A young and determined Deanna Fish had a plan: she intended to get into the medical field by completing a four-year degree in rehabilitation. The plan was to acquire that first degree, get out of rehabilitation, go back to school, and pursue a "real" career. These were lofty goals for a young woman who was paying her own way through school and realizing that her funds weren't stretching quite as far as they needed to.
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| Deanna Fish, CPO, and fiancé Troy Farnsworth, CP, FAAOP. |
Applying to the University of Washington's Orthotic and Prosthetic Program was an afterthought, as she had originally considered occupational therapy or physical therapy. Fish was contacted two weeks before the O&P program began and advised that a spot had opened up if she was still interested. Her curiosity got the best of her, and she met Al Dralle, CPO, who was then the director of the O&P program. Dralle answered her questions, led her through the student and hospital facilities, and encouraged her to pursue an education in O&P. The extra effort and kindness shown her by Dralle was enough to convince Fish to make the change--one she has never regretted.
During her 20 years in the field, Fish emphasizes how fortunate she has been to meet so many incredibly skilled and dedicated clinicians. This is part of what has kept her interested in O&P. Her involvement in patient care, manufacturing, education, and research has broadened her skills and knowledge base as a clinician. She has occupied the position of staff orthotist/ prosthetist for Columbia Prosthetics Inc., Columbia, Missouri, and Fidelity Orthopedics Inc., Dayton, Ohio.
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| Shauna (niece), Alex, and Brayden. |
In December 1988, Fish accepted the position of clinical director and orthotist/prosthetist for Webb's K.E. Karson Inc., Corvallis, Oregon. Beckoning her in July 1991 was Oregon Orthotic System Inc. of Albany, Oregon [now Becker Oregon], where she became marketing director and subsequently vice-president. June 1997 brought a change of scenery when Fish chose to become director of orthotics for NovaCare O&P, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. From January to November of 1999 she also served as NovaCare's vice president of orthotics. Fish would head west in December 1999 to make her home in Salt Lake City, Utah, as she accepted the position of national director of clinical training and development for Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Orthomerica Products Inc., Orlando, Florida, welcomed Fish as its clinical education manager from October 2000 until June 2004. Since July 2004, Fish has served as chief clinical officer for Linkia, Hanger Orthopedic Group's managed care organization (MCO), headquartered in Bethesda.
Patient Care Priority
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| Troy and the kids up on the property this winter. |
The original plan to get out of rehabilitation had obviously changed dramatically. She did return to school for a masters degree in biomechanics from the University of Oregon. Instead of leading her elsewhere, it has aided her in her quest to provide better patient care at all levels. Fish enjoys immensely the challenges and opportunities in O&P. "O&P practitioners are creating great advances in our treatment care programs for the patients we serve," she states with pride. Technology is an asset that allows practitioners to offer improved solutions for the patient, Fish observes. She advocates collaborating as a profession with other healthcare disciplines and working in multidisciplinary settings; by doing so, she feels patient outcomes will continue to improve and ultimately allow patients to receive the benefits of higher levels of function and independence.
It is apparent that Fish has great empathy for her patients. They have all left a deep impression upon her. One in particular does stand out when she is pressed for an example. An elderly gentleman, who had been referred to her after suffering a stroke, had multiple difficulties to face: right-sided hemiplegia, a dysfunctional arm and leg, a traumatic transradial upperleft amputation from years earlier (but he had never worn a prosthesis), and being in need of a right ankle-foot orthosis. To top it off, he suffered from aphasia--the inability to express oneself verbally.
"This gentleman often became frustrated with his inability to communicate," relates Fish, "but the one thing he could always verbalize was the song 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat.' He, his wife, and I spent a considerable amount of time singing together when we had difficulty communicating." A form of comic relief? Possibly. Yet it always made them laugh, and then all three were able to focus again and be more productive with the tasks at hand. Experiences such as this one truly reflect the commitment Fish feels to her patients and profession.
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| Marissa (sleeping in the wheelbarrow) and niece, Shauna. |
Fish strongly believes that two things of great importance are required to succeed in O&P. "Anyone starting a business in O&P must be absolutely committed to patient care," recommends Fish. "The people who receive our services benefit not only from our skills, abilities, and knowledge, but also from our time, patience, and empathy." The other requirement would be a commitment to the profession itself. This includes promoting the highest level of patient care possible. Quality patient care, ongoing education, and outcomes documentation along with research and development, are all extremely necessary, she believes. Rehabilitation is a team effort, so communicating information within O&P and outside the profession will only serve to strengthen the combined effort of all involved, she said.
Newest Challenge: Linkia
The latest challenge in her illustrious career is as chief clinical officer of Linkia. Fish touts Linkia as "the first and only managed care organization dedicated solely to serving the needs of the orthotic and prosthetic community." Its mission is to advance the O&P profession to its rightful position in the rehabilitation care continuum by bridging the gap between insurance companies and the O&P profession. She feels this can be accomplished by a dedication to innovative perspectives, clinical excellence, and technology. Once again, Fish has lofty goals and aspirations. It would seem quite likely that with her direction and expertise, these can be achieved to the benefit of all involved. It is of the utmost importance to her that the unique needs of each partner in O&P patient care provider networks are met. Cost-effectiveness is a concern that can be addressed through simplified electronic billing and eligibility verification as well as prior authorization. She stresses that the goal is to make the professional relation connections between the healthcare company partner and the O&P clinician one that benefits both sides.
Enjoying Family and Outdoors
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| Deanna and Troy's new neighbors come by the new cabin for a visit. |
Fish does enjoy her downtime, that is, when she is actually at home! She shares her full lifewith fiancé Troy Farnsworth, CP, FAAOP, and their "three amazing children," Marissa, Brayden, and Alex. Idaho was her place of birth; she spent her youth in a small town outside of Seattle, Washington, and now her family resides in Salt Lake City, which they absolutely love. Outdoor sports are a great pleasure for them all. They are in the process of building a log home outside of Park City, Utah, where they can all participate in the many and varied winter sports.
The plan that led Deanna Fish, CPO, to this point in her life has worked well for her. It has led her to a field she truly loves, a career that is fulfilling and eventful, and she can enjoy it all with her family. Who knows what her next "plan" will be? You can be assured that she will approach each new challenge with commitment and determination and enjoy it every step of the way.
