Guest guest Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 We went to Trish at CIRS and had a great experience and saw good correction in my son. I think you will be in good hands with her. If she didn't mention it to you, when you go for your fitting appointment plan on sticking around awhile, perhaps leaving the office for lunch then going back for one more check before you head home (Ikea is nearby and has a nice place to eat lunch). This will give you some time in the band to check for any red spots that may appear right away and you can get the band adjusted before heading home. Also, when making future appointments, I always made it for 1 pm, right after lunch, so there was never any delay in getting seen. Good luck with the band! Molly Novato, CA Nicolas, 4 years old, STARband graduate On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 7:04 PM, Dizzyrey <dswift29@...> wrote: The only post I have made so far was an introduction, but I thought I would give an update on our progress with my daughter's plagio. We noticed Zoey's flat head since birth and began researching and asking our doc about treatment options at her two month appt. He said it would right itself, but never did. At seven months we asked her doc for a referral. We were sent to Dr. Ciricillo, a pediatric neurosurgeon in Sac. He is a genius with brain tumors but I suggest not seeing him if your child only needs treatment for plagio. He is strongly against bands. We wanted to get a second opinion so, with the suggestion of a fellow group member, we made an appt with an orthotist. First, we visited Hanger in Roseville, Ca. I did not get a good feeling from the orthotist or their product in general. They had no orthotist that specialized in helmets or one that had much experience. Our second visit was with Trish at CIRS in Oakland. While reading this group's posts, Trish came highly recommended as a great woman and orthotist. We agree! Dec 22nd we made the 2 hour trip and met with Trish. She was so helpful, courteous, knowledgeable, and personable. CIRS uses the STARband by Orthoamerica. Orthoamerica uses a laser scanner to take the head measurements. The process was so easy and literally took only 2 seconds to get the data. Zoey measured at 12.1mm. She has a moderate case with no ear asymmetry or facial deformity. We are very lucky. We ordered her helmet that day and are scheduled for a fitting on Jan 4. Now, I am in the process of dealing with the insurance. Our plan covers everything if we stay in-network. CIRS is not in-network so I need to learn more about their coverage for out-of-network services. Regardless, we are still excited to get this moving and will pay for whatever Zoey needs. When we began this process we were going to travel 9 hours to CT for a DOCband. Since reading the plagio posts and learning more about the bands and orthotists who fit them, I believe success of the band lies mostly in the experience of the orthotist. We of course would have traveled to Pasadena but are very glad to have found a clinic so much closer. More updates to come.- DesZoey 8 months 12.1 mm gets STARband in a week------------------------------------For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Great advice Molly. What was the insurance process like for you? We may run into a problem because we have Healthnet and Trish is out-of-network. I see you are in Novato, was she in-network for you? Or did your location matter? Thanks, Des Zoey 8 months gets STARband in a week > > > The only post I have made so far was an introduction, but I thought I > > would give an update on our progress with my daughter's plagio. > > We noticed Zoey's flat head since birth and began researching and asking > > our doc about treatment options at her two month appt. He said it would > > right itself, but never did. At seven months we asked her doc for a > > referral. We were sent to Dr. Ciricillo, a pediatric neurosurgeon in Sac. He > > is a genius with brain tumors but I suggest not seeing him if your child > > only needs treatment for plagio. He is strongly against bands. > > We wanted to get a second opinion so, with the suggestion of a fellow > > group member, we made an appt with an orthotist. First, we visited Hanger in > > Roseville, Ca. I did not get a good feeling from the orthotist or their > > product in general. They had no orthotist that specialized in helmets or one > > that had much experience. > > Our second visit was with Trish at CIRS in Oakland. While reading this > > group's posts, Trish came highly recommended as a great woman and orthotist. > > We agree! Dec 22nd we made the 2 hour trip and met with Trish. She was so > > helpful, courteous, knowledgeable, and personable. > > CIRS uses the STARband by Orthoamerica. Orthoamerica uses a laser > > scanner to take the head measurements. The process was so easy and literally > > took only 2 seconds to get the data. Zoey measured at 12.1mm. She has a > > moderate case with no ear asymmetry or facial deformity. We are very lucky. > > We ordered her helmet that day and are scheduled for a fitting on Jan 4. > > Now, I am in the process of dealing with the insurance. Our plan > > covers everything if we stay in-network. CIRS is not in-network so I need to > > learn more about their coverage for out-of-network services. Regardless, we > > are still excited to get this moving and will pay for whatever Zoey needs. > > When we began this process we were going to travel 9 hours to CT for > > a DOCband. Since reading the plagio posts and learning more about the bands > > and orthotists who fit them, I believe success of the band lies mostly in > > the experience of the orthotist. We of course would have traveled to > > Pasadena but are very glad to have found a clinic so much closer. > > More updates to come. > > > > - Des > > Zoey 8 months 12.1 mm gets STARband in a week > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 We were fortunate that we didn't have any problems with insurance. We have Kaiser and CIRS was considered in-network and they covered 80% of the band (the band was considered Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and