Circulator Boot Mastead
Patient's Perspective

Sent to a Wound Care Director at a hospital not offering Circulator Boot therapy

"Because it has been a while since you discussed my 85-year old mother's Circulator Boot (CB) progress with my sister via the telephone, I thought I would send you an update.  Today began my mother's 12th week of treatments and I am happy to say that she is VERY MUCH improved!

You might recall that my mother initially stubbed her second toe in mid-June.  Although a podiatrist examined her toe, he did not seem to think her injury was serious.  We then went to your center weekly for about two months because my mother actually had developed ischemic ulcers.  Various topical ointments were used, but her second toe and then her great toe continued to deteriorate.  Since we were advised that my mother was not a candidate for the hyperbaric chamber, leg bypass surgery, or angioplasty, we went to a leading hospital where we were advised to come back when my mother's foot turned dark and they would "take care of it" (amputate her leg).  
 
Fortunately, I located the Circulator Boot Corporation on the Internet and contacted Jack May.  I had hoped to learn of a facility in Maryland that offered CB treatments.  Unfortunately, Jack advised that the nearest facility to us was in Bryn Mawr, PA.  I immediately contacted the Bryn Mawr Wound Care & Vascular Center and my mother was scheduled to see the physician, Dr. John Filip, that very week.  From her first examination with him, we were confident that my mother's condition would be helped by using the CB.  In fact, she was able to receive her first CB treatment that same day in September and she has been making steady, positive progress since.  Not only is circulation improving in her left leg that is receiving CB therapy, but circulation is also improving in her right leg.  Her second toe is practically healed and her great toe is looking better and better each day.  She has warmth in her left foot again, the color is better, and her toenails are growing.  Quite a difference from the dismal picture that was painted for us less than three months ago!  Believe me, if we were not seeing positive results, we would NOT be traveling to Bryn Mawr five days a week, three hours each way! 
 
Over the past few weeks, I have met many other patients who have been receiving CB treatments and each one of them has a positive outcome on the horizon.  Yes, depending on the severity of the medical problem, CB treatments can be a lengthy process.  However, in the long run, it helps to preserve a patient's independence, save on nursing home costs, and ultimately prolong and save lives.  I have truly seen miracle-like improvements occur in patients who, like my mother, were told their only alternative was to have a limb amputation.  Healing has occurred right before my eyes.  When I think of the times that my mother and I sat in the waiting room at your facility, I recall seeing a number of patients in wheelchairs that had undergone amputations.  On the other hand, during our visits to Bryn Mawr, we have not met one patient who lost an entire limb while there, only those who lost a limb PRIOR to receiving CB treatment.  Additionally, patients who have had toe amputations elsewhere that have not healed properly have come to Bryn Mawr and are receiving CB treatment to help heal those wounds. 
 
One 95-year old woman was told two years ago that she had three weeks to live and needed to have both of her legs amputated due to severe circulation problems.  Her son brings her to Bryn Mawr for daily treatments and I will say that she is very much alive and only lost four toes.  In comparison to losing both legs and her life - - amazing!  Another man and his wife are from New York and are staying in a hotel while he undergoes CB treatments.  He, like my mother and the others, was told that he needed to have his leg amputated and the doctor had even checked his calendar on the day he examined him to set up the surgery date that week. Hyperbaric Chamber treatment had not helped this man.  Well, it has been five weeks since that patient and his family heard those terrible words and the man has already undergone significant circulation improvement and will not be losing his leg.  The reason--CB treatments.  He, like many patients at Bryn Mawr is a diabetic.  My mother and the 95-year old lady are not.  However, who is to say who will be diagnosed with some type of circulation problem one day - - perhaps even you or me?
 
As I sit in the Bryn Mawr waiting room with others while waiting for our loved ones to undergo their 45-minute CB treatments, we have often questioned why other hospitals and medical providers do not offer the CB treatment when we have witnessed such positive results.  While we understand that getting on board with new types of treatment can be a costly investment, saving limbs and improving quality of life should be the foundation of a wound care center.  Even if reimbursement for CB treatment is not as pleasing to the pocketbook of hospital officials when compared to reimbursement for a limb amputation surgery, I can't believe that hospitals would look the other way and allow patients to grow sicker and cost Medicare thousands of dollars when treatment IS AVAILABLE that does, in fact, help patients recover.  When I think of the patients that have undergone limb amputations at your facility and the other leading hospital we visited since my mother starting receiving CB treatments at Bryn Mawr, it truly saddens me.   
 
While I would have traveled even farther than Pennsylvania for CB treatments for my mother, it would have been great to have driven only 12 miles to your facility.  It would be so wonderful for you to offer CB treatments to the many people who pass through your door searching for positive news instead of hearing that nothing else can be done to help them.  And, I still believe it would be in your best interest to begin using the CB before other hospitals in the state.  Your hospital ranking would surge!  Believe me, once a few patients improved circulation, and they would, you would have many, many patients coming from all over to save their limbs and improve their quality of life.
 
Please feel free to e-mail me or call me with any questions you might have about the CB treatment that my mother is receiving.  I am generally gone during the weekdays (traveling to and from Bryn Mawr), but you can try to reach me on my cell phone at XXX-XXX-XXX.  Also, from time-to-time, I have updated Jack May and Larry Hutchison at the Circulator Boot Corporation about my mother's progress so I am copying them tonight as well.
 
Thank you for reading my long note and I do hope that you and the others at your facility will look into using the CB.  You and the staff will be amazed at the results that you will see and you will easily sleep at night knowing that you have helped so many people retain their independence and eliminate pain!"
 
DR
12/09