January 2011 O&P Almanac

Almanac OP The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association

JANUARY 2011

&

WWW.AOPANET.ORG

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE ORTHOTICS & PROSTHETICS INDUSTRY

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O&P Almanac CONTENTS

JANUARY 2011, VOLUME 60, NO. 1

COVER STORY

COLUMNS

14

Reimbursement Page An overview of the latest Medicare codes and policies for 2011

DEPARTMENTS

4

AOPA Contact Page How to reach staff

8

At a Glance Statistics and O&P data

20 Haiti: One Year Later

By Jill Culora The O&P community flocked to Haiti to aid local residents after an earthquake devastated the country.

A year later, AOPA members and others in the field are trying to anticipate the future needs of Haitians injured by the disaster as well as those who already needed O&P services.

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In the News Research, updates, and company announcements

34

AOPA Headlines News about AOPA initiatives, meetings, member benefits, and more

40 Marketplace

Products and services for O&P

FEATURES

30 Step-By-Step Assessment

By Deborah Conn Advances in gait analysis technology provide practioners with a clearer view of treatment effectiveness and aid them in diagnosing patients. How do clinicians accurately interpret and apply data to their respective cases?

48 Jobs

Opportunities for O&P professionals

54 Calendar

Upcoming meetings and events

56

Ad Index

O&P Almanac (ISSN: 1061-4621) is published monthly by the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association, 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 200, Alexandria, VA 22314; 571/431-0876; fax 571/4310899; e-mail: almanac@AOPAnet.org. Yearly subscription rates: $59 domestic; $99 foreign. All foreign subscriptions must be prepaid in U.S. currency, and payment should come from a U.S. affiliate bank. A $35 processing fee must be added for non-affiliate bank checks. O&P Almanac does not issue refunds. Periodical postage paid at Alexandria, VA, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to: O&P Almanac, 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 200, Alexandria, VA 22314. For advertising information, contact Dean Mather, M.J. Mrvica Associates Inc. at 856/768-9360, e-mail: dmather@mrvica.com.

JANUARY 2011 O&P ALMANAC

3

OP Almanac

AOPA CONTACT INFORMATION

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AMERICAN ORTHOTIC & PROSTHETIC ASSOCIATION (AOPA) 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 200, Alexandria, VA 22314 AOPA Main Number: 571/431-0876 AOPA Fax: 571/431-0899 www.AOPAnet.org

EXECUTIVE OFFICES

MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS

Thomas F. Fise, JD, executive director, 571/431-0802, tfise@AOPAnet.org

Tina Moran, CMP, senior director of membership operations and meetings, 571/431-0808, tmoran@AOPAnet.org

Don DeBolt, chief operating officer, 571/431-0814, ddebolt@AOPAnet.org O&P ALMANAC Thomas F. Fise, JD, publisher, 571/431-0802, tfise@AOPAnet.org Josephine Rossi, editor, 703/914-9200 ext. 26, jrossi@strattonpublishing.com Catherine Marinoff, art director, 786/293-1577, catherine@marinoffdesign.com

Tom Wessel, director of business development, 651/724-8753, twessel@AOPAnet.org Kelly O’Neill, manager of membership and meetings, 571/431-0852, koneill@AOPAnet.org Steven Rybicki, communications manager, 571/431-0835, srybicki@AOPAnet.org Michael Chapman, coordinator, membership operations and meetings, 571/431-0843, mchapman@AOPAnet.org

Dean Mather, advertising sales representative, 856/768-9360, dmather@mrvica.com

Ann Davis, office, meetings administrator, and associate editor, AOPA in Advance, 571/431-0876, adavis@AOPAnet.org

Steven Rybicki, production manager, 571/431-0835, srybicki@AOPAnet.org

AOPA Bookstore: 571/431-0865

Ann Davis, staff writer, 571/431-0876, adavis@AOPAnet.org Teresa Tobat, editorial/production assistant, 703/914-9200 ext. 33, ttobat@strattonpublishing.com

Kathy Dodson, senior director of government affairs, 571/431-0810, kdodson@AOPAnet.org Devon Bernard, manager of reimbursement services, 571/431-0854, dbernard@AOPAnet.org

Reimbursement/Coding: 571/431-0833, www.LCodeSearch.com a

AMERICAN ORTHOTIC & PROSTHETIC ASSOCIATION SERVING THE O&P FIELD FOR OVER 90 YEARS

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

EDITORIAL MANAGEMENT Stratton Publishing & Marketing Inc. ADVERTISING SALES M.J. Mrvica Associates Inc. DESIGN & PRODUCTION Marinoff Design LLC PRINTING United Litho Inc.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS President Thomas V. DiBello, CO, FAAOP, Dynamic O&P, LLC, Houston, TX President-Elect Bert Harman, Otto Bock Health Care, Minneapolis, MN Vice President Tom Kirk, PhD, Hanger Orthopedic Group, Austin, TX Treasurer James Weber, MBA, Prosthetic & Orthotic Care, Inc., St. Louis, MO Immediate Past President James A. Kaiser, CP, Scheck & Siress, Chicago, IL Executive Director/Secretary Thomas F. Fise, JD, AOPA, Alexandria, VA

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Joe McTernan, director of reimbursement services, 571/431-0811, jmcternan@AOPAnet.org

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PUBLISHER Thomas F. Fise, JD

DIRECTORS Kel M. Bergmann, CPO, SCOPe Orthotics and Prosthetics Inc., San Diego, CA Rick Fleetwood, MPA, Snell Prosthetic & Orthotic Laboratory, Little Rock, AR Michael Hamontree, OrPro Inc, Irvine, CA Russell J. Hornfisher, Becker Orthopedic Appliance Co., Troy, MI Alfred E. Kritter, Jr., CPO, FAAOP, Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc., Savannah, GA Eileen Levis, Pennsylvania Orthotic and Prosthetic Society, Allentown, PA Anita Liberman-Lampear, MA, University of Michigan Orthotics and Prosthetics Center, Ann Arbor, MI

NEW! UPDATE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY INFORMATION ONLINE

Mahesh Mansukhani, MBA Ossur Americas, Aliso Viejo, CA Frank Vero, CPO, Mid-Florida Prosthetics & Orthotics, Ocala, FL Copyright 2011 American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association. All rights reserved. This publication may not be copied in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher. The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the official views of AOPA, nor does the association necessarily endorse products shown in the Almanac. The Almanac is not responsible for returning any unsolicited materials. All letters, press releases, announcements, and articles submitted to the Almanac may be edited for space and content. The magazine is meant to provide accurate, authoritative information about the subject matter covered. It is provided and disseminated with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal or other professional services. If legal advice and/or expert assistance is required, a competent professional should be consulted.

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At a Glance

O&P Patient-Care Facilities Average sales hold steady…

Profitability remains tight…

11.1% 9.8% 8.3%

7.2% 5.4% 4.2%

2006

2007

2008

10.3% 8.4%

4.9%

2009

2005

$1,663,822 Median net sales/billings in 2009.

4.7

The average number of full-time certified/licensed orthotists/prosthetists per facility.

4.4%

2006

2007

2008

20

Average number of years in business.

81.2% Percentage of facilities that use outside central fabrication.

Percentage of facilities open on Saturdays.

Source: AOPA’s 2010 Operating Performance Report Order from AOPA Bookstore; www.AOPAnet.org or 571/431-0865 Members: $85 electronic version; $185 hard copy Non-members: $185 electronic version; $325 hard copy 8

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

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In the News

TSA Travel Tips for O&P Users Airport security screenings can be trying for all travelers, but recent media headlines have raised alarming concerns particularly among the O&P community regarding mandatory device removal, invasive pat downs, and more.

To separate fact from fiction about what’s required during airport security screenings, O&P Almanac spoke with the TSA, which provided the following information practitioners can share with their patients to help them navigate the security screening process: • Prosthetic device wearers should arrive at the airport well in advance of their flights because they may have to undergo additional screening procedures, even if they do not alarm the primary screening equipment.

• Prosthetic device wearers should inform Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) that they are wearing a prosthetic device and of its location. Although they do not need to remove prostheses during the screening process, they still may request private screenings.

• Where available, CastScope technology—which produces an X-ray image of casts, braces, heavy bandages, and/or prostheses to determine if the device is concealing a threat—is used to screen amputees. Passengers should inform the TSO operating the CastScope if they have any mobility restrictions or require assistance during the screening process. Each scan takes three seconds, and multiple scans may be necessary depending on type, location, size, and number of devices worn by the passenger.

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

• TSA may use explosive trace detection (ETD) technology to screen prosthetic devices for traces of explosive material. If so, officers may swab a device for the presence of explosive residue.

• Passengers wearing orthoses or support braces may be asked to remove them during the screening process. They may request a private screening to do so.

TRANSITIONS

• TSA recommends visiting www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/ screening_experience.shtm for general traveling tips. Passengers who encounter problems at the security gate should ask to speak to a Supervisory TSO. They also may lodge a complaint on the TSA Web site. General inquiries should be e-mailed to TSA-ContactCenter@ dhs.gov.

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Carli Cohen is the marketing coordinator for The Board of Certification/Accreditation, International (BOC).

David LeFors, CPO, has joined OrPro Prosthetics & Orthotics’ clinical practice as practice manager in Texarkana, Texas.

Tom Nomura, CPO, is on staff at the Orange County office of SCOPe Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc. Sara Pschigoda, CO, with prosthetic training, joined the University of Michigan Orthotics and Prosthetics Center as the Acute Care Team leader at the university’s O&P satellite.

DoD Initiatives Study Regeneration Gel, Light-Controlled Prosthetics The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded nearly $8 million to fund two studies that would have a profound impact on the O&P industry.

A team of researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (WFUBMC) was awarded a four-year $2.24 million grant to test the ability of keratin gel, a biomaterial derived from human hair, to regenerate damaged peripheral nerves in the arms, hands, and feet. The gel was first created

by Wake Forest researchers and has been shown to encourage growth of severed nerves by increasing the number of axons, or structures in the nervous system that transport signals to and from the spinal cord. The DoD

allocated funds to this study to help treat soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who frequently sustain blast and shrapnel wounds that cause damage to the skin, bones, and nerves.

Researchers will test the keratin gel inside nerve conduits to determine whether the gel aids in regeneration.

Researcher Zhongyu Li, MD, PhD, assistant professor at WFUBMC, and principal investigator of the study, says the advantage of using keratin gel is that it’s a natural, readily-available protein that causes no adverse immune responses in recipients.

The DoD also awarded $5.6 million to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to explore

the rapidly expanding field of neurophotonics. Researchers at Southern Methodist University, Vanderbilt University, Case Western Research University, University of Texas at Dallas, University of North Texas, and several companies including Lockheed Martin and Texas Instruments, have banded together to work on an initiative that would provide a two-way link between prosthetics and the peripheral nervous system. Their goal is to design a prosthetic that a user can both control and feel. For this to occur, the prosthetic must sense the activity of motor nerves to control the motion and stimulate sensory nerves to (Continued on page 12)

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11

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In the News

give the brain the feedback it needs to control the device.

Researchers have developed a preliminary cuff-like structure that wraps around the damaged nerve.

One part of the cuff has optical fibers that run parallel to the nerve and are capped with mirrors that point laser beams at individual nerve bundles or fasciciles, which make

TRANSITIONS

The American Board of Certification for Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics, Inc. officers for 2011 are John M. (Mo) Kenney, CPO, FAAOP, president; Donald D. Virostek, CPO, presidentelect; Timothy E. Miller, CPO, secretary treasurer; Donald Deane Doty, Jr., CPO, immediate past president; Robert S. Lin, CPO, FAAOP, director; Dennis J. Janisse, C.Ped, director; and James H. Wynn, CPO, FAAOP, director.

