Outcomes Research and Evidence-Based Practice in O&P: Forging Ahead

The O&P profession now seems poised to make significant strides toward helping evidence-based practice become a reality.

During the past several decades, the face of health care has changed dramatically in the United States. As the traditional health care model has been replaced with a managed care model, most health care disciplines have moved toward evidence-based practice fueled by outcomes research. For the O&P profession, this shift to evidence-based practice has proceeded at a much slower pace, and the path has been fraught with myriad difficulties and barriers.

Glad You Asked...About Delivering Tough News

“What’s the toughest news you’ve had to give a patient and how did you handle the situation?”

The toughest news I ever had to deliver to a patient was to inform a man that it was necessary [to revise] his amputation. He was a transfemoral amputee, and the fittings I was trying with him just would not relieve his pain and discomfort. I tried different socket styles and nothing seemed to work.

O&P Leaders Testify for Patients’ Rights Poster Law

National leaders in the O&P field testified before the House of Representatives Small Business
Committee on July 16 in favor of HR 5730, the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights. The bill
would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to post a list of patients' rights in every
VA prosthetic clinic, including the right to access the latest and most appropriate technology and the right to have access to the private practitioner of their choice.

Starting an O&P Practice: Completing the Puzzle

The final installment of our business startup series explores marketing strategies and the difficult process of finding referral sources.

Before you can effectively market a new business, you need to understand the difference between marketing and selling, Dennis Clark, CPO, president of Point Health Centers of America Inc. and Clark & Associates explained.

Glad You Asked...About High-Tech Tools

“What high-tech business tools are you using in your practice to improve patient care?”

At the University of Michigan Orthotics & Prosthetics Center, we use a lot of high-tech business tools, including CAD/CAM. We have a couple of AMFit digitizers and a carver, a number of TracerCad stations and 2 carvers, as well as a GaitRite system.

Starting an O&P Practice: Fitting the Pieces

In the fourth part of this business startup series, O&P Business News reveals the possibilities for fabricating devices and fitting patients.

By Stephanie Z. Pavlou

Throughout this series, O&P Business News has highlighted the steps to opening a new O&P practice. As with any puzzle, a business needs basic elements to be complete. For starters, a
product.

Grow Your Bottom Line by Reducing Costs

Understanding which costs are fixed and which are variable is important for O&P businesses.

By Mary L. Jerrell, ELS

As the O&P profession is faced with increased expenses and shrinking reimbursement levels, reducing costs can significantly impact a company’s bottom line. Following some basic business concepts with an eye to areas unique to O&P facilities can help practitioners identify ways to reduce costs and maximize profits.

Clark Named POINT President

Dennis Clark, CPO, has joined POINT Health Centers of America Inc. as president, effective immediately, POINT announced February 7. Clark is a second-generation American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC)-certified practitioner with 30 years of clinical experience. He is a graduate of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. "Since purchasing the family business in 1987, Clark has remained a very integral part of our profession and is currently a partner in another successful multi-location private practice in Iowa, which makes him very familiar with the challenges facing independent O&P providers," POINT noted.

Using Central Fab Facilities

Understanding the workflow is crucial to ensuring that the process flows smoothly from start to finish.

By Mary L. Jerrell, ELS

Practitioners use central fabrication facilities for a variety of reasons: to cut operating costs, to reduce expenses, to increase cash flow, to help with overflow during busy times or to complete rush jobs. Regardless of the reason why O&P practitioners choose to use central fabrication services, understanding how work flows through a facility is crucial in ensuring that the process flows smoothly from start to finish.

Contracting in O&P: Strategies for Success

Being prepared for your contract negotiations can alleviate not only a headache during the process, but aggravation in the long run.

By Jennifer Hoydicz

Securing the best contracts for your business can be a cumbersome experience when approached blindly. “It comes down to really understanding your business and the contract,” said Dennis Clark, CPO, president of Point Health Centers of America.

Starting an O&P Practice: Compiling the Pieces

Many factors influence the success of any new business. In part one of a five-part series, O&P Business News presents an overview of considerations for opening a new O&P practice.

By Stephanie Z. Pavlou

At some point in their careers, employees in every profession – from health care to fashion design to food service – consider starting their own businesses. Actually assembling the complex puzzle, however, takes a great deal of consideration and planning. Compiling the key components of a business, piece by piece, makes for a successful, intact practice in the future.

Starting an O&P Practice: Creating a Checklist

The time has come to open your own practice. Exactly what does that entail? In the second article of a five-part series, O&P Business News helps new business owners list their priorities.

By Stephanie Z. Pavlou

Different people have different strategies when taking on challenges. To complete intricate puzzles, many find the edge pieces first. This solid foundation aids in finding the correct spots for the remaining pieces.