Gillette Children’s is proud to announce a partnership with the Amputee Coalition, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people affected by limb loss/limb difference to achieve their full potential through education, support, and advocacy and to promote limb loss prevention. Gillette Children’s is one of only a handful of pediatric hospitals partnering with the Amputee Coalition and the only pediatric partner in the five-state area surrounding Minnesota.  

Through the partnership, Gillette Children’s and the Amputee Coalition will provide education and resources to patients and their families, including the implementation of the Coalition’s nationally recognized Certified Peer Visitor (CPV) Program at the hospital, with a goal of making sure that no family of a child with limb loss/limb difference goes through their recovery and journey alone. 

“We are proud to be a powerful extension of the patient-centered care that hospitals and rehabilitation centers provide to the limb loss/limb difference community,” said Mary Richards, President and CEO of the Amputee Coalition. “Before and soon after amputation can be the most vulnerable and influential stages of a patient’s journey. Through our partnership with Gillette Children’s, we are bridging the gaps between care and support to ensure pediatric patients, and their families, have access to vital resources, peer support and community connections they need to not feel alone and to help achieve outcomes that are necessary to thrive.” 

More than 2.1 million Americans have experienced amputations or were born with limb difference, and another 28 million people are at risk for amputation. More than 500 amputations are performed daily in this country, most commonly conducted in the over 5,000 community rehabilitation hospitals and trauma centers in the United States.  

“We’re very excited to partner of the Amputee Coalition. They offer amazing resources for families and professionals in the limb loss community,” said Michelle Hall, a Gillette Children’s certified and licensed prosthetist-orthotist, who is leading the partnership at Gillette Children’s. “Gillette Children’s plan to bring some valuable pediatric insight to the coalition and its members. Our research, innovation and work providing prosthetic care for children will be a great resource for families and providers.” 

By partnering with the Amputee Coalition, facilities are better positioned to establish a nationally recognized peer support program for those with limb loss/limb difference. This also helps the facility meet Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and The Joint Commission (TJC) standards for peer support for facilities with an amputation care designation.     

The Amputee Coalition also offers specialized benefits to our hospital partners, including free patient education materials, the opportunity to host Certified Peer Visitor trainings, and receive generous discounts for hospital staff to attend Coalition events, such as National Conference. The Amputee Coalition’s Support Group Network has registered support groups Certified Peer Visitors (CPVs) across the country who offer emotional support, encouragement and vital information through individuals and family members who can relate to the limb loss/limb difference journey. 

Together with our thousands of supporters, the Amputee Coalition is dedicated to ensuring that no one feels alone throughout their journey with limb loss/limb difference by providing patients and their families or caregivers the resources they need to recover, readjust, and live life to the fullest.  

About Gillette Children’s  

Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Gillette Children's cares for patients who have some of the most complex, rare and traumatic conditions in pediatric medicine, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, spina bifida, fibula hemimelia, proximal femoral focal deficiency, and hydrocephalus. Children who have disabilities and complex medical needs—and their families—have been at the center of our mission for nearly 125 years. Learn more about how we’ve built on our long history to set the standard of care for some of the most challenging childhood conditions.  

About Amputee Coalition 

The Amputee Coalition is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization on limb loss/limb difference, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with limb loss/limb difference, and their families. We strive to improve patient care through access to education, support, and advocacy to help our community live well with limb loss/limb difference, raise awareness about limb loss prevention, and ensure everyone has a voice in matters affecting their ability to live full, thriving lives.