The Board of Certification/ Accreditation, International (BOC) has agreed to participate in conference calls and meetings with the four organizations of The Orthotic and Prosthetic Alliance (O&P Alliance). These organizations include the American Board for Certification in Orthotics,

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

Vanderbilt researchers say they hope their study can be used to treat spinal cord injuries and eventually restore function to those damaged nerves.

Wake Forest researchers said their objective is to encourage nerve regeneration through the use of this gel, and promote healing in both small and large nerve gaps caused by traumatic nerve injuries.

BUSINESSES IN THE NEWS

The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists’ O&P Career Awareness campaign won a Gold Award in the External Communication Program category of the MarCom Awards contest, which recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals. The Academy’s Paul E. Leimkuehler Online Learning Center also received honorable mention in the category of Web-based Training.

12

up the peripheral nervous system and control basic movements of the fingers and toes. The other part of the cuff holds nerve sensors that control the limb.

Both research teams are hopeful that their studies will have far-reaching implications. Although complete control of a prosthetic is the goal of the neurophotonics study,

Prosthetics, and Pedorthics, the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, and the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics. BOC has participated in O&P Alliance meetings since Nov. 8, 2010.

The BOC also announced its 2011 Board of Directors officers: Sharon Nichelson, CMOF, chairwoman; Kimberly Hertz, CMF, BOCO, vice chairwoman; Jim Hewlett, BOCO, secretary; Joe Lawson, BOCO, treasurer; and James Newberry, Jr., BOCPO, BOCPD, member-at-large.

Friddle’s Orthopedic Appliances, an independently owned and operated manufacturer and distributor of O&P devices and supplies, has become an official supplier partner of OPGA. Austin glass artist Morgan Graff has won Hanger Orthopedics’s “ARTroduction to Austin” competition. The Texas region-wide contest awards a $10,000 commission and the opportunity to display artwork at Hanger’s new corporate headquarters in Austin for two years. The work will eventually be auctioned off to benefit a local nonprofit organization.

Knit-Rite Inc. has sold its distribution business division to Cascade Orthopedic Supply. Knit-Rite plans to focus completely on textile manufacturing supply.

Ohio Willow Wood was recognized as one of the top 50 workplaces as well as one of the top 10 mediumsized companies in the central Ohio region by Columbus Business First newspaper.

Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund (OPAF) announced Allard USA, as its newest Silver Level Sponsor for OPAF & the First Clinics. In lieu of 2010 holiday gifts, Allard donated to the First Clinics, which provide adaptive recreation for those served by the O&P community.

Orthocare Innovations has established a new production line to manufacture StepWatch, Orthocare’s physical activity monitoring device, in Oklahoma City. Prior to this, Orthocare exclusively produced StepWatch in its Seattle facility.

Touch Bionics, developer of advanced upper-limb prosthetic technologies, announced that its ProDigits solution has won a 2010 Best of What’s New Award from Popular Science magazine.

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Reimbursement Page

By Devon Bernard, AOPA government affairs department

Happy New Year from Medicare Advice for this year’s new codes, policies, and requirements

T

he beginning of a new year can add to the already challenging task of submitting a clean Medicare claim, as new codes, policies, and requirements take effect on January 1. To help alleviate some of the challenge, this installment of the Reimbursement Page will provide you with some tips or guidelines to help you ease into 2011—and help you avoid early-year pitfalls or surprises that may lead to a claim rejection or denial.

Eligibility and Deductibles Confirm and reconfirm a patient’s status with Medicare, as it may have changed. Each year, usually mid-November through the end of December, Medicare conducts what it calls an Open Enrollment/ Disenrollment Period. This is a time when a Medicare-eligible patient may choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) and disenroll from the traditional Medicare program, or vice versa.

Patients who chose to enroll in a MAP, during the open enrollment period, are able to leave the plan and enroll or reenroll with traditional Medicare.

14

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

Why reconfirm or confirm a patient’s eligibility? Because MAPs, even though they are sanctioned by Medicare, are run by private insurance companies. Claims may be handled differently, and a patient’s benefit package may have changed. For example, under traditional Medicare, you are not required to seek prior authorization, but a MAP may require prior authorization before you provide any services. Also, a MAP may require that patients see only practitioners who are part of the MAP network.

So, even if you have been treating someone for years, if that patient switches to a MAP and you are not part of the network, you may not be able to treat the patient.

When confirming or reconfirming eligibility, don’t rely on the patient’s word or the patient’s Medicare card alone. It would be wise to take advantage of your jurisdiction’s Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MAC) Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system or its online Claim Status Inquiry (CSI) system. You should continue to reconfirm a patient’s eligibility on subsequent visits as well, because patients who chose to enroll in a MAP, during the open enrollment period, are able to leave the plan and enroll or reenroll with traditional Medicare. The window of time when patients may change their minds ends on February 14.

After you confirm a patient’s eligibility, you also will want to verify whether the patient has met the 2011 Medicare Part B deductible, which has been set at $162. This may not be a concern later in the year, but if you are treating a patient in the very beginning

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Reimbursement Page

of the year, there is a good chance the patient has not met the deductible.

By verifying whether the deductible has been met, you and the patient will know exactly how much of the claim the patient will be responsible for paying.

Physician’s Eligibility The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently stated that it is working on resolving a backlog of physicians and non-physician practitioners that have enrolled or are enrolling in the Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (PECOS), and as a result they are delaying the implementation of the edits that were set to begin rejecting claims on Jan. 3, 2011, if a referral source was not in PECOS. Even though the final PECOS edits have been delayed it is not a time to ignore the PECOS requirement, as CMS has not announced when the edits will be activated, and it can be at anytime.

For a review, in order for a prescription from a referral source to be valid for claim submission to Medicare, the referral source must have a current PECOS enrollment record. If your referral source is not in PECOS, your claim cannot be processed, so be sure to check the PECOS status of all your referral sources on a routine basis—especially for new referral sources.

To find a referral source’s PECOS status, visit the AOPA Web site, www.

AOPAnet.org, and click O&P Links under the Benefits, Products & Services tab. Alternatively, you may go to www.oandp.com. When searching the database, be sure to use the referral source’s full name (not nicknames or titles) or NPI number.

When the edits become active and you submit a claim for a physician, or any other referral source, which is not in PECOS, don’t worry—your claim will be rejected, not denied. However, you may resubmit a rejected claim once the physician is enrolled with PECOS, as long as it is within the timely filing

16

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

deadline, twelve months from the date of service. If your claim is rejected due to a PECOS enrollment issue and you know the referral source is in PECOS, double check the claim to make sure you entered the correct information and make sure you used capital letters.

In order for a prescription from a referral source to be valid for claim submission to Medicare, the referral source must have a current PECOS enrollment record.

AOPA will continue to monitor this situation closely and keep you informed of when the edits will be activated.

As a side note, you may now use PECOS, instead of the traditional CMS 855S paper form, to enroll or reenroll in Medicare or to report any changes of information to the National Supplier Clearinghouse.

New Codes and Code Changes Although there were relatively few changes to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System or HCPCS codes for 2011, there were enough that you will want to review the list of new codes and code changes before submitting a claim in the New Year.

Two codes have been deleted and will no longer be accepted by Medicare for claims with a date of service on or after January 1. The two codes, which were used to describe airplane design shoulder orthoses, are L3672 and L3673. If you submit a claim with one of these deleted codes, the claim will not be able to be processed, which will hold up your claim and disrupt your

revenue stream. These deleted codes have been replaced or cross-walked to the newly established code L3674.

Other changes to the 2011 code list include three new L codes, one new E code and one new A code. The two that may have the most effect on your business are L4631 and A4566. The official code descriptor for L4631 reads:

Ankle foot orthosis, walking boot type, varus/valgus correction, rocker bottom, anterior tibial shell, soft interface, custom arch support, plastic or other material, includes straps and closures, custom fabricated.

AOPA believes this code was created to describe a CROW boot. At the time this article was written, AOPA was conferring with CMS to determine whether this interpretation is correct and how it will affect the Pricing, Data Analysis, and Codling’s (PDAC) official coding decision regarding CROW boots. As soon as AOPA obtains this information, we will publish in the AOPA Almanac in Advance (AIA) e-mail newsletter.

The code A4566 is used to describe prefabricated shoulder sling devices that are not rigid or semi-rigid in construction. Since the A4566 describes devices that are not rigid or semi-rigid the code has been deemed non-covered

by Medicare, does not meet the definition of a brace, but may be considered covered by other payers.

For a complete list of the 2011 HCPCS changes, please see page 17.

Policy Changes The first of the year is a good time to review the Medicare Medical Policies to see if there are any changes that may effect how your claims will be processed and paid. The policies may be found on your local DME MAC Web site: • Jurisdiction A: www.medicarenhic.com • Jurisdiction B: www.ngsmedicare.com • Jurisdiction C: www.cignagovernmentservices.com • Jurisdiction D: www.noridianmedicare.com

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Reimbursement Page

HCPCS O&P CODE/MODIFIER CHANGES FOR 2011 2011 NEW CODES/MODIFIERS Code/Modifier

Descriptor

GU

Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, routine notice

A4566

Shoulder sling or vest design, abduction restrainer, with or without swathe control, prefabricated, includes fitting and adjustment

E1831

Static progressive stretch toe device, extension and/or flexion, with or without range of motion adjustment, includes all components and accessories

L3674

Shoulder orthosis, abduction positioning (airplane design), thoracic component and support bar, with or without nontorsion joint/turnbuckle, may include soft interface, straps, custom fabricated, includes fitting and adjustment

L4631

Ankle foot orthosis, walking boot type, varus/valgus correction, rocker bottom, anterior tibial shell, soft interface, custom arch support, plastic or other material, includes straps and closures, custom fabricated

L5961

Addition, endoskeletal system, polycentric hip joint, pneumatic or hydraulic control, rotation control, with or without flexion and/or extension control

2011 DELETED CODES Code

Descriptor

CMS Crosswalk

L3672

Shoulder orthosis, abduction positioning (airplane design), thoracic component and support bar, without joints, may include soft interface, straps, custom fabricated, includes fitting and adjustment

L3674

L3673

Shoulder orthosis, abduction positioning (airplane design), thoracic component and support bar, includes nontorsion joint/ turnbuckle, may include soft interface, straps, custom fabricated, includes fitting and adjustment

L3674

2011 DESCRIPTOR CHANGES Code/Modifier

Old Descriptor

New Descriptor

GA

Waiver of liability statement on file

Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case

L3671

Shoulder orthosis, shoulder cap design, without joints, may include soft interface, straps, custom fabricated, includes fitting and adjustment

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L3677

Shoulder orthosis, hard plastic, shoulder stabilizer, prefabricated, includes fitting and adjustment

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JANUARY 2011 O&P ALMANAC

17

Be sure to read both the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) and the Policy Article (PA), as a change may occur in only one portion of the policy. On DME MAC Web sites, when you access the policies, the LCD will be the first portion that appears. If you scroll to the bottom of the LCD, you will see a link under the heading Related Documents that will direct you to the PA. The only policy that will change at the beginning of the year is the policy for Therapeutic Shoes for Persons with Diabetes. For claims with a date of service on or after January 1, the certifying physician must: • Have a documented in-person visit with the patient in which diabetes management is discussed. This visit must take place within six months prior to the patient receiving shoes and/or inserts.

• Sign the certification statement on or after the date of the visit and within three months before the patient receives shoes and/or inserts.

• Document the nature of the qualifying criteria in the patient’s medical record within six months before delivery of the shoes and/or inserts.

