Dan Gottry - Blog

Dan Gottry's Blog

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

He Loved Hanger!

This morning I received a call from a fellow AK amputee, looking for a little help.

"L" has been an amputee for about thirty years as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. For a great deal of his time, his care was provided by Hanger back when, as he describes it, Hanger was a Ma & Pa company. He says he LOVED Hanger. They provided quality care and served him very well!

Then there was a merger with NovaCare, and they seemed to him to become much more concerned with money than with people. His care "went south".

A few years ago, he moved to Arizona and was seen by a Hanger clinician on a number of occasions. They built a leg for him. They told him they didn't need to cast him as they could put his measurements into their computer and it would design his leg.

They measured ... the computer designed ... "L" didn't walk.

He called and asked for help and was told that they had designed what he needed and they could not help him any more. They were done.

"L" still didn't walk.

Three years ago, he returned to his physician to seek assistance and was referred to a local independent provider for help. He was casted, fitted and has done well with his walking for three years.

Now its time for some change and CIGNA, his insurer, has refused to allow him to see his provider. In fact, the operator on the 1-800 number he called, hung up on him when he asked how to request a Continuation of Care.

The thought of going back to Hanger is one he finds extremely depressing!

posted by Daniel Gottry at 10:33 AM