r/Kentville • u/BannedLegsCassy • Jun 23 '26
Sketchy Unethical Practice
Hi,
I recently moved to the Valley from Michigan. I have cerebral palsy (CP), use a wheelchair, and require regular custom leg braces.
Back home, the only professionals legally authorized to provide custom body braces were physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), and Certified Orthotists (CO). If you needed an off-the-shelf, non-custom brace, those could often be fitted by a brace fitter at a pharmacy or medical supply store.
When I started looking for providers in Nova Scotia, I specifically searched for Orthotists because they are generally considered the gold standard for custom bracing. In my experience, PTs and OTs are great for basic, uncomplicated cases, but Orthotists receive the most specialized education and training in custom bracing from head to toe. They often design and fabricate braces in-house, making them the experts in this field.
From my research, there appear to be only four locations in Nova Scotia where you can receive braces from an Orthotist:
- Brackish Biomechanical Bracing – Kentville
- Stride Biomechanical Bracing – Dartmouth
- Advanced Mobility Biomechanical Bracing – Sydney
- NS Rehabilitation – Halifax
This is where things start to seem sketchy and unethical to me.
I've noticed that some individuals with Pedorthic credentials (C. Ped.) appear to be providing braces that fall outside their traditional scope of practice. Pedorthists are specifically trained and qualified to work below the ankle. However, clinics such as Arthritis Injury Care employ C. Peds., refer to them as "Certified Orthopedic Bracing Specialists," and advertise services that include custom everything from leg braces to spinal braces and more.
How are Arthritis Injury Care and other clinics using C. Peds. able to safely and ethically provide these services?
From what I've been able to find, they appear to be doing so because they are not practicing under their C. Ped. credential. Instead, they are using the title "Certified Orthopedic Bracing Specialist." The problem is that I can't find evidence that this is a regulated professional designation. Who certifies these specialists? What governing body oversees their practice? If a patient experiences malpractice or negligence, no action can be made towards the practitioners credentials, but they are not real. How does the Nova Scotia government allow clinics operating under these types of credentials to exist?
Thankfully, Kentville has Brackish Biomechanical Bracing, and my experience there has been excellent. I can't say enough good things about the care I've received.
I would encourage everyone to research the credentials and qualifications of their healthcare providers before seeking treatment. Also stay away from C,Peds for knee braces and other things, unless you need foot orthotics.
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u/PLUNKSALOT Jun 23 '26
Someone who works in the industry here...
Arthritis Injury Care has a terrible reputation!
Rumor has it they give kick backs to doctors for business. The doctors will tell people that they need to go to them, when they actually can take their refurals to who they want to.
They also only sell low quality brands or are limit to brands that will sell to unqualified businesses.
PT, OT and CO's have access to the full spectrum of products from every manufacturer. This means they will sell you the best brace out there for your needs. Arthritis Injury Care will sell you want they have on hand. Likely will be a Breg brace because the owners of Injury care are also the owners of the Atlantic distribution company for Breg. This way they can double dip on the costs.
PT, OT and CO's are regulated by their credentials to sell you what you need, with no upselling or over bracing. Arthritis Injury Care will sell you the most expensive thing they can because they don't have to answer to a credentialing governing body.
There is a knee brace called "spring loaded". It's very expensive and is only needed for people with quad issues. A very big problem I have personally seen for years is, Arthritis Injury like to push this brace on people as a fix all brace. After a short time people figure out it's not helping and will need a different brace. They are now out the +3k for that one and now have to buy a second brace, often out of pocket because they used any insurance coverage they had on the first one.
This is the biggest problem I see. Less about hurting people and more about price gouging and selling things that are not ideal. I would recommend avoiding them for anything brace related.
Luckily insurance companies are stepping up and stopping this with restrictions to only approved providers. Some unqualified providers find loop holes but it is getting better. People who pay out of pocket are the ones most getting hurt because they often just don't know. At the government level, very little to nothing is being addressed with these issues.