Certifying physicians who do not have documentation of the qualifying

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

criteria that supports the need for therapeutic shoes in their own notes may obtain it from the medical records of an in-person visit with a podiatrist, another MD or DO, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist. The certifying physician must then initial or sign and date these records, before or on the same day as signing the certification statement, and indicate agreement with this information.

If the certifying physician is not the one writing the prescription, there also must be documentation of an in-person visit with the person prescribing the shoes or inserts within six months of their delivery.

AOPA is working with CMS in an attempt to find alternative ways to meet these increased documentation requirements. In the meantime, the medical directors of each DME MAC have created a new letter that you may send to the certifying physicians to educate them about the new changes and their obligations.

Exclusion List Items and services delivered to a patient in a Part A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) are normally part of the SNF’s Prospective Payment System (PPS) and may not be billed to Medicare. There are some exceptions to this rule—most notably codes that describe prosthetic devices that are

low-volume, high-cost items. However, not all prosthetic codes are excluded.

A select few codes are included in the SNF’s PPS and must be billed to the SNF. At the beginning of each year, and then quarterly if needed, Medicare publishes a list of all the codes and services that are excluded from the SNF PPS. To download the whole list of codes and services, visit the CMS Web site at www.cms.gov/SNFCon solidatedBilling/02h_2011Update. asp#TopOfPage and click on File 1 under the Downloads heading. You also may download a condensed version of the list from the AOPA Web site, www.AOPAnet.org—under the Benefits, Products, & Services tab, click O&P Links and then click Coding & Billing Links.

Once you have downloaded or printed a copy of the SNF PPS Exclusion list, take a moment and review it before providing any prosthetic services or devices to a patient in SNF Part A stay. By taking this extra step, you can avoid a denial for submitting a claim to the wrong payer. For instance, if you review the SNF PPS Exclusion list, you will notice the parts (L7510), labor (L7520) and a shank foot system with vertical loading pylon (L5987) are not on the list. This indicates that those items and services must be billed to the SNF and not to Medicare.

Lastly, sign up to receive the AOPA in Advance (AIA) electronic newsletter.

The AIA is a way for AOPA to keep you abreast of any changes in Medicare policy and to pass along other useful information. If you have not signed up to receive the newsletter, or if you need to change your e-mail address, send an e-mail to almanac@AOPAnet.org and provide your company name and the e-mail addresses of employees who should receive the newsletter. a Devon Bernard is manager of reimbursement services for AOPA. Reach him at dbernard@AOPAnet.org.

Haiti:

O N E Y E A R LAT E R Devastating tragedy uncovers an existing need and prompts calls for sustainable aid

BY JILL CULORA

A

year has passed since Haiti’s devastating earthquake, and from the rubble a new focus has emerged: the need to address longstanding deficiencies in the country’s prosthetic and orthotic care.

The World Health Organization estimates 8,000 Haitians were amputees before the earthquake hit, but O&P practitioners were only fitting 50 to 100 limbs per year. In the early months following the Jan. 12, 2010, quake, media reports incorrectly stated staggering numbers of amputee victims.

Spurred by these facts, at least 15 international organizations have arrived in Haiti offering a range of

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

O&P services, using hundreds of volunteer professionals from the United States and other parts of the world. Fittings have surged, but more importantly, relief efforts are focusing on education and training a growing number of Haitians in the field of orthotics and prosthetics.

“We hope we can encourage stakeholders involved, especially the Haitian authorities, to support the kind of long-term education required to properly establish a professional standard of care and profession,” says Dan Blocka, CO, education committee assistant chair of the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics.

Former Hanger Clinic lead prosthetist Jay Tew, CP, and Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics practitioner Randy Roberson, CP, walk with a patient who was recently fit with a prosthetic leg at the Hanger Clinic in Haiti.

JANUARY 2011 O&P ALMANAC

21

A few of the more than 500 Haitian amputees who receive prosthetic care at the Hanger Clinic.

Media Miscalculations Initial media reports stated the number of amputee earthquake victims was in the tens of thousands. But one year after the earthquake, practitioners now believe as few as 1,500 Haitians suffered amputations due to the quake.

A lack of hospital record keeping immediately following the disaster, the flux of Haitians moving around, and foreign reporters mistaking existing amputees for quake victims— all of these factors contributed to the

original miscalculation.

“The 1,500 estimate is based on personally counting people with amputations in the largest hospitals and extrapolating how many hospitals were reported operational in the 10 days after the quake,” says Al Ingersoll, CP, prosthetic and orthotic program director with Healing Hands for Haiti (HHH). “We might never know because of how fluid the population is, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is going to try and dig deep into

Organizations Providing O&P in Haiti •

Advantage Program at Lumiere Ministries and Hospital

•

Adventiste Hospital (also known as Diquini)

•

BRAC (Bangledesh Rehabilitation Assistance Center)

•

DASH clinic

•

Handicap International Belgium

•

Healing Hands for Haiti International Foundation/ Handicap International

•

Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS)/Hanger Orthopedic Group

•

HUEH/General Hospital

•

Johanniter International Assistance, Germany

•

Mission of Hope

•

Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs/Kay Germaine Rehab

•

Sacred Heart Hospital/Crudem

•

St. Vincents School (orthotics)

•

University of Miami/Project Medishare

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

this question by reviewing hospital records and working with the different organizations.”

On the anniversary of the quake, O&P relief efforts will have fit an estimated 1,500 limbs and thousands of prefabricated orthotic devices, according to Ingersoll. But at least 50 percent of these patients—and possibly as many as 60 percent—were amputees before the quake. This means several hundred earthquake amputee victims are still in need of limbs.

“We don’t discriminate. If someone comes in needing a limb or they need a repair on a limb that was made someplace else, we are here to provide whatever people need,” says Robert Gailey, PhD, PT, director of rehabilitation with Project Medishare, and associate professor of physical therapy at the University of Miami School of Medicine in Coral Gables, Florida.

The Response In the weeks following the earthquake, O&P professionals, manufacturers, and companies from across the United States rallied with professionals from many other countries to donate money, equipment, and time to the Haitian relief effort.

Temporary O&P clinics were set up, most through partnerships with other medical organizations and missions.

The United Nations entrusted Handicap International—a Healing Hands for Haiti partner—and the Christoffel-Blinden Missionary (CBM), an organization that advocates for the disabled, to coordinate disability sector activities for all of Haiti. But the country’s geography, communications (Haitians speak three languages), and lack of necessary infrastructure have made this effort challenging at best. Of the 15 organizations offering substantive O&P services in Haiti, 10 are located in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

“It is important that all the populations affected by the earthquake have access to orthotic and prosthetic services,” says Thomas Calvot, a physical rehabilitator and disability and emergency advisor for Handicap

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Above: Patients enjoy the patio at the Hanger Clinic in Haiti.

Right: A patient arrives for a fitting appointment at the Hanger Clinic in Haiti.

International. “This also requires a sound system for referring patients and therefore a sound system for pointing them in the direction of complementary local services, such as functional rehabilitation, medical, and surgical care.”

Calvot says there is a huge contrast between the number of indigenous O&P structures operating in Haiti before the quake—just three in a country of 10 million people—and the multiple O&P services now present there. “This poses massive challenges,” he says, “particularly in terms of cohesiveness and ensuring activities complement each other in the short term, but also in terms of policy making and structuring the future of these services.”

Life-Changing Experience Dozens of AOPA members and member companies have participated in the relief effort to date, and many are on lists waiting to go. Those who have been on the ground in Haiti describe the experience as life changing.

“The people are amazing in that they would get up. You would fit them with

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

the socket and somehow everything just fit so perfectly and they lost their crutches and they just started walking.

Here in the U.S. it takes therapy,” says Erin Strait, CPO, with Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics in Phoenix, who traveled to Haiti in October 2010 with Phoenix Rising for Haiti.

“I think it’s just the drive of the people in Haiti because they are really motivated to want to walk, and they know that is their way of life,” she says.

“They don’t have cars, they don’t have bicycles. It’s all uneven, rocky terrain. I think a lot of it’s the environment and their will—knowing that if they don’t walk, they won’t survive.”

This past year, most practitioners who have visited Haiti have gone for short-stay volunteer rotations, but in the coming year the need will be for practitioners who can teach Haitian technicians.

“Visiting a developing country and providing P&O devices for one or two weeks only helps the person who visits, not the recipient, as no continuity of care is established,” says Ingersoll.

“ISPO Category 1 practitioners should take a pledge to not make these ‘parachute missions’ and focus instead on how we can develop and support long-term education programs to build capacity.”

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Critical Resources Practitioners use a multitude of technologies, some more suited to the Haitian environment than others.

Currently, deciding which devices to use is a matter of what resources are available. For the most part, donated resources are the best option, but as people move from town to town and require prosthesis repairs, compatibility may become an issue.

Environmental suitability also is an important issue. Haiti, one of the world’s poorest countries, is hot, dusty, hilly, and at times wet. Lack of transportation means mobility is critical, and prosthetic devices need to stand up to both the climate and the terrain.

While some preowned devices are being reused in Haiti, the vast majority of prosthetics are being custom fit.

Orthotics, however, are in greater need, according to Ingersoll. “The injured with limbs intact need orthotic stabilization because it takes much longer for the major bone fracture to heal,” he says. The need is especially acute with injured children.

The Hanger Ivan R. Sabel

Above: Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics technician Donald Pfau teaches four locally hired Haitian technicians at the Hanger Clinic in Haiti.

Right: Former lead prosthetist at the Hanger Clinic in Haiti Jay Tew, CP, fabricates prosthetic limbs in the lab.

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Foundation, in partnership with the Harold & Kayrita Anderson Family Foundation, Physicians for Peace, the Catholic Medical Mission Board, and Donald Peck Leslie, MD, of the Shepherd Center, has A locally hired Haitian technician works in the lab of the Hanger established a long-term Clinic in Haiti. prosthetic and devices, making the devices, making rehabilitation center at the undamaged the sockets, lamination, pulling Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti’s plastics all in a very short period of Artibonite Valley. Practitioners there time,” he says. “By seeing 700 patients are using the Seattle Litefoot with the in a 10-month period, they got a lot of pylon system, which is used in the experience [quickly].”

United States and Europe.

Developing prosthetics for the “Patients who were amputees prior developing world is an emerging to the earthquake were coming to market, according to Gailey. Project have an older prosthesis replaced, Medishare in Haiti is planning to and what we were finding is these start using the LEGS (LeTourneau were the same components, so over University Empowering Global the years people who were helping Solutions) knee system—a prototype in Haiti were utilizing the same technology made at LeTourneau technology already,” says Kevin University in Texas. The system uses Carroll, CP, FAAOP, vice-president a series of jigs to make all the pieces for prosthetics at Hanger Orthopedic that go into a knee, which can be built Group. “The existing components, for less than $50. some 10 to 15 years old, were holding Project Medishare is currently using up quite well, so we thought this was an Atlas foot, made by Endolite in practical.”

India, with a composite shank. It’s an Carroll says Hanger was already inexpensive foot that is very durable teaching Haitian technicians to use and also cosmetically very appealing. the U.S./European components. “As a “It’s actually the most sought-after leg result we have Haitians that are very in Haiti because of the cosmesis,” says proficient at assembling the prosthetic Gailey. “It’s ironic, but here in the U.S. it’s considered a shower leg.”

Haitian culture is known to be rooted in superstition and taboos, and this extends to the medical field.

Cultural stigmas about hospitals include the long-held belief that visiting a hospital brings sickness—a belief propagated by voodoo and borne out by history. O&P practitioners on the ground in Haiti have found cultural stigmas exist with prosthetics as well. To deal with these concerns, they are emphasizing the importance of cosmeses in prosthetic devices and are color-matching skin tones using device covers.

