Dedicated to Veterans’ Causes

The Veterans Health Administration provides comprehensive prosthetic and orthotic services to eligible veterans in a timely, customer-friendly, cost-effective manner. These services are provided in the Prosthetics Treatment Center (PTC) by a team of well-trained professionals who are dedicated to veterans’ causes.

Services provided by the PTC staff include, but are not limited to, evaluation, prescription, measurement, fabrication, fitting and follow-up of orthotic and prosthetic devices. Other services include the ordering, instruction, delivery, pickup and repair of medical equipment and supplies. The PTC also provides hearing and communication aids, environmental controls and adaptive equipment for motorized vehicles for eligible beneficials, as well as critical care equipment such as food pumps, in-home oxygen equipment, respirators and air filtration systems.

The Orthotic Laboratory staff provides clinical and consultative services to the physician staff regarding patient evaluation and prescriptions for orthotic and prosthetic devices. When necessary, the staff also provides technical support by fabricating, fitting and adjusting prescribed devices.

Orthotic services are provided upon receipt of a physician’s prescription. For patients requiring clinical evaluation or custom devices, appointments are scheduled to ensure the clinician takes the time necessary to provide services that meet patients’ needs.

When possible, non-custom, off-the-shelf devices will be provided on a walk-in basis.

The Veterans Health Administration offers specialized services in some of its comprehensive medical centers. These specialized services include:

• Regional prosthetic clinic

This clinic is available for the evaluation and
treatment of amputee veterans.

• Specialized wheelchair and custom seating

This clinic prescribes and develops custom
wheelchairs and electrically powered mobility
aids.

• Regional orthotic and custom footwear clinic

This clinic evaluates patients and prescribes
custom shoes and orthoses for lower-extremity
conditions.

• Home improvement and structural alterations

These grants to eligible veterans are intended to ensure the continuation of treatment or to
provide access to the home or essential lavatory and sanitary facilities.

Home oxygen therapy

The PTC is responsible for issuing in-home respiratory and oxygen equipment and supplies through an accredited contractor. Prescription and prescription changes must be coordinated with the local VA Medical Center’s pulmonary and critical care staffs.

Home health care equipment

An accredited contractor provides equipment for home care. The contractor provides delivery, set up, and patient/caregiver education.

To contact the VA for a site location in your area go to the Web site: www.va.gov/about_VA

About the Author:

David Whatley is a retired director of the Houston VA Medical Center, one of the most complex VA medical centers in the country with over 2,800 employees. Caring for more than 50,000 southeast Texas veterans, the Houston VA Medical Center also serves as a regional and national referral center for services including cardiac surgery, radiation therapy and spinal cord injury care.

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