The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has implemented a new policy that eliminates the need for veterans to complete an annual eligibility verification report in order to ensure that pension benefits are continued, according to a news release.…
Month: December 2012
Wearers favor seal in-liners in study of socket satisfaction
Researchers studying the effects of three different suspension systems on wearer satisfaction and perceived use found that wearers were the most satisfied with seal-in liners compared with polyethylene foam liners and silicone liners with shuttle locks. Questionnaires were administered to…
Amputation reduces pain associated with regional pain syndrome
Amputation positively contributes to the lives of patients with long-standing, therapy-resistant type-I complex regional pain syndrome, according to a study published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The study included 21 patients who underwent amputation of a nonfunctional…
Device monitored sock use in transtibial amputees
Researchers developed a device that uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to continuously monitor sock use in transtibial prosthesis wearers, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development. “People with limb loss are commonly advised…
Custom and prefabricated insoles comparable in reducing peak pressure
A recent study found that prefabricated insoles perform comparably to custom-made insoles in reducing peak plantar pressure and ulceration risks in patients with neuropathic complications resulting from diabetes. One hundred nineteen participants with diabetic neuropathy were randomly assigned to wear…
Diabetes has been associated with advanced stages of cancer and increased mortality in patients with breast cancer. However, diabetes is often undiagnosed until after the breast cancer diagnosis, according to a recently published study in BMC Cancer. “Our objectives were…
Raymond Margiano inducted into Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame
Raymond Margiano was recently inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame and awarded the Veteran Entrepreneur Award as a result of his more than 25 years experience founding and leading four successful businesses. According to a press release, Margiano started…
Levels of test-retest reliability high for plantar loading, foot geometry in patients with DPN
Patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy experienced high levels of test-retest reliability for dynamic plantar loading and foot geometry, which differed by foot region, according to the results of a recently published study. Researchers collected dynamic plantar loading and foot geometry…
OIG recommends lowering back orthosis fee schedule
Medicare claims for L0631 back orthoses more than doubled from 2008 to 2011, increasing Medicare allowances from $36 million to more than $96 million. The Office of Inspector General recommends that CMS use supplier acquisition cost information to lower the…
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an education initiative and set of online tools to guide health care providers and organizations on protecting patient information found on on mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets,…