“Aesthetically, complete prosthetics are very important to Haitians, and compared to the U.S., it can be very

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frustrating for a practitioner to realize that a Haitian might consider a prosthesis useful only when it is finished cosmetically, no matter how well it fits,” says Ingersoll.

“The stigma is more focused on people wearing upper-extremity prosthetics, and from my understanding it is a universal concern,” he adds. “Split hook terminal devices are universally rejected in Haiti. It definitely is aesthetics, however, we know that acceptance of the functional advantages should trump that stigma.”

The stigma may come from the fact that in Haiti, people with disabilities are known as kokobés—a Creole word meaning “good for nothings” that was originally used to label leprosy victims. A split hook device, though a functioning limb, does little to conceal the limb loss and does not address the central problem—that patients with these devices do not look able bodied like everyone else. And until they do, the stigma will remain.

“What means are at our disposal to ensure that their rights are respected?” asks Calvot.

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

The devastating earthquake in Haiti is just one of a list of crises and disasters that the O&P community has responded to in recent decades. Among the others were earthquakes in China, Pakistan, and Iran and the devastating wars in Bosnia and Afghanistan. What makes the Haiti situation different is both the magnitude of need and the island nation’s proximity to the United States.

The use of concrete-slab roofing meant a higher number of severe limb injuries from the Haiti earthquake compared to earthquakes in other countries, where housing was typically constructed of wood or mud. In addition, the fact that Haiti is just a short airplane trip away meant the response from United States O&P professionals could be rapid and logistically more straightforward.

“In terms of other parts of the world, Hanger has been in and out,” says Kevin Carroll, CP, FAAOP, vice-president for prosthetics at Hanger Orthopedic Group.

“But it comes down to the safety of the people that you put in on the ground. We had a group travel to Afghanistan, but it got rough out there. We had a group in Pakistan, but not to the extent in Haiti, because of the distance, logistics, and expense of it.

“It’s sort of like, if something happened to your neighbor down the street, you’d go and help them. Haitians are our neighbors—they are down the street from us, so why not help them?”

Damage from the earthquake in Sichuan region of China

Long-Term Sustainability As the profession knows, loss of a limb means a lifetime of care. And the hard work of the O&P community in the past 12 months will be compromised, relief practitioners warn, if a formal system for training local Haitian technicians is not developed.

“Training local staff to ensure the provision of O&P and rehabilitation services over the longer term must be one of the priorities of the humanitarian and political actors present on the ground,” says Calvot. “The survival of all the work currently being done to develop a complete range of rehabilitation services is at stake.”

Currently, ISPO is working with USAID, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Handicap International, HHH, and other O&P relief organizations to establish an appropriate education program.

Ingersoll says El Salvador’s Don Bosco University would be an ideal education partner as it has a 20-year track record in other countries, is ISPO approved, and is better able to handle language challenges in Haiti.

In addition, before the end of this year, the ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled will rebuild and re-equip—and later help to maintain—one of the most important physical rehabilitation facilities in Haiti, which is managed by HHH. The facility will benefit thousands of disabled people and will include facilities for consultations and physiotherapy, a workshop for manufacturing artificial limbs and other mobility devices, and training rooms for HHH staff.

“Even before the earthquake, it was a challenge to help the huge number of disabled people living in Haiti. The disaster added thousands of newly handicapped patients, while our medical facilities, prosthetic clinic, and workshop were completely devastated,” says Eric Doubt, executive director of HHH, when the project was announced. “Currently there are between 8,000 and 10,000 amputees in need of professional care.

We urgently need to rebuild facilities for them.” a Jill Culora is a contributing writer to O&P Almanac. Reach her at jillculora@gmail.com.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HANGER PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS

Step-By-Step

ASSESSMENT Pricey or practical, gait analysis tools still require clinicians’ expertise to create effective outcomes

BY DEBORAH CONN

O

utcomes measurement, accountability, quantifiable results: Whatever term you use, the meaning is clear. Insurers and third-party payers want the facts—not anecdotes or fuzzy interpretations— showing that a therapeutic device is worth its cost.

In orthotics, gait analysis can help practitioners diagnose problems and measure the effects of interventions.

Gait analysis tools run the gamut from the highest tech—computerized, multi-camera kinematic systems that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars—to the lowest—the trained eye of an experienced practitioner.

Increasingly, however, orthotists are turning to affordable instrumentation that can objectively measure functional outcomes.

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

Most Advanced One of the most advanced motion analysis systems is in the gait lab at the Center for the Intrepid, a state-of-theart military rehabilitation center located next to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Up to 24 cameras use infrared light to track reflective markers placed on a patient’s body and capture three-dimensional movement data. Force plates in the floor, parallel bars, and treadmills measure groundreaction forces in three directions to determine the torque produced by muscles or prosthetic components.

To record electrical activity that causes contractions, researchers use electromyography (EMG), in which electrodes are attached to the surface of the skin or fine wires are inserted into the muscles.

“If you have the complete system, you can look at joint angles, movement, and force to get a whole and accurate picture of how the patient walks and what may be contributing to the deviation,” says Robert Gailey, PhD, PT, associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The drawbacks, of course, are that such systems require about eight hours of dedicated lab time, at least two full-time employees—and cost up to $400,000.

In time, however, such technology should become more affordable.

Movement sensors already appear in such video gaming systems as the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox Kinect, and animators use similar tools to capture human gestures for movies.

“More of these tools and components are finding their way into the mainstream,” says Gailey.

“Accelerometers are in global positioning systems, and gyrometers are in cell phones. The costs are coming way down.

We may eventually end up with a very simple system that can be strapped to someone’s arms or legs.”

More Practical Cost aside, using the most advanced gait analysis systems might not be the most appropriate approach in every case. “Instrumentation is a wonderful thing, but depending on what the practitioner is trying to evaluate, being buried in tons of data may not be useful,” says Marcus P. Besser, PhD, director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. “If the question is whether the patient is walking more symmetrically, using the top-end system would be like killing a fly with a cannon.”

Instead, practitioners are turning to less expensive, and perhaps more practical, tools, such as temporal and spatial measurement systems. Among them are the GAITRite and Tekscan’s Walkway systems, both of which use a portable electronic walkway that connects to the practitioner’s computer.

As the patient walks on the mat, sensors capture the orientation and relative

position of each footfall, and computer software calculates the temporal and spatial parameters.

“Before instrumentation, you accomplished this by rolling out brown paper on the floor, putting ink on the patient’s feet, and having them walk on the paper. Then you’d crawl around on the floor with a ruler to measure step length and stride length,” says Besser.

“Instrumentation is a wonderful thing, but depending on what the practitioner is trying to evaluate, being buried in tons of data may not be useful.”

—MARCUS P. BESSER, PhD “But in many cases you’re not just looking for spatial parameters, but also timing, and this is harder to get without instrumentation,” he says.

“You not only want the step length to be equal, but the timing of the gait to be symmetrical as well. With these stride analysis systems, you can make an adjustment to the device, have the patient walk on the mat, and know immediately if the adjustment was effective.”

The immediate feedback of the GAITRite system is invaluable, agrees Gary Bedard, CO, FAAOP, clinical application liaison at Becker Orthopedic Company, based in Troy, Michigan. “Before this, we were all

guessing how to best set up a device for a patient, based on our visual observations of the patient’s gait. But no one could see the toe out or foot progression angle of a device during gait. Base of support, stride length, velocity, heel, midstance, and toe-off contact time are impossible to see visually. This system gives me this information with one or two walks down the mat.”

According to Bedard, the common methodology used to determine gait outcome comes from physical therapists who time patients as they walk a certain distance, say 6 or 10 meters. “This measurement has been established for a long time,” he says. ”But it doesn’t take into consideration any gait factors other than velocity that would be the result of putting a device on a patient.”

As clinical liaison for a manufacturer, Bedard teaches practitioners how to incorporate stance control orthoses into their practices, and instrumentation helps him do so.

“The data from the GAITRite system underscores the difference between a patient ambulating in a static drop lock knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) and a stance-control KAFO,” he says.

Patients may become habituated to using a rigid orthosis or a temporary splint and learn to walk by hiking

JANUARY 2011 O&P ALMANAC

31

up the hip so the foot on the affected leg can clear the floor. When the rigid device is replaced with a stance-control KAFO, patients can use hip and knee flexion to create toe clearance. They may not walk as quickly, but the stance-controlled orthosis creates a better, more efficient gait.

“That’s our true goal with any lower extremity device: to normalize, increase efficiency, and add durability so the patient can walk a longer distance.”

—GARY BEDARD, CO, FAAOP “When we use a tool such as GAITRite, we can measure the velocity and the step length from side to side,” he says. “We have to move beyond velocity to allow the patient to ambulate at a lower energy cost. That’s our true goal with any lower extremity device: to normalize, increase efficiency,

32

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

and add durability so the patient can walk a longer distance.

“The improvement in efficiency documented by the instrumented mat convinces the orthotist as well as the referring physical therapist, that the stance-control option is a practical tool for patient management.”

Bedard also finds another GAITRite feature helpful: its ability to graphically and numerically measure the duration of the patient’s heel, mid-foot, and toe contact. “If I have a patient in an AFO with a double-action ankle joint, I can mechanically control that joint to correct the time the patient spends in the first, second, and third rocker of gait,” he says. “Without the GAITRite, it would be close to impossible to measure the patient’s dwell time in each rocker.”

The same types of data allow Bedard to adjust a posterior leaf spring AFO. “I can change the trim lines of that device to make it more flexible, customizing it to individual gait forces, velocity, and body weight.”

More Portable The portability of the system appeals to Megan Smith, director of clinical research at SureStep in South Bend, Indiana. She uses a 16-foot GAITRite mat with more than 18,000 sensors and two video cameras.

“Because it is a portable system, I am able to take it into our hospitals and PT clinics. This gives us the ability to work directly as a team with the patient’s doctors and therapists to come up with the best solution for the patient,” she says. “With the GAITRite, we have the ability to fine-tune our orthotic interventions. The objective data also help make sure each patient is getting the appropriate care. And if there are questions about reimbursement, I can put together a report that shows the device is improving gait and function.”

Instrumentation also is helpful for children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Clinicians treating these children want to reduce spasticity and also position the foot appropriately for walking.

They may use electromyography, which measures spasticity, in combination with a mat system to determine whether an orthosis is doing both at the same time.

“For CP kids, the cause of what you observe is not always apparent,” says Marcus Besser. “If you’re not getting full knee extension before contact in walking, it could be for a variety of reasons—the muscles are not working, the muscles that flex are overactive, or there’s a mechanical lack of range.

Instrumented analysis can help discern what’s going on.”

Other gait analysis tools measure pressure under the foot, either by having the subject walk on a floor plate or through the use of insoles that can fit inside a shoe, such as Tekscan’s F-Scan system. Paper-thin sensors placed inside footwear capture data on force, contact pressure distribution, and timing. The hardware is available as a tethered system, with wires connecting the subject to the computer; or as a wireless system, which allows the subject to be up to 100 meters away from the computer.

“Plantar pressure measurement systems are used a lot for patients with diabetes, when you want to reduce the load on certain parts of the foot,” says Marcus Besser. “They also are used for athletes who want to control the foot while running.”

The Bottom Line No matter what system is used, however, the clinician always is the most important component.

Instrumentation provides data, but practitioners have to interpret the data to design and evaluate effective devices. Simple observational gait analysis conducted by an experienced clinician can be far more useful than improperly understood data collected by sophisticated machines.

“When you look at computerized systems, you get more objective data than with pure observation, but there will always be disagreement over the causes of deviation,” says Gailey.

“An orthotist will think orthotics can correct the problem; a physical therapist will think exercise; a surgeon, surgery. It always comes back to the clinician.”

Increasingly, though, clinicians need to back up their conclusions with as much objective information as possible.

