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Otto Bock Initiative Includes Upper-Extremity Professional Services Team
By Pat Prigge, CP, Julie Schick, CP, OTR/L Bambi Anderson, OTR/L;
Heather Hoyt, OTR;
Shawn Swanson OTR/L
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Bambi Anderson, OTR/L, instructs during a recent seminar. Photo courtesy of Otto Bock Health Care. |
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Otto Bock Health Care, a leader in myoelectric
technology for over 30 years, has dedicated a team of
upper-extremity clinical specialists to focus on education in
upper-extremity prosthetics. The team consists of two certified
prosthetists and three occupational therapists, whose goal is to
improve outcomes for upper-extremity limb loss clients. By adding
occupational therapists to Otto Bock's professional services staff,
the team can act as a liaison between therapists and prosthetists,
provide educational seminars, and, when appropriate, consult with
clinicians regarding individual clients.
The two distinct professionals involved in the rehabilitation
process of an upper-extremity limb loss client are the certified
prosthetist and the occupational therapist (a physical therapist
may also fill this role in certain settings). Functional outcomes
have been shown to improve dramatically with skilled team
intervention. However, a team approach is still rare. Ideally, an
occupational therapist is involved early to help prepare the
client's residual limb so it can better utilize a prosthesis. After
a certified prosthetist fits the client, the therapist also
initiates functional training so the client becomes more proficient
in using his/her prosthesis. Although occupational therapists can
play a critical role in patient satisfaction and have a great
impact on how much the prosthesis is used, they usually receive
little or no formal education in upper-extremity limb loss and have
limited exposure to this type of patient in clinical settings.
The training that Otto Bock provides will assist the prosthetist
in having a successful client outcome. If the prosthetist is not
currently working with a therapist, Otto Bock's Professional
Services team members can host an informational/educational
in-service with the prosthetist at the prosthetic facility, a local
rehabilitation center, hospital, or hand clinic to generate
interest in treating clients with upper-extremity limb loss.
Educating Prosthetic Students
In January, Otto Bock taught a two-day educational program in
upper-extremity myoelectrics for prosthetic students at
Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. The first day was
dedicated to the theory behind myoelectrics, including information
on the importance of occupational therapy in the success of
myoelectric clients. The second day was a hands-on lab
concentrating on fabrication, fit, and component selection for
upper-extremity limb loss clients. Once the prostheses were
completed, functional tasks and controls training were addressed by
Otto Bock's occupational therapists with each prosthetic student
and upper-extremity limb loss client in attendance. The program was
very successful and will be repeated at other prosthetic schools
throughout the year.
Educating Occupational Therapists
In February, Otto Bock's first full-day program for therapists
was held in Orlando, Florida. The seminar, entitled,
"Upper-Extremity Limb Loss Rehabilitation: An Introductory Course
for Therapists," was attended by ten therapists, two prosthetists,
three client models, and one case manager. It was truly a dynamic
day, focusing on amputation levels, prosthetic options, an
introduction to myoelectrics, computerized evaluation tools for
muscle site testing, control options in myoelectrics, and pre- and
post-prosthetic therapy. Hands-on labs provided therapists with an
opportunity to test a client's muscle sites using Otto Bock's
MyoBoy® system, an evaluation tool that can also be used for
training, documentation, and component selection. A hands-on lab
for work with electrodes and other MYOBOCK" products was also
provided. Throughout the day, the client models assisted the
therapists in learning about real-life concerns faced by
upper-extremity limb loss clients on a daily basis. One of the
best-known experts in occupational therapy for upper-extremity limb
loss, Diane Atkins, OTR/L, consulted with Otto Bock on the course
structure and content and attended the Orlando class.
Quick Find: EDLE603
Otto Bock's Professional Services Team will conduct more courses
around the country throughout the year. For more information,
please contact Otto Bock Health Care's Professional Services
Department at 800.328.4058 or check course schedules online at www.ottobockus.com. Pat Prigge, CP; Julie
Schick, CP, OTR/L; Bambi Anderson, OTR/L; Heather Hoyt, OTR; and
Shawn Swanson, OTR/L, are members of the upper-extremity team. 
Table Of Contents - June 2003
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