Any work injury can be hard on a worker, but losing a limb can change a worker for a lifetime. Washington State recently announced a new plan to help those workers whose lives have been altered by amputation, by coordinating care and rehabilitation after their initial injury.

The state’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and the Harborview Medical Center have partnered to create a Center of Excellence for amputations, which will provide medical care to amputee patients who require ongoing and specialized treatment. There are workers who have undergone amputations but still need ongoing care after the initial injury, to help the worker heal both physical and mentally. In Washington State alone, 25 workers a year require ongoing care because they have had such serious amputations. Serious amputation recovery may require help from doctors of multiple backgrounds and specialties.

Washington workers who need ongoing amputee care will be able to go to this specialized center for their care. Harborview is already seen as a top-notch trauma facility for amputee patients. Injured workers can be referred to this center after they are discharged from the hospital following their initial injury. The center’s workers communicate about the follow-up treatment plan and progress with the patient, the initial doctors and other healthcare providers, their employer and the Department of Labor & Industries. Hopefully this fully dedicated center will better manage patients on their road to recovery. According to their Facebook page the center is just one part of a bigger initiative to create centers of excellence to treat other traumatic injuries like spinal cord injuries, burns or crash injuries.

In a 2014 Gap Analysis from L&I, they recognized that though they had made progress in reducing amputations in their workforce and associated costs, they could still improve workers access to care as well as strengthen follow up communication and coordination. Maybe this center and the coordinated efforts of healthcare professionals there will help close the gap in treatment plans and communication for patients.

Matt Pomerinke lost his arm 15 years ago and said, “Getting out of the hospital is just the first step on a long road- and there’s a lot to do. With this support, workers can focus on recovery with less worry.”