“There have been areas of the clinical community who are resisting the push toward outcomes measurement, but it is going to come,” says Besser, “Fortunately, technology is advancing so you don’t need a million-dollar laboratory to get valid, quantifiable measures of outcome.” a Deborah Conn is a contributing writer for O&P Almanac. Reach her at debconn@ cox.net.

JANUARY 2011 O&P ALMANAC

33

n

AOPA Headlines AOPA WORKING FOR YOU

Powerful Story, Powerful Message, Powerful Partner AOPA and PlowShare Group launch public service ads to urge passage of parity legislation

Standing for Change in Washington is Easier for Some Than for Others.

It’s hard enough having to maneuver around Congress when you’re seeking support for your cause. But when you’re trying to do it on one leg, it’s even harder.

That’s why the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association is urging Congress to pass bills S. 3223 and H.R. 2575, giving amputees comparable benefits for prosthetic arms and legs to those they would receive for any other medical or surgical treatment.

Currently, insurance companies are using arbitrary caps and lifetime limits, which may not be enough to reimburse amputees for even the most rudimentary prosthetic and orthotic devices. And it’s certainly not enough to cover today’s prosthetics that can greatly improve an amputee’s mobility.

C

ompelling graphics, sharp copy, and a strong message all combined to create a high-impact print advertising campaign last fall to bolster awareness for the Prosthetic and Orthotic Parity Act (S. 3223 and H.R. 2575) and the Medicare O&P Improvement Act (H.R. 2479). In addition to the advocacy campaign, other ads portray the very special skills O&P practitioners contribute to patients, enabling them to live the American Dream.

The ads were placed in regional issues of major publications such as Time, Newsweek, Fortune, and Forbes and several other media outlets in mid-November. The campaign was timed to coincide with the aftermath of the election and the last chance for this Congress to pass these important pieces of O&P legislation. In reality, however, the 111th Congress had such a full platter in its final, lame duck session that it became apparent that passage was unlikely. It will probably be months into the 112th Congress, which convenes this month, before these bills can be introduced again.

Here’s a sampling of the print ads designed to bolster the case for quality O&P patient care and the unique skills of the profession that make that quality care possible.

• I Want to Hold Your Hand. What says it better than the copy in this ad? “For the expert practitioners who create these devices, seeing a little boy holding his father’s ‘new hand’ makes all the hard work worthwhile.” The tag “Arms and Legs Are Not Luxury” is another example of the Amputee Coalition of America and AOPA partnering on behalf of patients to ensure that quality care continues.

• This Lady Makes Great Hands. It may be a play on words, but there’s no better way to drive home the point that practitioners in the world of O&P really do deserve the accolades in the headline of this ad: “Let’s Give This Woman a Hand. After All, She Makes Great Hands.”

• For Some, Washington is an Obstacle Course. As this ad says, “It’s hard enough having to maneuver around Congress when you’re seeking support for your cause. But when you’re trying to do it with limited mobility, it’s even 34

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

Please urge Congress to pass S. 3223 and H.R. 2575, the bills that will enable amputees to get the medically necessary devices they need to lead full, productive lives.

Because in America, arms and legs are not a luxury. For more information go to any of the following sites: AOPAnet.org, amputee-coalition.org, or armsandlegsarenotaluxury.com.

harder.” This ad goes on to decry the limits insurance companies impose with arbitrary caps and lifetime limits and to urge passage of parity legislation.

• We Make Great Americans Great Again. Using the forceful historical figure of Teddy Roosevelt, this ad again urges passage of parity legislation to make sure those with limb loss or impairment have “medically necessary orthotics and prosthetics” so they can “once again live the American Dream.”

• When Medicaid in Arizona Cuts Funding, O&P is What Gets Cut Out. Anticipating further state actions to balance budgets on the backs of amputees or the limbimpaired, AOPA has developed separate ads that can serve as templates for any O&P effort at the state level to fight the battle of the budget. So far, Arizona is the only state that has enacted legislation robbing O&P patients of their possible livelihood, but other states are likely to wield this same budget ax.

AOPA’s creative partner in producing these ads is the PlowShare Group Inc., a firm specializing in harnessing the power of communications for the social good. Its clientele is almost exclusively nonprofit organizations like AOPA. Last year, the firm placed more than $500 million of public service advertising, including the efforts it made on behalf of AOPA in 2009.

Several of these ads are available in poster form for use in patient-care facilities. To see all the available ads, go to AOPA’s Web site (www.AOPAnet.org) and select the “Press Room” pull-down menu to access all nine print ads. You can download an order form specifying your choices—single posters are free to members. a

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AOPA Headlines

Get to Know the 112th Congress The incoming wave of newly elected House and Senate representatives are preparing for their upcoming terms in the 112th session of Congress. To help AOPA members get to know the next group of legislators who represent specific areas of the country and write O&P legislation, AOPA has teamed up with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to provide members with a comprehensive, online guide to the 112th Congress. Check it out at www.AOPAvotes.org.

2010 O&P PAC Honor Club Members* AOPA would like to thank the following individuals for their contributions to the O&P PAC, the political action committee representing you and the O&P community, on Capitol Hill. The PAC provides you with a means of increasing the visibility and recognition of orthotics and prosthetics among legislators. It allows individuals to unite and pool their resources to support candidates for federal office who understand the crucial role of O&P in the health-care delivery system.

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE ($1,000-$5,000)

SENATOR’S TABLE ($500-$999)

Mike Allen, CPO, FAAOP Sherrie Anderson, CP Robert Arbogast Rudolf B. Becker, III Kel Bergmann, CPO Marty Carlson, CPO Rod Cheney, CPO, FAAOP Ronald Cheney, CPO Dan Crowder, CP, LP, FAAOP William W. DeToro, CO, LO, FAAOP Thomas DiBello, CO, LO, FAAOP Thomas F. Fise Sam E. Hamontree, CP Russell Hornfisher James Kaiser, CP Marc N. Karn, CP Harry W. Layton, CPO, LPO Catherine Leimkuehler Doug McCormack Curt Patton, CPO Ronald W. Pawlowski, CPO John Reynolds, CPO Peter F. Rogerson, III Ivan R. Sabel, CPO William J. Sampson, CP Terry Lee Shaw, BOCPO, CPO, FAAOP Frank Eugene Snell, CPO, LPO, FAAOP Clint Snell, CPO Bernie Veldman, CO Frank Vero, CPO Eddie White, CP

Bret Bostock, CO Frank Bostock, CO, FAAOP Maynard Carkhuff Dennis Clark, CPO Mike Fenner CPO, BOCPO, LPO Anthony Filippis, CPO Ed Gildehaus III, CPO, C.Ped, FAAOP Michael Hamontree Don Hardin Bert Harman Mo Kenney, CPO, FAAOP David C. Kerr Tom Kirk, Ph.D Jon Leimkuehler, CPO, FAAOP William Leimkuehler, CPO Mark Maguire, CPO Ralph Nobbe, CPO Donald S. Peters, C.Ped, CPO, LPO, FAAOP Walter Racette, CPO Brad Ruhl Joseph Sansone, CPO Scott Schneider Thomas H. Watson, CP

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

CHAIRMAN’S TABLE ($100-$499) Vinit Asar Johnny Baskin, CP Robert Biaggi, CPO George Breece Bruce W. Buffington, BS, CPO, LPO

Terri Bukacheski, CP, LP Michael Burton Erin Cammarata, CTO Kevin Carroll, MS, CP, FAAOP Brent Cheney, CO Roland Christensen Doyle Collier, CP Kenneth Cornell, CO Christina Cox Joseph De Lorenzo, CP Don J. DeBolt Kathy Dodson Tom Doherty Adam Dutchover, CPO Robert Dzurenda Robert Easterbrook, CPO Dennis E. Ebbing, CPO Jim Fenton, CPO Steven Filippis, CP Rick Fleetwood, MPA Jamey French Eddy Gosschalk, CPO Brian Gustin, CP Sara Hakanson Pam Hale, CPO Steve Hamontree, CPO Carol Hentges, CO John Howard Fran Jenkins David Johnson, CO Joel J. Kempfer, CP, FAAOP Al Kritter, Jr., CPO, FAAOP Paul Leikam Ellen Leimkuehler Robert Leimkuehler, CPO Anita Liberman-Lampear, MA Robert E. Luckett, CP

Pam Lupo, CO Stuart Marquette, CO Brad Mattear, CFo Tom McIntosh, CPO Richard W. Miller, CO Matthew Mirones, C.Ped, CPO Steven A. Mirones, CO, C.Ped, FAAOP Marlon B. Moore, CO Tina M. Moran Christopher Perry, CP Mark A. Porth, CPO, FAAOP Paul Prusakowski, CPO, FAAOP Eduardo Reyes, CPO, LPO Rick Riley, CEO Ronald Sanders, CPO Jan Saunders, CPO Kurt E. Schlau, CP Lisa Schoonmaker, CPO, FAAOP Shannon R. Schwenn Jammy Sheppard, PT David S. Sisson, CP Chris Snell Rick Stapleton, CPO Terry J. Supan, CPO, FAAOP Peter W. Thomas Russell Walker, CP, LP John Wall, CPO, FAAOP, PT James Weber, MBA James Young, CP, LP, FAAOP Claudia Zacharias, MBA, CAE

2010 PAC Supporters These individuals have generously contributed directly to a political candidate’s fundraiser, and/or have donated to an O&P PAC sponsored event.

Robert Arbogast Wendy Beattie Hugo Belzidsky Kel Bergmann, CPO Gene Bernadoroni, CO, LO Devon Bernard Frank Bostock, CO, FAAOP Lori Boyle, BOCO, CO Michael Burton Patrick Chelf Dennis Clark, CPO Shawn Conrey, CPO, C.Ped Scott Cummings Thomas DiBello, CO, LO, FAAOP Kathy Dodson Robert Easterbrooks, Jr., CPO

Steven Filippis, CP Karl Fillauer, CPO, FAAOP Rick Fleetwood, MPA Richard Gingras, CPO, BOCOP Charlene Godduhn Brian Gustin, CP Tom Guth, CP Michelle Hall, CO Sam E. Hamontree, CP Hanger PAC Bert Harman Clarence Hooper, CPO Russell Hornfisher Joseph Huntsman, MBA, MA James Kaiser, CP Marc N. Karn, CP John Kenney, CPO, FAAOP

Tom Kirk, Ph.D Al Kritter, Jr., CPO, FAAOP Jon Leimkuehler, CPO, FAAOP Anita Liberman-Lampear, MA Karen Lundquist Pamala Lupo, CO Ron Lupo, CO Mahesh Mansukhani Stuart Marquette Doug McCormack Dave McGill Joe McTernan Gaurav Mishra Tina M. Moran Ralph Nobbe, CPO Pete Nohre Curt Patton, CPO

1917 CLUB (Up to $99)

Clarence Imler Maurice Johnson, CO, BOCO William C. Kitchens, CO Stacie Larson, CO Eileen Levis Ron Lupo, CO Lee Mantelmacher, CPO Karran Martin Charlie Martinez Matthew Mattox, COA, CTO Mark McDonald, CPO Robert H. Meier, BOCO, CO David Misener, CPO Marsh Moore Tom Most, CP Jon Naft, CPO Eric Neufeld, CPO Kelly Nolan Lisa Phlegar Jeffrey Price, CPO, LPO Martha Pyle Gordon Rabing, C.Ped Robert Radocy Tom Rankin Robert Reps, CPO Jon P. Rodman, CPO Brent Romine Jerry Saunders, CO Julie D. Schissel John Schulte, CPO, FAAOP Dave Scurti, CP, C.Ped Andrew Sestak, CO Fram Sethna Mark W. Smith, CP Steve Smith, CPO Cole R. Smith, CTPO Michael E. Tompkins Carl E. Trump, BOCO Cassi R. Ubben Nicole Valentino Christine Vought, CP Tanya Wade

