The art and science of digital prosthetics is rapidly advancing. Yet, many people with amputated fingers do not wear a prosthetic. Part of the problem may be our own fault as health providers. We may be stuck in old stereotypes of poor outcomes and limited options related to digital prosthetics.

In this onehour podcastbase course, we’ll look at a research article that explores the experiences of people who wear digital prosthetics. Our goal is to develop your skills in listening closely to your own clients and their needs in this area. We're very excited to welcome Haley Van Escobar to the podcast. Haley has her own hand therapy private practice and works for a digital prosthetic company. You’ll learn how she landed this job, and what the average OT needs to know about this rapidly advancing space.

Learn more about our guest Haley Van Escobar, MOTR/L, CHT, PMP: https://otpotential.com/occupational...

Join the OT Potential Club to take a quiz to earn your 1 hour occupational therapy continuing education unit (AOTAapproved): https://otpotential.com/otpotential...

Website and Social:
Episode page: https://otpotential.com/ceupodcastc...
Podcast page: https://otpotential.com/ceupodcastc...
Linked In:   / otpotential  
Guide to hand therapy: https://otpotential.com/blog/handthe...

Episode article:
User experiences of digital prostheses in daily functioning in people with an amputation of thumb or finger: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:55 OT Potential Podcast Intro
00:02:29 Introduction to digital prosthetics
00:03:00 Determining what is important to the individual user
00:04:07 Intent of the research
00:04:33 Methods
00:05:14 Findings and Discussion
00:08:56 Discussion and Conclusion
00:09:42 Intro to Haley Van Escobar
00:12:44 How Haley came to work with a digital prosthetics company
00:20:07 Haley's current work
00:22:27 Article impressions
00:27:21 What is changing in digital prosthetics?
00:37:38 Navigating the emotions of a hand injury and prosthetic wearing
00:45:49 Who is a good candidate for a finger prosthetic?
00:50:46 What is the next step when an OT encounters a good candidate?
00:56:12 What are the most important things OTs can do to help adjust to a new prosthetic?
01:02:22 Biggest challenges in OT and prosthetics & how do we rise up to meet them?