Treatment Setting

Our Center of Excellence is now located at the Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, a state of the art, tertiary medical center in the heart of Denver. All services that an amputee is likely to need throughout their life are now located under one roof in this world-class Medical Center. With this array of services, the amputee can receive all the rehabilitation they would need just a few yards from where they are initially evaluated.

Administrative Assistant's Role

We use a team coordinator to facilitate the scheduling of appointments so that our amputees do not fall through the cracks of healthcare bureaucracy. This system of coordination appears to decrease the anxiety that is often produced when a person enters a new system of service delivery. In addition, the personal service that is provided by our coordinator can facilitate the rehabilitation process and leads to better amputee satisfaction.

Team Coordinator's Role

We use a team coordinator to tie together the various components of the team and to assist the amputee in any problem solving that is needed. The team coordinator also assists the amputee in identifying issues that need to be emphasized or concerns that need to be resolved. This coordinator essential serves as our internal case manager in order to facilitate the smooth delivery of services and to enhance amputee satisfaction.

Timelines for Amputation Rehabilitation

The earlier that rehabilitation services are begun, the earlier that function and emotional adaptation can occur. We prefer to be involved before the amputation occurs but certainly within a week of the amputation. Our team can assist the amputee in understanding the entire rehabilitative process and the prosthetic options that are available. This early treatment involvement provides an opportunity to assist with the emotional transition that occurs and to assist in restoring function prior to prosthetic fabrication. We work to have the uncomplicated leg amputee achieve wearing and using a leg prosthesis within 12 weeks of the amputation or even sooner. Most uncomplicated arm amputees should be wearing and using a prosthesis for basic skills within eight weeks of their arm loss.

Maximum Prosthetic and Physical Function

We focus on the individual who has experienced an amputation and their desire for the best possible function, either with or without the use of a prosthesis. Honing the body for the desired level of function requires specific types of physical and occupational therapy. Our team of therapists has extraordinary experience in preparing persons for active lives.

Arm Amputation Specialty Experience

Our Center has one of the world's largest experiences with arm amputation and arm amputation rehabilitation. We work with all types of prosthetic arm components including electric components and the more conventional, body powered component arm parts. Forty percent of our patients have lost one or both arms. We have extensive experience in assisting the bilateral arm amputee returning to full function and independence using both body powered prostheses, electric prostheses and hybrid prosthetic arms.