Dave Wall Cathie Welge Richard C. Williams, CPO, FAAOP Scott Wlliamson, CAE Jon Wilson, CPO a

Steven Amundson, CP Audrey Back Thomas Bain, CPO Joe Baran Melissa Bastian Melanie M. Bell, C.Ped Devon Bernard David Boone, CP, PhD Mark Brand, Ph.D., CO, C.Ped Kortland Bruce, BOCO Eric Burns, CO Jim Butts, CPO Mary Charton Steve Cielinski, CTPO Antony Contarino, CPO Thomas J. Costin Reba Cross Megan Damewood Angela Danner Jeffrey Dawson Cheryl R. Dease, BOCO, CO, C.Ped Bernadette Douroux, CPO William Eason, CO John Ficociello, CPO David T. Fillauer, CPO David Frost Christopher Gizzi, CO Walter Governor April Groves, CO Mary Guzman Williams Jack Hanan, CO Dennis Haun, CPO Dave Hensley, CO, CP, FAAOP Ronald J. Hercules Jeremy Hines Greg Hoeting Pat Hood Calvin K. Hoyle, BOCO, CP, C.Ped Joe Huntsman, MBA, MA

Walter Racette, CPO John Reynolds, CPO Arthur Robbins Peter Rosenstein Ivan Sabel, CPO Scott Schneider Lisa Schoonmaker, CPO, FAAOP Mark Selleck, CPO, LPO Chris Snell Clint Snell, CPO Frank Eugene Snell, CPO, LPO, FAAOP Frank Vero, CPO James Weber, MBA James Young, CP, LP, FAAOP Claudia Zacharias, MBA, CAE

* Due to publication schedules, contributions made after Dec. 10, 2010 will be published in a subsequent O&P Almanac.

FINALLY!! O&P Board Study Resources We can help you PASS your BOARDS

The ONLY Comprehensive Study Guides Specifically for Orthotics and Prosthetics (Many of our products are available in DVD Format also!)

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We also have Board Study Value Packages in Orthotics and Prosthetics

Our BEST SELLING products to save you money!

www.oandpstudyguide.com JANUARY 2011 O&P ALMANAC

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AOPA Headlines

AOPA’s Upgraded Web Site AOPA has been working hard to enhance our members’ online access.

Starting this month, and for the first time ever, members may renew their membership online, anytime.

AOPA’s new site contains useful features that can be accessed when members update and maintain their AOPA profiles.

Using their profiles, members can: • update company information and primary contact information • add, remove, or update employee information • sign up employees to receive AOPA in Advance and the AOPA Insider • sign up employees to receive the O&P Almanac • add, remove, or update information for their affiliate branch offices • renew their PAC authorization.

Additionally, a new Education Page will allow members to access AOPAversity offerings and more, including: • educational videos from past National Assembly meetings (available FREE as a temporary introductory offer to AOPA members) • products and services catalogue • free monographs and white papers • AOPAversity webcasts, audio conferences, and classroom learning opportunities.

Check out the new site today: www.AOPAnetonline.org/profile. To renew your 2011 membership, login to the site using your AOPA username and password and follow the instructions.

Lester James Sabolich, CPO Lester James Sabolich, CPO, founder of Sabolich Prosthetic and Research Center, died on Dec. 13, 2010. He was 89.

At 18, Sabolich, a native of Ft. Reno, Oklahoma, found his calling after working for an Oklahoma City orthotist.

He built the foundation for four generations of the Sabolich family working in O&P. He went on to work at Oklahoma City University Hospital’s Orthotic Lab where he learned advanced techniques and patient care. He also met his wife, Lorene Estelle Wilkerson, at the hospital where she was working as a nursing aide.

During World War II, Sabolich served in the Army at a Santa Fe military hospital, and once fitted a back brace on Robert Oppenheimer, inventor of the atomic bomb, at a top-secret base in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Sabolich was a founding member of the American Board of Certification in Prosthetics and Orthotics and

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

IN MEMORIAM

sought to raise the standards of his profession. In 1946, he and his wife founded Sabolich Prosthetics in Oklahoma City. Their son, John, and grandsons, Scott and Trey, grandson-in-law, Tim, and great-grandson, Blake, would go on to work for the company. He retired in 1994 to pursue other business interests.

Sabolich is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lorene; sister, Gloria Puckett and husband Jack; step-sister Doris Colson; two children, Carole Sabolich Tiemann and husband Carl, and John Alan Sabolich and wife Lee; as well as five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations should be sent to the Limbs for Life Foundation, 5929 N. May, Suite 511, Oklahoma City, OK 73112, started by the Sabolich family to provide prosthetic services to those in need, or the Oklahoma Alzheimer’s Association, 6465 South Yale, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74136. a

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Marketplace

CUT-4-CUSTOM TLSO Allard USA incorporates their versatile 3D-Lite low temperature thermoplastic into a line of pre-cut TLSO’s and LSO’s, called Cut-4-Custom (C4C). Front and back sections have straps pre-attached.

Both sections are ready to be heated and custom molded to patients. Four heights to accommodate prescription and patient anatomy. 3D-Lite becomes soft and is ready to mold to patient contours in less than 10 minutes. This innovative material may be re-heated, flattened, and re-molded. It is aerated for breathability, lightweight, non-toxic and may be worn in the shower.

For more information, call 888/6786548, email info@allardusa.com, or visit www.allardusa.com.

APIS

THE TRUSTEP® FOOT FROM COLLEGE PARK Trustep® wearers experience unsurpassed comfort and natural-feeling mobility in their daily activities.

The Trustep® is carefully and concisely crafted to offer nearly the same vertical motion, rotation and balance as an anatomical foot. This range of motion allows for a natural gait and optimal performance on any terrain. Key features include: • Polycentric design provides advanced stance phase control and facilitates independent heel and toe adjustment • Superior range of motion for the most natural gait pattern available today • True multi-axial function with transverse rotation for optimum terrain compliance • Shock absorbing cushioning provides a smooth, controlled stride • Same-day, custom built to order.

For more information, call 800/7287950 or visit www.college-park.com.

COMFORT PRODUCTS Apis is dedicated to providing great services and products to our valued partners. Mt. Emey custom orthoses program is a leading program to help healthcare professionals with their pedorthics needs. Currently Apis offers limited time free shipping for all custom orthotics orders and $75 for three pairs. Your patient will be compliant in less time. Whether you need to order the orthotics only or with the great selection of therapeutic or diabetic shoes, we offer great package deals, call us to find out and you will not be disappointed. Our friendly CSRs are standing by at 888/937-2747.

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O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

Another exciting innovation from Comfort Products: SpectraCarb™!

They said it couldn’t be done: a more user friendly material for the orthotics and prosthetics industry. We went to work to come up with material that nearly mimics the strength of carbon, is less costly, and easier to work with than pre-preg or woven carbon products. Laminations using SpectraCarb™ can be easily

buffed without the skin irritation caused by other carbon products.

SpectraCarb™ can be modified with a heat gun, unlike conventional carbon products, without delaminating.

Perfect for fabricating sockets and AFOs, including major and minor adjustments. SpectraCarb™ is available in conventional tubular form in 2-3-4-5-6-8-10 inch widths. Ask for SpectraCarb by name, exclusively from Comfort Products. Spectra® + Carbon = SpectraCarb™ = a Wonder Material.

Please call Comfort Products, Inc. in Croydon, Pennsylvania, at 800/8227500. The innovation leader in knitted orthotic and prosthetic products.

EURO INTERNATIONAL

Euro International is excited to introduce their new Therapeutic Shoe line to their product range and now offers an extensive assortment of surgical and foot relief shoes. The main feature of the SATURN is a slightly upward walking sole in the front area which provides pressure relief/ distribution during the walking cycle and therefore is beneficial for wound healing. The shoe (worn on left/right foot) embraces the heel with a soft shoe upper and heel cap.

• Wounds in the forefoot area caused by diabetes mellitus • Peripheral artery occlusions • Other wounds in the forefoot area • Postoperative after corrections and forefoot injuries.

For more information, call 800/3782480 or visit www.eurointl.com

HOSMER SFX The Sfx from Hosmer adds adjustable stance flexion to most endoskeletal knee-shin systems. This compact and light-weight stance flexion device provides added stability, increased balance and moderate shock absorption in a modular configuration. Sfx offers 10 degrees of adjustable stance flexion resistance. The Sfx comes with a proximal pyramid receiver and distal tube clamp making it easy to add to most prostheses. Available in three stiffness options.

For more information, contact Hosmer at 800/827-0070 or www. hosmer.com.

NEW FROM MOTION CONTROL: NEW TRIAD PREAMP

• • • •

• Compatible for use with: ✔✔ Utah Arm 3 & 3+ (kit: p/n 4050214 ✔✔ Utah Hybrid Arm (kit: p/n 4050214 ✔✔ ProControl Systems (kit: p/n 4050216) ✔✔ Otto Bock electrode cables For more information call 888/696-2767, e-mail info@UtahArm. com, or visit www.UtahArm.com.

Three mounting options Water resistant case High interference rejection Gain adjustments on preamp

INTRODUCING KISS REPLACEMENT KITS! These kits are designed to replace key components, without the need to purchase a distal base!

CMP32/A: Includes a velcrosewn placard, proximal nut and screw, proximal strap, and distal strap. CMP31/A: Includes an adhesive-ready placard, proximal nut and screw, proximal strap, and distal strap.

For more information, contact KISS Technologies LLC at 410/663-KISS or visit www.kiss-suspension.com.

Provel offers cost effective, fast, easy to use, and reliable O&P automation. The D2 digitizer, C7 carver, and T7 thermoformer are appropriate for small clinics as well as large central fab's.

AOP file compatible and backed by a two year warranty. The D2 digitizer allows automated shape capture of prosthetic casts with unmatched accuracy. The C7 carver is not only fast and precise, its self contained dust collection system is extremely quiet. The T7 thermoformer consistently produces high quality thermoplastic sockets from industry standard preforms.

For more information visit www.provel.us or call 509.857.2009.

JANUARY 2011 O&P ALMANAC

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Marketplace

ALPHA SELECT AND FLEX: PERFECT PAIRING Alpha® Select Liners are now available in both cushion and locking styles!

The liner’s gel is a unique blend of classic Alpha gel with Kevlar® and mineral oil additives.

This hybrid gel provides a balance of comfort and durability. Hybrid gel is now also used in Alpha Flex Sleeves.

For a limited time, purchase one Alpha Select Liner (locking or cushion) and one Alpha Flex Sleeve and receive one Alpha Flex Sleeve FREE. For information or to order, contact Ohio Willow Wood at 800/848-4930 or www.owwco.com. Please reference promo code SF2011-MKA when placing your order.

NEW CATALOG WITH PDAC APPROVED CODES Call us today at 888/982-8181 to request our new 2010-2011 catalog!

OPTEC USA consistently offers cutting edge products of the highest quality. Beyond offering innovative orthosis at a fair price, OPTEC USA works to help your practice be successful by submitting our braces to the PDAC (Pricing, Data Analysis, and Coding) for review and determination.

PDAC recently reviewed OPTEC USA’s products with the following determinations: VertaMax – L0627, Stealth TLSO with DLK – L0462, Stealth TLSO with ATE – L0464, Oasis LSO and Oasis LSO LP – L0637.

42

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

Find out more about these and other products online at www.optecusa.com or call us today at 888/982-8181!

OPTEC’S CUSTOM BRACES – READY WHEN YOU ARE – 24/7/365

to changes in speed, load, and terrain, restoring the user’s ability to walk naturally, comfortably, and confidently at any speed.