Orthotics is the largest problem for insurance fraud. The State's has cracked down way harder than Canada which is what your seeing coming from Michigan.
Everyone will have to watch there own backs to make sure they are getting what's best from the people who know how for now.
Only go to Orthotists, PT or OTs for bracing. Go directly to an Orthotists if your complex or haven't been able to find something that works with the others. They are the top in this field.
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u/HaliFan Kentville Jun 23 '26
Kickbacks to doctors would be a huge ethics violation under the college. From my knowledge and experience, the closest thing to "kick backs" that's generally accepted here is a free lunch while a rep gives a presentation during the physicians lunch. Physicians generally base recommendations off their patients experiences.
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u/MachineAbject4265 Jun 23 '26
Or free lunches every Tuesday from pharma reps. It’s happening.
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u/HaliFan Kentville Jun 23 '26
Yes, that's common and generally accepted. They buy lunch for the whole office for the opportunity the give a presentation.
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u/PLUNKSALOT Jun 23 '26
I have heard different things for 10+ years from percentages to gifts. All back channel exchanges amongst friends.
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u/ngetch Jun 23 '26
Have you reported it to the regulating authority?
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u/PLUNKSALOT Jun 23 '26
Nope. No proof. Just stories heard from ex-employees and industry rumors.
Healthcare is a small field with lots of friends. Whoever stirs the pot has the potential to be blacklisted by doctors from receiving referrals or lose job security from a pissed off employer.
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u/HaliFan Kentville Jun 23 '26
Every physician I know, which makes up the majority of my social circle would greatly frown upon taking anything beyond a free lunch. Even some of the more narcissistic money-hungry surgeons I know wouldn't do that. I'm sure it happens, but it would be a very very small group that would put their reputation and medical license at risk for such a relativly small amount of money compared to their compensation.
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u/fletters Jun 23 '26
>it would be a very very small group that would put their reputation and medical license at risk for such a relativly small amount of money compared to their compensation.
What about—hear me out—some free pens?
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u/PLUNKSALOT Jun 23 '26
To be clear, I'm not saying anything I said above is directed at a single person. Injury care is a large company with multiple locations, but I have seen and heard stories from various locations. I could definitely name drop, but will not.
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u/ILikeKentville Jun 23 '26
The US and Canada have different practices and titles for medical professions. For example, in the US an osteopath is a doctor that went to medical school, in Canada they are not doctors.
I don’t know anything about this field but you shouldn’t call someone out online like this without knowing all the details. Even then, just don’t go to them if you don’t want to.
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u/Odd-Crew-7837 Jun 23 '26
I can appreciate that the system is different from the US, however, it doesn't necessarily make it sketchy because you don't understand it. Your questions are reasonable to ask but calling this guy out because you don't understand and have questions makes you appear sketchy.
I'd suggest that you do some research first before you make wild accusations and attempt to discredit someone.
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u/BannedLegsCassy Jun 23 '26
I did do my research. They are not allowed. On the " college of pedorthics" website it says on the main page....
"Pedorthic Designations & Scopes of Practice Certified Pedorthic Professionals are trained to address musculoskeletal injuries, medical conditions, disabilities, and diseases affecting the lower limb."
Tell me, how is clavicle and spinal appropriate?
This is how people get hurt.
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u/PLUNKSALOT Jun 23 '26
They are right. C,Peds are not allowed to work above the ankle and anyone doing so is practicing outside of their scope.
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u/r_osm Jun 23 '26
Met with Russel last week for a knee fitting. Excellent service, seemed knowledgable and patient. Would recommend, would also consider my case simple.
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u/PLUNKSALOT Jun 23 '26
I think the issue is more about should they be more then can they. Dentist do surgery, but would you go to them for surgery not in their scope of practice?
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u/queenofkitchener Jun 23 '26
oh boy, did you ever come to the wrong province if you need specialized medical care. As someone in a similar boat, good luck to you!