VA expanding prosthetic and orthotic care to Veterans throughout Delaware and southern New Jersey
In its newest step towards improving accessibility for Veterans needing prosthetic or orthotic care in rural areas the Wilmington VA has launched a mobile unit to provide these services in Delaware and southern New Jersey through a grant it received from the Office of Rural Health (ORH).
ORH is a Veterans Health Administration Office established by Congress in 2006 with a goal to break down the barriers separating rural Veterans from quality care.
This grant made it possible for the Wilmington VA Medical Center’s Prosthetic and Orthotic department to launch their first Mobile Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinic (MoPOC).
The MoPOC started seeing patients in February of 2025 and visits the Sussex County, Delaware VA Clinic on Monday and Tuesdays and the Cumberland County, New Jersey VA Clinic on Wednesdays.
Since most prosthetics and orthotics services are not available in the local community, many Veterans had to travel long distances, back and forth to the Wilmington VA Medical Center for their prosthetics and orthotics care.
The MoPOC is equipped to bring prosthetic limb, custom brace and shoe and insert modifications to these rural areas, saving Veterans time from having to go see an outside provider or driving to the Wilmington VA.
“We more than doubled the care we can produce in south Jersey,” said Prosthetics Chief and U.S. Army Veteran Corey Smith. “Getting out to the community is important.”
The Wilmington VA Prosthetics Department saved more than $500,000 in orthotics and almost $200,000 for limbs in fiscal year 2023 when doing these services in house, a 30% decrease in patient costs for limbs and prosthetics.
Wilmington’s prosthetics department has seen up to 100 patients a week. the new MoPOC to prescribe, design, and manage the distribution of orthopedic shoes, custom braces, and other prosthetics.
Orthopedic shoes are important in helping improve a Veteran’s whole health, balance, gate cycle, and decreases overall energy expenditures. Shoes are fit to a Veteran’s foot and custom braces are designed by a Certified Pedorthist, which is a newer position at the Wilmington VA.
“Proper shoes can also prevent loss of limb in patients that suffer from diseases like diabetes,” said Certified Prosthetist Orthotist David Smeresky.
In addition to shoes, artificial limbs are also a large part of the program. One example can be seen with U.S. Army, Marine and Air Force Veteran Edward Afanador who lost his ability to walk over 10 years ago due to distal sensory polyneuropathies.
He recently volunteered to be a part of a Microprocessor-Controlled C-Brace Trial with the Wilmington VA Prosthetics Department to regain his ability to walk independently.
“The Microprocessor-Controlled C-Brace is similar to an exoskeleton. It makes the limbs capable of standing and swinging,” said Smith.
Afanador got his brace on March 13 and is now able to walk around with only the use of a cane and the C-brace to aid him.
“I was presented with an opportunity that most don’t get,” said Afanador. “Corey was a breath of fresh air when I met him and presented this opportunity. He was involved and phenomenal.”
The Prosthetics Department has also expanded by hiring a Certified Prosthetist and Orthotist Cassandra Thatcher in January to run the MoPOC and is continuously trying to find new ways to grow and improve care for Veterans.
“Growth and getting out to the community is important especially in those rural areas,” said Smith. “We expect to be seeing more patients and provide even better care over the next few years.”
Veterans can make an appointment by contacting their primary care provider. Not enrolled in VA healthcare? Enroll here.