For more information, call 800/ 233-6263 or visit our Web site at www. ossur.com.

NEW SOLUTION FOR HIP FLEXION CONTRACTURE

For nearly 15 years, OPTEC USA has been a leader in custom spinal orthotic manufacturing. We provide the high quality products and services you need from your central fabricator. With around-the-clock technical support, quality products at a fair price, and availability to take orders anytime, you will find that OPTEC USA fits your needs. Further, you will get your custom brace when your patient needs it and just the way you want it. Try OPTEC USA for your next custom orthosis!

Find out more about these and other products online at www.optecusa.com or call us today at 888/982-8181!

ÖSSUR LAUNCHES NEW RHEO KNEE® WITH MULTIPLE ADVANTAGES The new and improved RHEO KNEE, the latest addition to Össur’s innovative Bionic line, now offers a higher weight limit (275 pounds), increased torque, faster swing speed, and improved aesthetics. Thanks to its low build height, the RHEO KNEE is compatible with the entire Össur Flex-Foot line. Together they deliver maximum dynamics and a natural gait experience. As always, the Rheo Knee recognizes and responds immediately

A new lamination anchor simplifies fitting patients with hip flexion contracture. Otto Bock’s 4R119 fourprong lamination anchor includes a posterior arm that is angled upward.

This angled arm is specifically designed to accommodate a person with a hip flexion contracture.

Because the posterior prong is already positioned to accommodate hip flexion contracture, it takes less bench time to bend the prongs into the proper position. That saves you valuable time in the fitting process.

Excessive bending can also degrade the strength of a component, which can lead to failure. The 4R119’s durable stainless steel accommodates a 330 pound weight limit.

For information, call 800/328-4058 or visit www.ottobockus.com.

NEW MATRIX SPLIT TOE BRACE FROM PEL SUPPLY

SPS HAS NEW WALKAIDE 3.0 SOFTWARE

Designed with a revolutionary split footplate, these new custom-fit, carbon composite AFOs from Trulife improve patient balance and increase stability. The split footplate also makes the Matrix Split Toe (ST) and Matrix Max Split Toe (ST) ideal for Hallux amputations because the split toe acts like a natural spring.

Similar to the original Matrix and Matrix Max, the Matrix Split Toe (ST) and Matrix Max Split Toe (ST) come with height adjustable anterior shells and trimmable footplates. They feature an open calcaneal design and a lateral strut anterior to the malleolus.

The Matrix Split Toe (ST) is indicated for low activity patients with simple, unilateral drop foot. While the Matrix Max Split Toe (ST) accommodates low to high activity patients with unilateral or bilateral drop foot.

According to Trulife, both split toe braces are considered ideal for Hallux amputations.

For more information on the new Matrix or Matrix Max Split Toe—as well as the full line Trulife products— contact any helpful PEL customer service specialist at 800/321-1264, by fax 800/222-6176, or e-mail customerservice@pelsupply.com.

SPS is pleased to launch the new WalkAide 3.0 Software designed to ease programming while availing practitioners a full range of customization options. WalkAide 3.0 Rapid Programming Option: • Easy 3 Step Programming—75 percent fewer steps • Detailed Gait Analysis/ Programming Available for Fine Tuning • Upgrade FREE of Charge download via www.walkaide.com/ WalkAnalyst

WalkAide’s new Bi-Flex cuff is designed to provide a secure fit and optimal electrode positioning to enhance reproducibility of outcomes both inside and outside clinical settings.

• Consistent, accurate placement for clinician and patient • Patient can place and operate cuff with one hand • Disposable liner.

For more information, contact SPS Customer Service at 800/767-7776, ext.

3, or your SPS Sales Manager.

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Visit www.dycormfg.com for additional information and Keel deflection (weight) chart.

800-794-6099 JANUARY 2011 O&P ALMANAC

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Jobs

INCREASE EXPOSURE AND SAVE!

Place your classified ad in the O&P Almanac and online on the O&P Job Board at jobs.AOPAnet.org and save 5 percent on your order. BONUS! Online listings highlighted in yellow in the O&P Almanac.

- Northeast - Mid-Atlantic - Southeast - North Central - Inter-Mountain - Pacific Use our map to find which region you fit into!

CLASSIFIED RATES Classified advertising rates are calculated by counting complete words. (Telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and Web addresses are counted as single words.) AOPA member companies receive the member rate.

Member Non-member Words Rate Rate 50 or fewer words $140 $280 51-75 words $190 $380 76-120 words $260 $520 121 words or more $2.25 per word $5.00 per word Specials: 1/4 page, color

1/2 page, color

$482 $678 $634 $830

Advertisements and payments need to be received approximately one month prior to publication date in order to be printed in the magazine. Ads can be posted and updated at any point on the O&P Job Board online at jobs.AOPAnet.org.

No orders or cancellations are taken by phone.

Ads may be faxed to 571/431-0899 or e-mailed to srybicki@ AOPAnet.org., along with a VISA or MasterCard number, the name on the card and the expiration date. Typed advertisements and checks in U.S. currency made out to AOPA can be mailed to P.O. Box 34711, Alexandria, VA 22334-0711.

Note: AOPA reserves the right to edit Job listings for space and style considerations.

Responses to O&P box numbers are forwarded free of charge. Company logos are placed free of charge.

North Central

Certified Orthotist Green Bay and Appleton, Wisconsin Monroe BioTechnology is seeking a talented certified orthotist. This individual must possess a bachelor’s degree, have completed an NCOPE residency and have an additional three years of clinical experience.

We are a two-office privately owned facility in Green Bay and Appleton, Wisconsin, offering prosthetics, orthotics, and high-definition silicone restoration. We have our own in-house lab and make full use of the BioSculptor CAD system. A successful candidate would be passionate about clinical orthotics, have excellent communication skills, be computer literate, and dedicated to using all their clinical skill and talent toward the pursuit of excellence in all areas of orthotics.

If you desire to work as a respected clinician with other skilled, respected clinicians, please send your resume to Stephanie Sheedy at:

E-mail: Stephanie@monroebiotech.com www.monroebiotech.com

Certified Orthotist Michigan City, Indiana We invite you to join the family of the oldest orthotic and prosthetic patient care company in the world. If you are seeking a new start and want security, support and the benefits of the lastest technology, we need to talk! We offer a very competitive compensation and benefits package accompanied by Hanger’s famous Ed Fair, opportunities for growth, support of over 1,000 practitioners and sales and marketing, a corporate office to support your HR, accounting, real estate needs. If you possess excellent communication and patient care skills and are ready to make a change, we would love to discuss our needs in Michigan City! To apply for this position, please visit:

JOB BOARD RATES Visit the only online job Member Non-member board in the industry at Rate Rate jobs.AOPAnet.org! $80 $140 Save 5 percent on O&P Almanac classified rates by placing your ad in both the O&P Almanac and on the O&P Job Board, online at jobs.AOPAnet.org.

44

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

www.hanger.com/careers

North Central

Technical Service Manager Fraser, Michigan College Park Industries in Fraser, Michigan, a global leader in prosthetic foot development, manufacturing and sales is searching for the ideal candidate for a great career opportunity. Qualified applicants need to have high level clinical, technical, and presentation skills. Primary roles and responsibilities: • Customer Education: Presenting and developing high quality educational programs and in-services for customers.

• Customer Technical Support: Providing technical support to customers as needed.

• Product Development: Providing a clinical perspective and assistance to the product development team.

• International Distributor Support: Providing onsite updates and training to international distributors as needed.

• Technical Literature: Provide technical support to marketing and sales for the development of marketing and technical literature and materials.

College Park is made up of a very dynamic team of talented

people who make a difference. We are looking for someone who can add to that talent pool. Qualified candidates need to send cover letters and resumes to:

E-mail: hr@college-park.com

Southeast

CPO Georgia An experienced CPO is needed for a well-established, ABC-accredited facility in Georgia. The individual must be licensed (or eligible) by the state of Georgia. This position is for three of our central-Georgia locations, and has opportunities for advancement. Benefits include full health insurance (including dental), life insurance, and a company-sponsored retirement plan. Send resume to:

C. H. Martin Company, est. 1912 Fax: 404/525-9819 www.chmartinco.com

JANUARY 2011 O&P ALMANAC

45

n

Jobs Southeast

Pacific

Certified Orthotist and/or Prosthetist

Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician

Jackson, Mississippi The Crossroads of the South. College town … always something to do! Parks, museums, cultural events, historic sites, sports and major downtown project improvements.

This patient care facility is a top-producing facility and a two-time winner of Hanger’s Excellence Award!

If you want more than a job and are ready to make a move, we would love to discuss your goals. We offer a very competitive salary and benefit package accompanied by relocation assistance and sign on bonus potential … plus much more! To apply for this position, please visit:

California We are a rapidly expanding practice in Chico, California, that has an immediate opening for a self-motivated technician. Must be able to learn new fabrication techniques quickly and keep pace with a very busy work load in both orthotics and prosthetics. More than three years’ experience is a big plus. We are seeking a person who can speak Spanish and English but this is not a requirement. If you are looking for a great work environment, fair wages, and good benefits, please send your resume to:

www.hanger.com/careers

Fax: 530/894-6915 E-mail: mike@elitebiomechanicaldesign.com

Northeast

CPO, CO, Board-Eligible Orthotist or Prosthetist, BOCO or BOCPO, C.Ped Maine • Are you looking for something more?

• Do you want to be more than a number?

• Do you want a great life and a great job?

• We are a terrific practice looking for some nice people.

Is this you?

We are a well-established, patient-oriented, ABC-accredited facility seeking to strengthen our staff. Competitive salary offered, with bonuses commensurate with productivity, and renumeration for required educational credits. Offices located in picturesque Maine, just a short distance from our coast and mountain regions. Learn more about joining our team of dedicated specialists by contacting:

O&P Ad 25356 O&P Almanac 330 John Carlyle St., Ste. 200 Alexandria, VA 22314 Fax: 571/431-0899

New York Orthotics & Prosthetics Part-time Orthotist New York City Area Immediate opening for CO in the NYC area. Job requires two days at clinic working with orthopedic and rehabilitation doctors. Submit your resume to:

E-mail: nyorthotic@verizon.net Fax: 212/504-3066

46

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

Certified Orthotist/Certified Prosthetist Orthotist California Do you want to work for an established, growing company in an environment that values clinical excellence, and work/life balance? Do you want to live in one of the most desired and diverse areas in the country, beautiful Southern California?

SCOPe has a career opportunity for you. We are a leading orthotics and prosthetics company looking for an energetic and motivated CO and/or CPO to provide comprehensive assessment, treatment, and follow-up for our patients.

SCOPe offers competitive salaries as well as an excellent benefits package for full-time employees. Salary is commensurate with experience. All communications will be held in the strictest confidence. Interested parties can send resumes via e-mail to:

Fax: 858/292-5496 E-mail: jobs@scop.net www.scop.net

We’re with you. Every step of the way.

BOC International—Recognized and respected for over 25 years of industry experience and expertise, BOC is your best fit for O&P certification and facility accreditation. The ONLY credentialing organization with NCCA accreditation for all of its certification programs, BOC provides the credentials that keep you current and competitive—so you can stay committed to what you do best.

- Five O&P professional certification programs: Orthotist, Prosthetist, Pedorthist, Mastectomy Fitter, Orthotic Fitter - Facility accreditation approved for all CMS billing categories, with all-inclusive pricing

For more information, please visit our website

BOCinternational.org 10451 Mill Run Circle, Suite 200, Owings Mills, MD 21117

1.877.776.2200

n

Jobs Pacific

Pacific

Certified Orthotist/Board Eligible Orthotist

Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist or Certified Prosthetist – Facility Manager

Richmond, California Howard Orthopedics Inc. is seeking a self-motivated certified orthotist and board eligible orthotist for its growing practice. Candidates must have excellent communication and organizational skills and be patient oriented.

