Taking a New Step Forward
At Anderson O&P, we take into consideration your personal goals and needs when designing your prosthesis or orthosis. Therefore, most of the devices we provide require multiple appointments, as they are custom-fabricated to fit and meet the needs of each individual. Below is a general outline of the steps involved in making and receiving a quality device. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Before Your Appointment
Contact Us to Schedule an Appointment
When you contact us to schedule an evaluation, we will ask a few questions to determine the type of device you will be needing. We will also ask for your physician information, as well as your contact and insurance information. If you have not been given a prescription from your doctor, we will need to obtain a phone order to conduct the evaluation. This is usually not an issue if your doctor is familiar with the matter we will be seeing you for.
Arriving at Your Appointment
Please arrive 10 minutes early for your first appointment to allow time to complete the paperwork. Remember to bring your insurance cards with you, as well as a prescription from your doctor (if you have one). If you do not have a prescription, we will need to obtain a phone order to conduct the evaluation.
Orthotic Appointments
Your First Visit
What to Wear
To complete a thorough evaluation, we will need to have easy access to the area we will be treating, so please dress accordingly. For lower extremities, this often means wearing shorts or very loose-fitting pants (a skirt or dress for women is also acceptable). This applies to all appointments with us.
Evaluation
During this visit, we will ask about your history regarding the issue for which we are seeing you, and a detailed evaluation will be performed. We will then discuss different bracing options and create a plan together.
Measurements and Casting
If a custom device is required to meet your needs, a cast and measurements will be taken of the involved extremity. This mold is needed to ensure the orthosis will be fit specifically to your limb. The mold is then used to fabricate your custom device. Note: If prior authorization is required, you may be asked to return for casting once authorization has been obtained.
For some orthotic devices, a prefabricated brace is indicated. If this is the case for you, fitting may occur at the initial visit (if we have the specific device needed in stock). If insurance authorization is required, or we need to order your specific device, you may be scheduled to return for fitting at a subsequent appointment.
Your Second Visit
Fitting and Delivery
Adults - You will be shown how to put your new brace on properly and the fit will be evaluated. Any modifications needed to result in a comfortable fit will be performed. You will then be shown any special considerations required when walking with your brace (basic gait training), then you will walk with the device. The proper function of the device will be confirmed, and any needed adjustments will be made.
You will then be given a wearing schedule and use and care guidelines—these will also be explained at the time of your appointment. If you lose these documents, you can print or download them from our website here. You may be undergoing physical therapy following the fitting of your new brace. If this is recommended, we will have contacted your physician with the request prior to this appointment.
Children - You (Parent/Guardian/Caregiver) will be shown how to put the new braces on your child properly and the fit will be evaluated. Any modifications needed to result in a comfortable fit will be performed. The proper function of the devices will be confirmed, and any necessary adjustments will be made. You will be given a wearing schedule and use and care guidelines—these will also be explained at the time of your appointment. If you lose these documents, you can print or download them from our website here. Your child is likely undergoing physical therapy on an ongoing basis and we have most likely consulted with their physical therapist to decide on the most appropriate device to meet your child's needs.
Follow-up Appointments
Adults - After you go home with your new brace, we will be calling you to check on your progress and answer any questions. As always, contact us if you have any questions or concerns about the fit or use of your brace and if issues arise in the future, we are just a call away and can make adjustments at any time.
Children - After your child goes home with their new braces, we will be calling to check on their progress and answer any questions. We will call in 2 weeks and 4 months and will see them back in the office in 6 months to check on the fit and function of the braces, performing any needed adjustments to accommodate growth. As always, call us if you have any questions or concerns about the fit or use of your child's braces.
Prosthetic Appointments
Your First Visit
What to Wear
Please wear clothes that allow easy access to the area we will be treating, this applies to all appointments with us. For lower extremities, this means wearing shorts (a skirt or dress for women is also acceptable).
Evaluation
During this visit, we will ask about the history leading to your amputation and your prosthetic history (any prostheses you have had, what you did/didn’t like about them) and a detailed evaluation will be performed. We will then discuss different treatment and device options and create a plan together to help you return to your prior activity level. You will then be scheduled for an additional appointment to make a cast or mold of your affected limb. Insurance authorization will be obtained during the time between your evaluation and casting appointments.
