How do you find where the closest band facility is???

[Guest guest]

This may be a dumb question, but how do you find STAR band or other

helmet locations? I went to Orthomerica because I did a search for

STAR and I got Orthomerica's website. I couldn't find any locations

anywhere and need to get back to work.

Will has a DOC band from CT and that's the only brochure our ped.

gave us. It never occurred to me there might be a closer place (to

be considered in-network). CT is 96 miles for us, round trip. I'd

love to get reimbursed for the 20% now that Will has to get another

band.

Can anyone advise? Thanks!

leigh

Will 4/11/04

[Guest guest]

> This may be a dumb question, but how do you find STAR band or other

> helmet locations? I went to Orthomerica because I did a search for

> STAR and I got Orthomerica's website. I couldn't find any locations

> anywhere and need to get back to work.

>

> Will has a DOC band from CT and that's the only brochure our ped.

> gave us. It never occurred to me there might be a closer place (to

> be considered in-network). CT is 96 miles for us, round trip. I'd

> love to get reimbursed for the 20% now that Will has to get another

> band.

>

> Can anyone advise? Thanks!

> leigh

> Will 4/11/04

[Guest guest]

Have you checked our helmet/band database as well?

, mom to Hannah, DOCgrad 7/29

Cape Cod, Ma

> This may be a dumb question, but how do you find STAR band or

other

> helmet locations? I went to Orthomerica because I did a search for

> STAR and I got Orthomerica's website. I couldn't find any

locations

> anywhere and need to get back to work.

>

> Will has a DOC band from CT and that's the only brochure our ped.

> gave us. It never occurred to me there might be a closer place (to

> be considered in-network). CT is 96 miles for us, round trip. I'd

> love to get reimbursed for the 20% now that Will has to get

another

> band.

>

> Can anyone advise? Thanks!

> leigh

> Will 4/11/04

[Guest guest]

Leigh,

It's not a dumb question, at all - the answer is that you'll have to

do some detective work to find out what is available near you. Here

are some ideas to help.

We have some facilities that we know about here at the group site in

the Database section of the group in the Helmet/Band Database. Have

you already checked there to start? There are many more locations

than are listed, so it takes some legwork on your part to find out

if there are any facilities with a qualified, experienced ortho near

you that also offer the helmet/band. The first line of the

Helmet/Band Databases lists the websites of known products - this

can get you the email address of the various brands to see if any

have locations near you. Some sites list their locations, but most

don't. In addition, the orthotics industry is constantly changing,

with bigger companies buying up littler facilities, so product

offered will sometimes change, experienced orthos might transfer

somewhere else, etc.

Cranial Tech does list their DOCband facilities on their website, so

I think we have all of their listings in the Helmet/Band Database.

Orthomerica does not post facilities that carry Starband products on

their website, except for a short listing of places that offer the

Starscanner. You will have to contact them by email and await a

reply from them regarding Starbands near you. Here is an excerpt

from their website FAQ on this issue:

How do I get an Orthomerica cranial remolding orthosis for my

infant?

You may contact Orthomerica's Customer Service department at

custserv@.... Please include your city and state in the

email message, and a customer service representative at Orthomerica

will respond with a list of orthotists in your area who currently

provide Orthomerica's cranial remolding orthoses. It is in your best

interest to thoroughly interview the practitioner(s) and make sure

that you feel comfortable in your communications with the facility

and the practitioner. We highly recommend that you ask prospective

orthotists specific questions.

Hanger might also be an option near you. They are a huge O & P

company with over 600 locations nationwide. However, only a very

small minority of them have any level of experience with cranial

banding. Their product is the Hanger Cranial Band, which looks like

the Starband, and is also an FDA approved, active band. Depending

on the particular Hanger location, they may offer the Starband as

well. To find a Hanger location near you, you'll need to go to

www.hanger.com , and then click on " Facility Locator. " After that,

you'll have to call every option to find out if they offer cranial

banding, and what level of experience they have.

If you need help compiling a list of questions for a potential

ortho, here are some links (if the link is more than one line long,

copy and paste the entire link to your address bar to get directed

correctly:)

Cranial Tech's Questions to Ask the Doctor or Orthotist:

The quality of treatment available varies widely for children with

plagiocephaly. One way to avoid pitfalls is to be aware of them.

Print this page and use it for your research.

http://www.cranialtech.com/Treatment/selecting.html

Orthomerica's Questions for Parents to Ask a Prospective Orthotist

Feel free to print out this list of questions and refer to them

during your initial consultation with the orthotist. Establishing

and maintaining open lines of communication will enhance yours and

your child's experience with a cranial remolding orthosis.

http://www.orthomerica.com/products/cranial/cranial_questions.htm

Questions To Ask The Doctor and Orthotist/Clinician

Once an official diagnosis is made and a course of treatment is

planned, many children are referred to an Orthotist or Treatment

Facility in order to obtain cranial orthosis. Here is a list of

questions to ask the Orthotist/Clinician.

http://www.cappskids.org/QuestionsForTheDoctorAndOrthotist.htm

Questions for the Doctor

It is important to ask any questions that concern you. WRITE DOWN

the questions you want to ask, and take a pen (or a mini tape

recorder) with you so you can write down the answers given. Here are

some suggested questions for you doctor and/or orthotist. Please

feel free to print this page...

http://www.plagiocephaly.org/support/questions.htm

Good luck in your research!

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> This may be a dumb question, but how do you find STAR band or

other

> helmet locations? I went to Orthomerica because I did a search for

> STAR and I got Orthomerica's website. I couldn't find any

locations

> anywhere and need to get back to work.

>

> Will has a DOC band from CT and that's the only brochure our ped.

> gave us. It never occurred to me there might be a closer place (to

> be considered in-network). CT is 96 miles for us, round trip. I'd

> love to get reimbursed for the 20% now that Will has to get

another

> band.

>

> Can anyone advise? Thanks!

> leigh

> Will 4/11/04