Re: locally made helmet-AGAIN!!! (FDA appr?)

[Guest guest]

,

I can not believe that you are STILL having to address the claim

filing issue, and that the orthotist will not return your calls. If

Philip is developing red marks after 10 minutes of wearing, but the

orthotist continues to insist that it is okay, it appears to me you

have arrived at a treatment impasse.

I look forward to hearing about tomorrow's appt. with Kerr at

Hanger. I really admire your tenacity to continue to be an advocate

for Philip in spite of all the difficulties with which you are

continually dealing.

I have a question for you regarding FDA approval status of your

local helmet. A new FDA approved cranial orthoses just showed up on

the FDA approval list - I think it was cleared around the middle of

November. It is called the " COPC " helmet or band (as in Center for

Orthotic and Prosthetic Care.) I know many of these orthotic

business names sound similar, but I was wondering if that was the

name of the facility in New Albany, IN? I dont't know if it is your

local helmet or not. I am just mentioning it in case it is any help

with insurance for you. The link to the list is the the FILES

section, BANDS AND HELMETS folder.

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> I'm sure you're all sick of hearing about this--but yet another

> development!

>

> I found out that either the ortho never even filed a claim for the

> helmet itself or that Anthem must have " lost " it. Who knows who

> dropped the ball on this one, but the ortho was suppose to send

the

> claim on Monday. I've already put in a call to them to see if it's

> been done yet. Called the ortho, too, on Monday to see if he has

any

> more ideas on keeping the local helmet on. I want to try it as

much

> as I can even though I'm not very comfortable with it. I had it on

> Philip for all of 10 minutes today and he already had a red mark

on

> his forehead and, of course, popped the helmet right off, the

little

> stinker. Of course, the ortho hasn't called me back at all on that

> one even though I've given him numbers where I will be reachable

at

> all times.

>

> Called Hangar here in town and talked to a very nice ortho named

> Kerr. He has been using both STARband and a custom made

helmet

> for about 4-5 years and has only seen a handful of kids with

plagio.

> He casts to get a right fit and sees the baby every two weeks for

> evaluation and adjustment. He works with orthopedic surgeons

rather

> than plastic surgeons, also.

>

> So, while my locally made helmet ortho is very nice and has

probably

> seen more kids with plagio, I figure that this other guy is worth

a

> try at least, even if he hasn't seen as many children. He is using

an

> FDA approved helmet, after all. To my knowledge, our local helmet

has

> not been approved by anybody. Tomorrow afternoon I go for the free

> evaluation. He's going to give me some names of orthopedic

surgeons

> he's worked with, too. If you think about it, it makes more sense

to

> see a specialist who works only with bones (the skull is a bone

after

> all!) than a plastic surgeon who does boob jobs and helmets both!

>

> I desperately wish that I had known a STARband was an option back

in

> September when I started this whole thing.

>

> I'll let you know how it all goes!

>

> in KY

[Guest guest]

That is the name of the place we've gone (COPC). I'm planning on

calling tomorrow to get a hold of the ortho so maybe I'll ask about

FDA approval. One thing the office did do is fax over Philip's head

measurements to the insurance co., at my request. That's a good

thing! I'm sure that this helmet works great for some kids, but I'm

not sure mine is one of them...

I'll post a note and let you all know how this appointment goes

tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it, but in a way, I'm dreading

starting this whole process all over again. Philip's hair is finally

growing in nice and fuzzy . I love little fuzzy headed babies. But

it seems to be that the flatness is not any better at all. Anyway,

thanks for all the encouragement!!!

in KY

> > I'm sure you're all sick of hearing about this--but yet another

> > development!

> >

> > I found out that either the ortho never even filed a claim for

the

> > helmet itself or that Anthem must have " lost " it. Who knows who

> > dropped the ball on this one, but the ortho was suppose to send

> the

> > claim on Monday. I've already put in a call to them to see if

it's

> > been done yet. Called the ortho, too, on Monday to see if he has

> any

> > more ideas on keeping the local helmet on. I want to try it as

> much

> > as I can even though I'm not very comfortable with it. I had it

on

> > Philip for all of 10 minutes today and he already had a red mark

> on

> > his forehead and, of course, popped the helmet right off, the

> little

> > stinker. Of course, the ortho hasn't called me back at all on

that

> > one even though I've given him numbers where I will be reachable

> at

> > all times.

> >

> > Called Hangar here in town and talked to a very nice ortho named

> > Kerr. He has been using both STARband and a custom made

> helmet

> > for about 4-5 years and has only seen a handful of kids with

> plagio.

> > He casts to get a right fit and sees the baby every two weeks for

> > evaluation and adjustment. He works with orthopedic surgeons

> rather

> > than plastic surgeons, also.

> >

> > So, while my locally made helmet ortho is very nice and has

> probably

> > seen more kids with plagio, I figure that this other guy is worth

> a

> > try at least, even if he hasn't seen as many children. He is

using

> an

> > FDA approved helmet, after all. To my knowledge, our local helmet

> has

> > not been approved by anybody. Tomorrow afternoon I go for the

free

> > evaluation. He's going to give me some names of orthopedic

> surgeons

> > he's worked with, too. If you think about it, it makes more sense

> to

> > see a specialist who works only with bones (the skull is a bone

> after

> > all!) than a plastic surgeon who does boob jobs and helmets both!

> >

> > I desperately wish that I had known a STARband was an option back

> in

> > September when I started this whole thing.

> >

> > I'll let you know how it all goes!

> >

> > in KY