Acute brace supplier

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I am a manager of a 500 bed acute care therapy department. Currently, we do not

fit or supply many braces. We do coordinate with an orthotist when our patients

need custom back braces or AFO's. Most of our braces (95%) come from our

Central Supply area, and are applied by the nursing staff. This has lead to

problems with wasting braces, education of the patients, training staff, etc.

We used to have an identified ortho tech that fit the patients to the braces.

This person was well versed on all the kinds of braces the hospital had, and how

to fit patients. We no longer have an ortho tech, so each nurse now has the

responsibiliy.

Do other therapy departments routinely fit and distribute braces such as

shoulder immobilizers, knee immobilizers, post op shoes of all kinds,

off-the-shelf neck and back braces, abdominal binders, etc. We get multiple

calls on how to fit these braces, modifying these braces, but do not have access

to the braces to know about sizing, indications, etc. for the variety of braces

the hospital carries.

I was wondering how other hospitals deal with orthotics of all kinds - custom

and off-the-shelf. If the therapy department does supply and fit the braces, do

you bill orthotic fitting and training? Is it financially worth it? Do you

provide follow up for acute care patients? Do you therapists like it, and how

is patient satisfaction?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Robyn Holland, PT, GCS, Acute Care Therapy Manager, Health, Springfield MO