Optimal Care During COVID-19
Follow up care is vital for any medical procedure, and this is especially true for patients who utilize a prosthesis or orthosis. The year after being fitted is a critical time period where regular care is necessary to ensure proper adjustment to your device.
No matter how competent your Prosthetist or Orthotist, achieving maximum mobility and quality of life requires you to be committed to regular checkups and physical therapy.
COVID-19 Makes it Complicated
However, we are living in the midst of an epidemic, and venturing out can be dangerous or fatal, especially for those in high risk groups. It has become difficult, both for medical professionals and patients, to decide how they are going to approach future medical care. We feel it is important to outline ways patients can maximize the use of their prosthetist while minimizing health risk due to COVID-19.
Telemedicine, being non-contact, is the safest option. Over a secure video connection, you can describe any problems and visually show what the problem is. For those in physical therapy, your therapist can instruct you on how to perform your routine at home. They will watch you complete the exercises to ensure you are doing it correctly.
Virtual Care is Insufficient Alone
While we recognize the attractiveness of this option, it cannot totally substitute normative in-person care. Your safety and quality of life depend on your prosthetic or orthosis being routinely physically examined for defects and adjustment; an Orthotist or Prosthetist will recognize problems before they become apparent to you. It is unrealistic to assume your medical practitioner or therapist will understand your problems as well on a screen as they will if they can watch you move in real space. While an at-home therapy routine is important, patients rarely have access to the instruments available in a medical clinic.
At Orthocraft, we are committed to your safety; however, please call your physical therapy clinic to make sure they are following social distancing procedures. A competent clinic, following CDC guidelines, will be able to accommodate you in-person without exposing you to undue harm. It goes without saying that both the patient and the medical specialist should be wearing a mask(unless respiratory issues make this impossible).
Virtual Care is Insufficient Alone
While we recognize the attractiveness of this option, it cannot totally substitute normative in-person care. Your safety and quality of life depend on your prosthetic or orthosis being routinely physically examined for defects and adjustment; an Orthotist or Prosthetist will recognize problems before they become apparent to you. It is unrealistic to assume your medical practitioner or therapist will understand your problems as well on a screen as they will if they can watch you move in real space. While an at-home therapy routine is important, patients rarely have access to the instruments available in a medical clinic.
At Orthocraft, we are committed to your safety; however, please call your physical therapy clinic to make sure they are following social distancing procedures. A competent clinic, following CDC guidelines, will be able to accommodate you in-person without exposing you to undue harm. It goes without saying that both the patient and the medical specialist should be wearing a mask(unless respiratory issues make this impossible).
What should you expect?
In the waiting room, surfaces such as tables and chairs will be regularly disinfected. Every patient’s temperature should be taken. Treatment should be one-on-one, and a distance of six feet must be maintained unless it is necessary to be closer for examination. If the waiting room is crowded and it is impossible to maintain proper social distancing, it is paramount that you inform the closest staff member.
Being outside can cut the risk of COVID-19 transmission to one tenth of what it is inside; as such, it is advisable to consider doing physical therapy and appointments outside, when that is an option. This is particularly true for physical therapy. If your appointment must be indoors, your Orthotist or Prosthetist will inform you about all the measures being taken for your safety, including disinfection of all surfaces, reduced capacity, and social distancing.
It is important you be informed before coming in; this will help protect you, your doctor, and other patients. Orthocraft is committed to providing you with the same high quality of care we always provide while minimizing risk at much as possible. Do not hesitate to ask your medical professional or therapist any questions you may have regarding virtual or physical treatment.
