ORIGINAL POST:
Hi List members,
We had a therapist ask if we could provide a “SaeboFlex” hand splint
and after locating it on the Internet, we contacted the manufacturer at
www.saebo.com
their course to fit the device and you must be a therapist to attend the
course.
It is being marketed as a “training device” and is not called an
“orthosis”.
Randy McFarland
Fullerton, CA
RESPONSES:
This says it all… Saebo, Inc. is owned and operated by licensed
occupational and physical therapists.>>
What is an “orthotist”? Is this the technician that works for a PT or
OT?
I think Saebo Flex bills the patient/Ins. for the product provided by
the therapist, and the therapist bill the patient for their time.
This looks like a good idea, but how can it ‘training’ the extensors if
it is doing the work for them? It seems to me like it would fall in
line with an orthosis rather than a ‘training device’. It sounds like
you agree, take care.
checked out the site. It’s an interesting “device”. They do refer to it
as an orthosis,so I called the company. I told them that I am a licensed
orthotist and I was interested in the course. I was asked if I am also a
therapist. When I said “no” I was told that I can not take the course.
Apparently this is because part of the course covers neuralgic training.
It seems that OTs are able to diagnose (I thought that was the Dr’s
job) and provide orthotic treatment but we are either not allowed to do
gait training or are expected to provide it (and everything else we do)
for free.
AND it’s $1,000 for the device!
I, too was asked by a therapist if I could provide these orthoses and
found out the same information when I tracked them down. What did the
therapist say when got back to him/her about providing these?
I think we have seen the best days of O&P pass by. Sad. I am glad that
I am nearer to the end of my career than at the beginning. There just
seems to be too many forces working against the profession.
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error message to our IT guy, Bruce.
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