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'The Plan' for Deanna Fish, CPO —and Where It Went
By Jodi Mills 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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. 
Table Of Contents - June 2005
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