Oftentimes the insurance requires specific documentation from your physician before they will approve authorization. When this is the case, we help you through the process to make sure all requirements are met before we proceed with fitting. This sometimes means you will need to see your physician, with the required paperwork, to discuss your issues, needs and goals. We will provide the paperwork for you to take to that appointment.
Your Second Visit
Measurements and Casting
This is a quick visit, in which a mold (cast) and measurements will be taken of the involved extremity. The mold is used to fabricate a diagnostic test socket to ensure the prosthesis will be fit specifically to your residual limb.
Your Third Visit
Initial Fitting
For this visit, please remember to bring or wear the PAIR of shoes you will be wearing most often. During this visit, you will be fitted with a clear diagnostic test socket that was made from the mold taken at your prior appointment. The clear material of the test socket allows observation of your limb inside the socket for superior evaluation of the fit. If adjustments to fit are needed, these are easily made by heating and modifying this plastic test socket. Once a comfortable fit is achieved, and the proper height of the device is confirmed, you will begin walking in the parallel bars and the alignment is performed.
Alignment
If you are a new amputee, this will be your first time walking! We will perform initial gait training first, so you feel confident in beginning to take steps, then alignment (how the knee and/or foot is aligned under the socket) is adjusted to produce a stable, smooth gait.
Going Home with a Trial Prosthesis
If you are an experienced prosthetic user, you may be allowed to wear the diagnostic prosthesis home to confirm proper fit and function prior to the lamination of the final product. If this is allowed, the device is reinforced using fiberglass casting tape to ensure the safety of the device. This can be worn in your home on a limited basis. Detailed instructions are provided at the time of the appointment. While wearing the trial prosthesis, you will be seen weekly for possible adjustments to ensure a comfortable fit. Once no further adjustments are needed, the device is taken for fabrication of the final product.
Your Fourth Visit
Fitting and Delivery
If you are a new amputee, today is the day you have been waiting for! Your new prosthesis will be donned and you will again walk in the parallel bars to confirm a comfortable fit and stable gait. You will be given detailed instructions on the proper way to put the prosthesis on, how to care for the device, a wearing schedule (which will be explained), and much more important information that will be discussed at this time. All of the information discussed and demonstrated will also be given to you in written form. If you lose these documents, you can print or download them from our website here. Because you are a new prosthetic user, you will not be wearing your prosthesis out of the office today. You will be undergoing physical therapy (PT) and will begin wearing the device during PT.
If you are an experienced prosthetic wearer, you will be wearing your new prosthesis home today! The device will be donned and you will walk using the assistive device (if any) that you will use at home. A comfortable fit and stable gait will be confirmed and any final adjustments will be made. Because of your understanding of the proper care of your limb and because the device has been observed/discussed in your prior appointments, paperwork will be given to you for your reference. If you lose these documents, you can print or download them here.
Follow-up Appointments
New Amputees - You will be seen for follow-up every 2-3 weeks for needed adjustments while your limb undergoes rapid changes that occur following an amputation. We will also be calling you to check on your progress and answer any questions during this process. As always, do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions or concerns about the fit or use of your prosthesis.
Experienced Prosthetic Wearers - We will be calling to check on your progress 2 weeks following delivery and we ask that you be seen in the office for follow-up 1 month following delivery. We will then see you every 6 months following delivery to confirm that your prosthesis continues to fit and function properly. As always, do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions or concerns about the fit or use of your prosthesis.
Insurance & Payment Options
At Anderson O&P, we make every effort to assist you with your insurance. Once you have been seen for an evaluation, and your treatment plan has been established, we provide you with an estimate of the cost of your device. We work with your insurance to obtain prior authorization, and we guide you through obtaining the documentation required to prove to your insurance provider that your device is medically necessary. Some devices are not covered by certain insurance plans.
Orthotic and prosthetic devices are billed at the time of delivery (when you take them home) and are covered under the durable medical equipment (DME) portion of your insurance plan. With most insurances, there is a deductible and/or coinsurance you are responsible for unless you have secondary insurance that pays this. We accept all credit cards, debit cards, personal checks and cash payments.
If you are in need of a prosthetic or orthotic device and have insurance questions, give us a call or fill out our online contact form, and we will help you in any way we can.