  Teamwork Procedures
The entire team meets on a weekly basis to review and update
team members on every amputee that is currently being treated.
This weekly discussion enhances team communication and problem
solving. These discussions move the rehabilitation process
along in a more efficient manner for improved service delivery.
We believe that amputee empowerment results from an excellent
program of education so that the amputee can make decisions
for their future function and life. Each phase of our rehabilitation
program involves teaching the amputee about the options they
have for their future life and prosthetic restoration. We also
educate our amputees about the expected level of function following
their personal investment in a comprehensive rehabilitation
program.
The entire team meets with the amputee and their family at
the beginning for treatment planning and then on a monthly
basis to develop objectively measurable, time-limited goals
that help to monitor progress throughout the entire period
of planned treatment. These monthly meetings provide an excellent
opportunity for the amputee to provide regular input into their
treatment plan and to better understand the expected outcomes
for function and community integration.
 Associated
Programs
We are closely allied with the members of the Institute for
Limb Preservation and work closely with its team of specialists
including, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, vascular surgery,
infectious disease, wound care specialists and pain management
physicians to provide a complete array of services that may potentially
aid the comprehensive management of the person with an amputation.
We are closely allied with recreational programs for our amputees
and can network with these programs depending on the interests
of our amputees. We often use recreational pursuits as part of
our rehabilitation program.
Pain
Management
Dr. Meier, other specialist physicians and psychologists in our
Center work in concert to evaluate and use a multi-disciplinary
approach for both acute and chronic pain. Following the initial
amputation surgery, most amputees will experience both incisional
(post-operative) and phantom pain. However, within six to eight
weeks following the amputation most all pain should subside and
not be a problem for the amputee. However, a few amputees go onto
having longer lasting pain that interferes with their quality of
life. This type of pain requires a variety of pain treatment techniques
that our team offers. In our experience, the most frequent amputee
pain problem is related to use of the prosthesis and often reflects
a poor fitting prosthesis or a soft tissue problem in the residual
limb. Our team will work with the amputee to sort through the possible
causes of the pain and attempt to correct the causes as quickly
as possible.
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