We hear a lot about what amputees want and don't want. We're pretty tired of arguments about what everyone knows about what amputees want, particularly from people with all of their parts. Come help us figure out the right questions to ask, and let's ask everyone we can. We'll perfect the list of questions here, and then we have some friends who have volunteered to help implement the survey. We'd like to include everyone, including prosthetists (even the four-limbed ones), to hear about some of these issues.
Rather than design a clinical study and attempt to record data in clinics or hospitals, we're confident that we can find out a lot by seeking the opinions of as many amputees as we can.
We're planning on designing a web-based survey with some open questions as well as some very specific ones about how happy amputees are with prosthetics, whether they use them, and what they wish were different about them (and if that might change any of the above answers).
Armed with what we find out (and obviously we have opinions about what we think we'll find, but we want to see what everyone thinks anyway), we will see what we can do to shape the next era of prosthetic development.
Any thoughts you have about what questions we should ask will be incorporated into the final survey. If you're ambitious, feel free to start a draft below. Thanks for your interest.
I am not sure how well monitored this page is, but, if I were asking questions my biggest one is why is a prosthesis controlled by the government requiring a prescription from a doctor? I understand that those who are covered by insurance only get prostheses, repairs and terminal devices covered if a doctor finds it necessary. But really, is this equipment any different than going to a home improvement store and buying a hammer? Protheses are tools that make lives easier by performing specific tasks just like any other tool not requiring a prescription.
I ultimately want the law requiring the prescription lifted and let each insurance company make the requirement for payment. I do not have insurance that covers my prosthesis, and it costs me even more to see my doctor when I alone make all the decisions as to what I need.
Now for products, I want companies, who soley hold the keys to our freedom, like Hosmer and others, to consider making some type of upgrade to the quality of their terminal devices. For years I have been complaining to them with no avail. They will not talk to amputees directly and therefore will only deal through your prosthetist.
I use the APRL voluntary closing hook that has not changed in over 50 years. How is it possible for a product that in concept is great but, with the use of substandard casting quality and internal parts the wear very quickly has a useful life of about 6 months before the need to return it to them for refurbishment. At over $900 new and $300 for refurbisment, it becomes a costly part to continue using. I continue using this product because I find it to be the best for me in terms of function. I need this exact product where the shell is milled or cast from high strength titanium. And the internal friction parts are made from high carbon hardened steel or maybe the wear surfaces should be impregnated with industrial diamonds. I know you may say that the cost will skyrocket, but really, over the last tweny years I have been buying these things over and over and refurbishing them until complete and catastrophic failure. I always need to keep a spare because of the propensity for breakdown and the long and drawn out requirement by the government to jump through hoops even to get one repaired. Is it really fair to require a prescription to repair a part for which a prescription was originally required? If we can get these companies to make quality products the price we pay will be worth it.
