icare releases guidance to support people with a limb amputation

icare is proud to announce the release of the ‘Guidance on the support pathway for people with a limb amputation (and trialling a prothesis).'

The Guidance is a unique collaboration between icare’s Lifetime Care and Support Scheme and Workers Insurance. It explores the pathway for people within both schemes who have experienced limb amputation following an injury. 

People with an amputation have complex needs and prosthetics are expensive, and highly-customised to the individual.

Making decisions on equipment and supports can be challenging. The Guidance provides clear information on best practice, resources, and recommendations, in an easy-to-use format. It is designed for everyone involved in the pathway following an amputation including people with an amputation, health professionals, service providers, and funders.

At the heart of the development of this Guidance was a desire to better understand the needs of people with a limb amputation, how we can better support this group of people, and the needs of the sector. 

Making it happen

The project was led by Dr Sue Lukersmith: researcher, and Guideline methodologist and developer.

Bringing the Guidance to life involved the hard work and time of many people. The working party consisted of 23 experts including those with lived experience. Over 10 months the group worked on consensus for the material, including literature reviews, file reviews of icare participants and workers injured in the last five years, and interviews with people with lived experience and stakeholders.

The success of the project lies in the collaboration of the passionate group of people that made up the working party. The members with lived experience provided invaluable input that guided many discussions. 

Collaboration

Both icare’s Lifetime Care and Workers Insurance schemes support people with limb amputations and prosthetic use. The collaboration across the schemes has allowed better understanding to improve services and support for people with a limb amputation.

Suzanne Lulham, General Manager of Service Development, Lifetime Schemes, icare, describes how beneficial the collaboration process was:

"Development of the Prosthetics Guidance showcases the work that can be done with collaboration across icare. By working together with Workers Insurance we were able to pool our knowledge and resources. Both Lifetime Care and Workers Insurance brought unique perspectives to the research and Guidance to ensure we were identifying and capturing a broad range of needs of people with different limb amputations."

Customer endorsement  

Elizabeth Ellen Cass, Workers Care Program participant, describes the impact of bilateral below knee amputations:

"Leaving inpatient rehabilitation and returning home to try and find a new normal, can be very scary, intimidating, daunting, tiring and an emotional roller coaster," says Elizabeth.

She believes the Guidance will be beneficial in improving this experience for people with amputations.

“I encourage you to share the Guidance as much as possible. The timing of support and a multi-disciplinary approach is essential. The resources and advice contained in it is important for many health care professionals attending amputees.”

Improving outcomes for users of prosthetic limbs 

Kathy Hanly, Registered Nurse and Senior Case Manager with Employers Mutual was part of the working party. Kathy hopes the Guidance will become the "go to" document for education and direction following a limb amputation. 

“It’s a great resource for so many but invaluable to those who work in the Workers Insurance space. It was great to be able to participate in the working party and help compile evidence-based guidance material that will be invaluable to so many.”

“This guidance will provide invaluable holistic understanding and direction to the case managers who assist workers following a limb amputation. This should help to clarify the what, when, where and whys of their complex care needs and assist us to provide the best care and support we can”
Kathy

Our sincere thanks goes out to everyone involved in the Guidance development. We encourage you to familiarise yourself and use the Guidance material whenever you can.