Outcomes: Myth and Mystery?

Unless you have been unconscious for the past decade, you already know that the buzzword "outcomes measures" has been increasingly popular in health care circles as the presumed "magic bullet" to somehow rationalize both care and its reimbursement. Unfortunately, scientifically valid outcomes measures cost millions of dollars to develop making it virtually impossible for a small profession such as P&O to undertake such studies. [Interestingly, the insurance companies who use the "lack of objective outcomes" as an excuse to deny coverage have no interest in funding outcomes development studies!]

I have been an affiliate member of the Canadian Association for Prosthetists and Orthotists for decades, both to support the profession as well as to stay abreast of the achievements of our colleagues to the north. When the CAPO annual publication, Alignment, arrived recently, I was stunned and delighted to find an excellent and practical summary of outcomes measurements for prosthetics within.

The title of the article is In Search of Prosthetic Outcome Measures, and the author is Dr. Ed Lemaire, a longtime clinical researcher with the former Royal Ottowa Rehabilitation Center with a lifetime interest in P&O services and studies. Ed was kind enough to permit digitally reprinting the article in this Corner, and to obtain official permission from CAPO to do so. You can contact Ed to discuss the article or to ask questions at: elemaire@rohcg.on.ca

Reader Comments: Read all user comments Osseointegrated Finger Prosthesis Hi everyone... I'm looking for any information about " Osseointegrated Finger Prosthesis" and Doctor Manurangsee. If anyone has any information, pictures, or news paper adds... it wouldbe greatly appreciated!! You can e-mail it to: maubicch... read more - Mauro   12/6/2002 John's Corner Hi John, John's Corner looks great!! I'm sure one of the most visited sections on the site. Keep up the fantastic job...as always. I miss ya! Karen Dinsmore - Karen Dinsmore   10/8/2000 HELP!!!!! Hi everyone... I have to do a project on what Geometry has to do with prostehtics. If anyone has any nformation, pictures, or news paper adds... it wouldbe greatly appreciated!! You can e-mail it to me @ Jamizhott10@aol.com Jami - Jami Guido   9/16/2000 Re: HELP!!!!! Take a close look at these prosthetic knees: the Total Knee is a six bar mechanism, the 3R46 is a four bar mech, and the Mauch is a single axis joint. There is a LOT of geometry involved in the design of such joints, for them to swing and... read more - Juan Jose Ochoa   10/12/2004 More details on prepreg carbon fibre orthoses Andreas Wuersching is a friend and very good orthotist who has quite a bit of experience with custom made carbon fibre orthoses using prepreg materials, as highlighted in last month's Corner. He is open to sharing his experiences or answer... read more - John Michael CPO   9/1/2000