A statewide amputee rehabilitation programme

Patients are referred to the amputee clinic at the Medical College of Georgia from all areas of the State of Georgia. Most referrals are made a considerable time after amputation and most patients live from 50 to 250 miles from the amputee clinic. A special programme was designed to alleviate some of the problems incurred by the distance and the delayed referral. Physical therapists, prosthetists, social workers, the vocational counsellor and the orthopaedic surgeon co-operate to provide maximum care on the day of the amputee clinic. The cooperative efforts of all members of the team and the ability to plan ahead for optimum rehabilitation maximize the use of patients' time and his rehabilitation level.