Certified Mastectomy Fitter

Right fit for the job

Certified mastectomy fitter’s goal is for patients to see selves as normal again

By Yvonne Hartmann

Standard-Radio Post managing editor

Having a woman look in the mirror and say she feels normal is what Laura Sagredo-Dupuis strives for.

But these aren’t just any women on a shopping spree. They are the ones who are on a cancer journey and are at that point in the road where they are ready for mastectomy and/or lymphedema garments and products.

Sagredo-Dupuis, who owns Glorious Medical Equipment with her husband, Trevor Dupuis, is a certified mastectomy fitter.

When a woman is ready to start thinking about mastectomy and prosthesis products, Sagredo-Dupuis said she must first have a prescription order from her physician.

And when a woman feels the time is right, Sagredo-Dupuis said it is important for patients to meet with a certified fitter.

In addition to fitting each woman individually, Sagredo-Dupuis said, “We are trained to look for underlying issues, infection, care and emotional issues that they may be going through, as well.”

She explained the first meeting is more of a one-on-one consultation in a special private sitting room type of atmosphere.

“Giving them the privacy and making them feel comfortable to come and speak to me is important. Making them feel comfortable is key to helping them move into the next segment of what they’re supposed to do,” she said.

Up to this point, she said, all these women have seen are needles, doctor visits and then removal.

“When they come over here, it’s like the calming part of everything they’ve been through,” she said.

“With a patient, we don’t charge for any their consultations, we only charge them for the products they need,” she said. “We also discuss things that they should keep an eye on and reiterate what the doctor has already talked to them about.”

If a patient has questions or concerns or if she notices any severe bruising or weakening, Sagredo-Dupuis will redirect them back to their doctor.

“We never give them medical advice here,” she said. “We’re not trained to do that. The only thing we do here is fit them for the garment and listen to them if they want to tell their story.

“They are already going through so much trauma and I want them to feel like they are gaining a friend. I want them to feel comfortable in a setting like this. It’s important to me.”

Laura Sagredo-Dupuis, who owns Glorious Medical Equipment with her husband Trevor, is a certified mastectomy fitter. — Standard-Radio Post/Yvonne Hartmann

reared here.

“Our key thing is integrity,” she said. “We are a business that 100% falls under integrity, and we are going to do the right thing.”

Sagredo-Dupuis explained that they do not accept insurance for their mastectomy and lymphedema products.

However, they do offer patients the option of setting up an account to pay off the balance over time.

Even after consultations, measurements and fittings, if a patient chooses to go somewhere else, Sagredo-Dupuis feels like she has done her job since she was able to share her knowledge with that woman.

She added it is important that her patients know they can come to her any time with questions or for more information.

“It’s important for us to be part of the step to getting our patients where they need to be — seeing themselves more normal, rather than staying without the breast protheses,” she said.

Becoming certified

Sagredo-Dupuis actually worked in billing when the company she was working for needed another fitter.

She showed interest in the position, and it “went from there.”

The path to becoming certified includes course work, clinical hours under another fitter and then continuing education.

She started her training in 2010 and became certified in 2012.

The couple opened Glorious Medical Equipment, located at 818 North Milam, in 2016.

In addition to offering a full range of medical equipment, both are certified compression garment fitters.

The rewards

She said that when she transitioned into becoming a certified fitter, she left a really good paying job.

“I took that leap of faith because we need to bring more attention and awareness to lymphedema and mastectomy,” she said.

“When I work with my patients, I take it very personally,” Sagredo-Dupuis said, adding the feedback she gets from her patients and referrals remind her that her leap of faith was right for her.

“They become like family,” she said, “and the door is always open for questions or just to talk.”

MORE INFORMATION

Phone number: 830-992-3360 Website: www.gloriousmedicalequipment.com