our specific Kaiser plan covered DME at 80%). We had a Hanger location 5 minutes away from us but they were not covered by Kaiser so we opted to make the drive to Oakland so the band would be covered. Molly Novato, California Nicolas, 4, tort & plagio, STARband (CIRS Oakland) 4/24/06-9/12/06, Graduate! , 6.5 , 10 Re: Zoey's update Great advice Molly. What was the insurance process like for you? We may run into a problem because we have Healthnet and Trish is out-of-network. I see you are in Novato, was she in-network for you? Or did your location matter? Thanks, Des Zoey 8 months gets STARband in a week > > > The only post I have made so far was an introduction, but I thought I > > would give an update on our progress with my daughter's plagio. > > We noticed Zoey's flat head since birth and began researching and asking > > our doc about treatment options at her two month appt. He said it would > > right itself, but never did. At seven months we asked her doc for a > > referral. We were sent to Dr. Ciricillo, a pediatric neurosurgeon in Sac. He > > is a genius with brain tumors but I suggest not seeing him if your child > > only needs treatment for plagio. He is strongly against bands. > > We wanted to get a second opinion so, with the suggestion of a fellow > > group member, we made an appt with an orthotist. First, we visited Hanger in > > Roseville, Ca. I did not get a good feeling from the orthotist or their > > product in general. They had no orthotist that specialized in helmets or one > > that had much experience. > > Our second visit was with Trish at CIRS in Oakland. While reading this > > group's posts, Trish came highly recommended as a great woman and orthotist. > > We agree! Dec 22nd we made the 2 hour trip and met with Trish. She was so > > helpful, courteous, knowledgeable, and personable. > > CIRS uses the STARband by Orthoamerica. Orthoamerica uses a laser > > scanner to take the head measurements. The process was so easy and literally > > took only 2 seconds to get the data. Zoey measured at 12.1mm. She has a > > moderate case with no ear asymmetry or facial deformity. We are very lucky. > > We ordered her helmet that day and are scheduled for a fitting on Jan 4. > > Now, I am in the process of dealing with the insurance. Our plan > > covers everything if we stay in-network. CIRS is not in-network so I need to > > learn more about their coverage for out-of-network services. Regardless, we > > are still excited to get this moving and will pay for whatever Zoey needs. > > When we began this process we were going to travel 9 hours to CT for > > a DOCband. Since reading the plagio posts and learning more about the bands > > and orthotists who fit them, I believe success of the band lies mostly in > > the experience of the orthotist. We of course would have traveled to > > Pasadena but are very glad to have found a clinic so much closer. > > More updates to come. > > > > - Des > > Zoey 8 months 12.1 mm gets STARband in a week > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2009 Report Share Posted December 31, 2009 How wonderful that you had no problems. We also have a Hanger 5 minutes away but they do not have helmets. About 20 minutes away is another Hanger that does do helmets, but after an intital evaluation I did not feel comfortable with the orthotist. So, we chose to see Trish. We can cover this out-of-pocket but would of course like to be reimbursed. I will continue the insurance battle. - Des > > > > > The only post I have made so far was an introduction, but I thought I > > > would give an update on our progress with my daughter's plagio. > > > We noticed Zoey's flat head since birth and began researching and > asking > > > our doc about treatment options at her two month appt. He said it would > > > right itself, but never did. At seven months we asked her doc for a > > > referral. We were sent to Dr. Ciricillo, a pediatric neurosurgeon in > Sac. He > > > is a genius with brain tumors but I suggest not seeing him if your child > > > only needs treatment for plagio. He is strongly against bands. > > > We wanted to get a second opinion so, with the suggestion of a fellow > > > group member, we made an appt with an orthotist. First, we visited > Hanger in > > > Roseville, Ca. I did not get a good feeling from the orthotist or their > > > product in general. They had no orthotist that specialized in helmets or > one > > > that had much experience. > > > Our second visit was with Trish at CIRS in Oakland. While reading > this > > > group's posts, Trish came highly recommended as a great woman and > orthotist. > > > We agree! Dec 22nd we made the 2 hour trip and met with Trish. She was > so > > > helpful, courteous, knowledgeable, and personable. > > > CIRS uses the STARband by Orthoamerica. Orthoamerica uses a laser > > > scanner to take the head measurements. The process was so easy and > literally > > > took only 2 seconds to get the data. Zoey measured at 12.1mm. She has a > > > moderate case with no ear asymmetry or facial deformity. We are very > lucky. > > > We ordered her helmet that day and are scheduled for a fitting on Jan 4. > > > Now, I am in the process of dealing with the insurance. Our plan > > > covers everything if we stay in-network. CIRS is not in-network so I > need to > > > learn more about their coverage for out-of-network services. Regardless, > we > > > are still excited to get this moving and will pay for whatever Zoey > needs. > > > When we began this process we were going to travel 9 hours to CT > for > > > a DOCband. Since reading the plagio posts and learning more about the > bands > > > and orthotists who fit them, I believe success of the band lies mostly > in > > > the experience of the orthotist. We of course would have traveled to > > > Pasadena but are very glad to have found a clinic so much closer. > > > More updates to come. > > > > > > - Des > > > Zoey 8 months 12.1 mm gets STARband in a week > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > > > For more plagio info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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