In response to the recent posting regarding referrring to amputees as
“patients” instead of “clients”.
I have to respectively disagree with the authors assertion that a
Prosthetist is no more than a tradesman, or mechanic, who is hired to fill
an order for a part or supply. I believe that there is a very important
distinction between care giver and mechanic.
Perhaps it is because I work in a hospital setting, but I do not believe any
of the patients that I provide care for, see out relationship as one where
a customer is hiring a mechanic to build them something. Of course there
is a part of what we do that is technical and requires reimbursement.
However, I think that it is degrading to the entire Prosthetic profession to
look at what we do as the same as a mechanic.
Without getting to longwinded here, I will pose a couple of questions
myself.
Is the patient / Physical Therapist relationship any different? They are
hired to provide a service. They are paid to do so.
Is the patient / Surgeon relationship any different? They are hired to
work on the body and are also paid to do so.
I do not believe that prosthetists are intentionally trying to offend
amputees by referring to them as patients, but when we are called in as
part of the rehabilitation team to assist with getting a person back on their
feet, or back to work, they see it as a patient / care giver relationship.
Thanks for letting me vent a little.
Steve Fletcher, CPO
Shands Hospital at the University of Florida
