O&P’s Need For Measurement Based Testing
The field of prosthetics is moving from experienced based (qualitative analysis) to measurement based (quantitative analysis) decision making when patients are reviewed and tested to determine componentry. The old model consisted of questions (How does it feel to a patient?, How does it look to the clinician?), but the new model will be made of measurements (NEW: unbiased recorded evidence of patient capability, and Repeatable measurements to track changes over time). In the evolving healthcare model, cost justification must be quantified, and that will help amputees get the most advanced products and care that are appropriate to their functional level.
A Prosthetist Needs to: (1) Document the functional capability of a patient after delivery of prosthetic componentry, (2) Track functional benefit during subsequent patient review, and (3) Quantify the device usage to justify reimbursement.
With setup time as minimal as putting on a pair of shoes, the vision and force sensing system converts patient data into actionable information while hiding technical complexity from the users. Near Real-Time report generation with auto identified key parameters creates documentation for re-imbursement from third party payers. Two of the major advances when using this system are that it (1) Drives Evidence-Based practices & enables improved patient care, and (2) Does not require advanced Gait Lab training to use.
Gait data is captured with a multi-camera marker-less motion capture system, and force data is captured with a shoe insert. The Markerless motion capture system involves a multiple mono lens camera system spaced at intervals about a room, and commercially available software used to convert multiple viewpoint spherical component video into a combined 3D video set, which generates the 3D skeleton model of the person performing unconstrained activities. Inverse Dynamics calculations are created on the combined data set, but even before that level of mathematics is applied, the Ground Reaction Force vector can be overlaid on 3D video to aid prosthetists with alignment, rehabilitation, and gait-training of the patients
Final gait reports are created for better patient acceptance as well as reimbursement documentation, and can include documentation of variable cadence, reports on completing activities of daily living, and measures of symmetry to prevent long-term overuse injury and re-hospitalization. Prosthetic vs Muscle torque contributions can be quantified and displayed back to the user. Acceleration Analysis can be performed to quantify the effect of joint forces and torques on each and every limb segment, as well as the body’s center of mass.
Prosthetic Care is a difficult market involving 4 different groups with competing needs: the User [Amputee], the Selector [Prosthetist], and the Payer [Insurance] and the Auditor. Insurance and Medicare Part D payers (those funding DME, or Durable Medical Equipment) are increasingly unwilling to fund high tech devices based on the subjective opinion of Prosthetists. Payers are requesting quantified patient capability, and are moving toward demanding a history of patient improvement data. Current methods of gait lab recording and analysis are prohibitively time consuming and expensive for everyday or widespread use at prosthetic clinics, but use of the GaitKeeper Informatics System can provide un-biased, quantified proof of patient activity.
GaitKeeper™ is a patented quantitative measuring technology, created by Anatomical Engineering Inc. GaitKeeper™ is a full-service solution that provides unbiased, quantified proof and patient activity reporting for the O&P industry. For more information about how your practice can benefit from the GaitKeeper™ system visit AnatomicalEngineering.com
GaitKeeper™ is a registered trademark and patented technology. The GaitKeeper™ name and brand marks should not be used and or in likeness without the written consent from Anatomical Engineering Inc.
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Chris Cooper – chris@anatomicalengineering.com