-7350
Ext. 5314
dnielen@Ottawahospital.on.ca
Tony van der Waarde CP
AWARD Prosthetics
112-3823 Henning Dr
Burnaby, British Columbia
V5C 6P3 Canada
(604) 298-0236
tony@awardprosthetics.com
http://www.awardprosthetics.com
United Kingdom
Steve Taylor, Prosthetic Clinical
Specialist
Nottingham Rehabilitation Centre
City Hospital
Hucknall Road
Nottingham
NG5 1PJ
United Kingdom
0115 9606048
Prosthetists.nottingham@Rehab.co.uk
GERMANY
Olaf Gawron
Orthopaedie Technik Heidelberg
Stiftung Orthopaedische Universitaetsklinik Heidelberg
Schlierbacher Landstr. 200a
69118 Heidelberg
tel. 06221-966401
olaf.gawron@ok.uni-heidelberg.de
COSTA RICA
Dino Cozzarelli CPO
La Garita, Alajuela
Costa Rica
(506) 487-4317
Cellphone: (506) 821-3246
http://www.protesisavanzadas.com
