The Importance of Medical Garments -

They Can Change the Quality of your Life Susan McIver Jeanne Brummund of Health Source Medical in Penticton, a certified fitter of medical garments, is noted for her exacting standards. She knows that Medical garments can play a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of health problems and for maximum effectiveness they must be made of high-quality material and fitted by a professional. "The only way is the right way," said Jeanne. To ensure the highest of standards, Jeanne became certified by the Board for Orthotists/Prosthetists in the United States, as the equivalent agency doesn't exist in Canada. Jeanne spends close to 70 percent of her time helping people in need of medical compression therapy. The basic purpose of this type of therapy is to assist the return of blood in the veins to the heart. The accumulation of venous blood, most commonly in the lower legs, can be due to inefficiency in heart function, sitting for long periods or standing and walking on hard surfaces. "A high percentage of seniors would benefit from preventive compression therapy below the knees," said Jeanne's husband Bill. A registered massage therapist with a part-time practice, Bill helps his wife several days a week. Compression stockings can help prevent and treat skin ulcers (venous stasis ulcers) and potentially lethal blood clots (deep vein thrombosis). Jeanne believes that 90 percent of all venous stasis ulcers are preventable. Enhancing blood flow also simply makes people feel better. Jeanne once fitted a woman, who had been suffering from swollen legs, with compression stockings. For seven months the woman had endured limited mobility that led to serious depression. Jeanne returned a few days later to find the woman in good spirits and preparing to give a piano recital. "Many younger people, such as nurses who are on their feet a lot, also use compression stockings," Jeanne said. Bill encourages pregnant women to use compression below the knees to prevent varicose veins and other venous problems later in life. "I can almost tell the exact number of children an older woman has had by the condition of her leg veins," said Jeanne. Jeanne knows first hand about compression stockings because she wears them herself to support arthritic ankles. The braces she had been wearing were causing skin abrasions and damaging her shoes. Bill and Jeanne use stockings from Valco Medi in Germany and Juzo in the U.S because they make high-quality flexible yet strong stockings that retain their shape. The stockings come in seven different ankle sizes. In contrast, many companies use materials that will lose their shape and provide only three sizes, small, medium and large. "For the best results you need to measure carefully and then have a stocking that fits precisely," said Jeanne. Jeanne and Bill's clients can be found in care facilities, their own homes and walking into the office from the street. All clients must have a recommendation from their doctor and stocking and other medical garment costs are covered by all the major extended medical plans. Approximately the same number of men as woman use compression stockings although men tend to wait until their condition becomes a crisis. Jeanne also assists women who have had mastectomies. She has a room totally dedicated to this, a warm and supportive space. She supplies and fits such items as initial care garments, a soft compression shirt for use immediately after surgery, and lymphodemia sleeves which help to reduce swelling in the arms after a mastectomy. There are also breast forms and bras. A small part of Jeanne's time is dedicated to such activities as fitting compression gloves for people who have had carpal tunnel surgery. She also designs and makes clothing for burn patients such as vests and entire torso suits. "There's a special washable adhesive gel sheet that goes between the person's body and the garment," she explained. Jeanne attends continuing education courses and teaches in-service courses in hospitals and care homes. She is a presenter at wound-care conferences for health care professionals both at home in the Okanagan and in the Lower Mainland. "My reward is doing a job well that makes a difference to people's health," she said. Jeanne can be reached at 250-770-1491.

 

< Prev		Next >