We offer a competitive salary, health benefits, 401(k), and profit sharing. Please send resumes to:

Southern California Exceptional opportunity for a CPO/CP to manage our satellite office in California’s beautiful Santa Clarita Valley.

Are you looking to grow your career and take on more responsibility? We are a well established multi-facility company with an immediate opening for an experienced practitioner (CPO or CP with orthotics experience) to run and grow our practice in Santa Clarita. This ABC certified practitioner must be self-motivated, patient-oriented, and possess sound clinical, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Familiarity with OPIE software and chartless environment is a huge plus. A minimum of five years clinical experience is preferred. We offer a highly competitive salary, incentive program, and outstanding benefits package. If you are ready to take the next step in your career and relocate to one of the safest and most desirable places to live in the nation, please send your resume with cover letter to:

E-mail: alexa@howardorthopedics.com

Certified Orthotist Southern California Advanced Prosthetics is a well-established, patient oriented, independently owned accredited O&P facility, and a growing Southern California company. We have an immediate opening for an experienced, organized and hands-on certified orthotist with a minimum of five years experience in geriatric patient management. This position requires excellent interpersonal and strong technical skills. Must be able to handle geriatric patients in skilled nursing facilities and outpatient therapy settings. We offer a competitive salary and medical benefits. Please e-mail your resume in confidence to:

E-mail: advancedprosthetics@hotmail.com

Valley Institute of Prosthetics and Orthotics Siri Khalsa, Administrator E-mail: skhalsa@vipoinc.com www.vipoinc.com

OP Almanac Online &

Reading the O&P Almanac has never been easier!

• • • •

Access advertiser Web sites by simply clicking on the hotlinks Access content with the click of a mouse or the touch of a smart phone Easily e-mail your favorite articles to colleagues Save articles as PDFs!

Go to www.AOPAnet.org, click on ‘O&P Almanac Online’ today!

For more information, contact Steven Rybicki at 571/431-0835 or srybicki@AOPAnet.org.

For advertising information, contact Dean Mather at 856/768-9360 or dmather@mrvica.com.

48

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

AVAILABLE

NOW!

For over 50 years, PEL has offered practitioners outstanding

Roni Menefee • “My job is to supply my customer’s needs, in a timely matter, at a competitive price.”

• A.A. degree, working on B.A. • Sings in her church choir • Likes walking and reading (but not at the same time!)

Value

on the most popular products available from the O&P industry’s leading manufacturers.

Phone, fax or email a knowledgeable Customer Service Rep, like Roni, for up-to-date information on the newest and most innovative products available – representing outstanding value. Over 98% of popular products ship from PEL the same day they are ordered.

Hosmer Entegra SV

Fillauer

Ibex Foot System • Innovative micro-slice pylon • Multi-axis heel/toe for terrain conformance • Energy optimized pylon/heel plate design • Designed for patients up to 330 lbs • Only 16.2 oz. (459g)/ Build Height 6.75" (17cm) • Ibex XD designed for patients up to 440 lbs • Ibex XD 21.2 oz. (602g)/ Build Height 7.63" (19cm) • Durable; passed ISO-22675 test standard

Knit-Rite Soft Sock®

• Independently adjustable hydraulic knee • Rugged thru-bolt design • Lightweight aluminum alloy frame • 135° range of motion • Integrated kneeling pad • ISO tested and rated for 220 lb (100 kg) • Maintenance-free Oilite® sleeve bearings

New 3-De! p Toe Sha

The original Soft Sock® improved with a patented hemispherically knit threedimensional distal shape.

• 3D distal end shape provides improved fit qualities and comfort over traditional flat knit “envelope” shape of prosthetic socks • Moisture wicking fibers move moisture away from skin and inhibit odor in sock • Lycra® provides stretch and excellent fitting qualities • Available in X-Static® – the Silver Fiber® or original CoolMax® • Soft Socks feel soft and cuddly worn next to the skin

PEL Supply Co. Orthotic & Prosthetic Components

®

pelsupply.com

4666 Manufacturing Road Cleveland, OH 44135-2672 USA

Ph 800-321-1264 Fx 800-222-6176

®

Experience the Power of One.

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Jobs Inter-Mountain

Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist West Monroe, Louisiana We are searching for an individual who desires the security of working for the oldest patient care company in the world!

If you have excellent clinical, organizational and communication skills, we would love to speak with you. Management experience a plus! This position is accompanied by top compensation and benefits, relocation assistance, paid certification dues, state of the art education and much, much more! To apply for this position, please visit:

www.hanger.com/careers

Inter-Mountain

Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist (licensed or eligible) Austin Know as “The Live Music Capital of the World,” Austinites love the mild winters which allows them to continue enjoying biking, outside venues, lakes, etc. Austin has been selected as the No. 2 Best Big City in “Best Places to Live”

by Money magazine and also the “Greenest City in America”

by MSN and according to Travel + Leisure magazine, Austin ranks No. 1 on the list of cities with the bet people! If you are ready for a change, possess what it takes to be a great practitioner and have always wanted to live in Austin … grab the brass ring and join the Hanger family! To apply for this position, please visit:

CP/CO/CPO, Texas Licensed or Eligible Houston Area Patient Care Facilities Fast-growing, multi-facility O&P care provider, has THREE outstanding opportunities for orthotists and/or prosthetists to join its elite team of practitioners.

• $60k-$120k DOE, plus bonus • Texas license or license-eligibility and ABC Certification are required.

• Benefits and relocation available.

www.hanger.com/careers

As a clinician at the company’s ABC-accredited facilities, you will enjoy: • Outstanding marketing and technical support that frees you to focus on providing excellent clinical services and compassionate patient care.

• Electronic scheduling, practice management, and billing tools.

• State-of-the-art technologies to equip you to provide the highest levels of patient satisfaction.

Join a vibrant organization that prides itself on putting patient care first!

Resume writing/editing happily provided. Candidate confidentiality treated with the greatest care.

Call or send resume to:

AMERICAN ORTHOTIC & PROSTHETIC ASSOCIATION SERVING THE O&P FIELD FOR OVER 90 YEARS

Andrea D. Ploscowe, Vice President EXEK Recruiters Ltd. Phone: 585/442-6689 Cell: 917/596-8865 E-mail: andrea@exek-recruiters.com Visit: www.exek-recruiters.com Member of Better Business Bureau 50

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

Renew the Easy Way With AOPA ONLINE PAY Login to pay your dues and update your membership directory information at:

www.aopanetonline.org/profile

Renew Online Today!

NEW! UPDATE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY INFORMATION ONLINE

O&P Assistants

BE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE –

Become an ABC Certified Assistant!

If you are currently working as an orthotic or prosthetic assistant, here’s your chance to gain recognition for your training and experience.

The future of the profession depends on your skills. Many O&P practices are looking for ways to deliver services more cost effectively, ways that allows them to meet the challenges of today’s health care regulations while effectively meeting the needs of an increasing patient population. Your unique position may be the answer for many practices as they look to the future.

ABC’s Certified Assistant credential will be phasing in over the next three years — for 2011, the eligibility requirement is your experience in the profession. Take advantage of this window to become certified as an orthotic or prosthetic professional.

The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics, Inc. 330 John Carlyle St., Suite 210 Alexandria, VA 22314 703-836-7114 :: 703-836-0838 (fax)

e For mor the tion on i nf o r m a a nt d Assi st C e r t if i e , g o to p r o g r a m s i t e at : w eb the ABC

cop. www.ab

org

PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS PROTECT YOUR PATIENTS

PROTECT YOUR FUTURE

YOU MAKE

ThE dIFFERENCE

2011 AOPA POLICY FORUM April 11-12, 2011 • l’EnfAnt plAzA HotEl WAsHington, DC

The most effective O&P messenger is YOU! the annual AopA policy forum is your once a year opportunity for the orthotics and prosthetics community to tell the wonderful story of restoring our patients’ lives and hopes to legislators and their staffs.

We need your participation in the 2011 AOPA Policy Forum!

Health Care Reform is law and it is more important than ever to educate members of Congress on how orthotics and prosthetics restore lives. In addition to on the spot training on AOPA’s federal policy objectives, there will be briefings and training on critical state O&P issues, including parity, licensure, and Medicaid issues. This year’s Policy Forum subjects— •

What healthcare reform means to your business;

•

Federal parity and the Medicare O&P Improvements Act;

•

State licensure/parity initiatives;

•

Combating Medicaid reductions; and

•

How to jumpstart state-level initiatives.

2011 AOPA POLICY FORUM TENTATIVE SChEdULE: MonDAy, April 11

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Dinner

11:00 AM – 3:00 p.m. registration open

tuEsDAy, April 12

1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. policy forum general sessions

7:30 a.m.

Attendee Breakfast and general session

5:30 p.m. fundraiser/reception

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. fundraiser Breakfast

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Attendee reception

8:30 AM – 5:00 p.m.

Congressional Appointments

NEW LOCATION! NEW AGENDA! NEW EXPERIENCE! Experience Washington as you’ve never experienced it before – at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024. A five-minute Metro ride from the Capitol Dome, Senate and House Office buildings and all the magnificence of our nation’s capital.

register online: www.AOPAnet.org or call 571/431-0876 for details.

2011 AopA poliCy foruM The 2011 AopA policy forum will be held Monday, April 11 and tuesday, April 12 at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC—a five-minute Metro ride from the U.S. Capitol and the Senate and House office buildings. Beginning at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 11th, this event will provide attendees with up-to-date briefings from key congressional lawmakers, the AOPA lobbying team, and other experts about critical issues confronting the O&P profession.Further information on how to use this information effectively in lobbying members of Congress will conclude the first day. the Monday evening reception and dinner will offer terrific networking and a further learning experience. The meeting will culminate on tuesday, April 12th with advocacy visits with your elected representatives and their staffs on Capitol Hill. AOPA’s staff and lobbyists will schedule these meetings for you. In addition to intensive briefings on AOPA’s federal policy objectives, there will be extensive briefings and training on critical state O&P issues, including parity, licensure and state Medicaid cuts.

registration fee The registration fee for the AOPA Policy Forum is $125 per person.

Hotel reservations AOPA has reserved accommodations at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel for your convenience. All hotel reservations must be made by attendees directly through the hotel by calling either 800/635-5065 or 202/484-1000. You must also indicate that you would like the AOPA room block to receive our preferred group rate of $249 per night for single/double occupancy. RESERVE EARLY, AS THE HOTEL WILL LIKELY SELL OUT OVER THE DATES OF THE POLICY FORUM. Please be sure your hotel reservation request reaches the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel prior to Monday, March 21, when any remaining rooms will be released. Since rates quoted here are on a space-available basis only, once the Policy Forum block of rooms is sold out, which may be earlier than March 21, 2011, there is no guarantee that rooms will be available or that they will be available at the preferred rate.

2011 AOPA POLICY FORUM L’ENFANT PLAzA hOTEL, WAShINgTON, dC APRIL 11-12, 2011

Registration Form (Please use one form for each attendee.)

LAST NAME

FIRST NAME

TITLE / CREDENTIALS

CITY

STATE

ZIP

TELEPHONE

FAx

COMPANY

STREET ADDRESS

E-MAIL (FOR CONFIRMATION PURPOSES)

Home zip Code: (needed to locate your Congressional District) ____________________________________ registration fee:

Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations.

Call the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel at 800/635-5065 or 202/484-1000 and ask for the AOPA room block.

o Per Person: $125

payment options: o VISA o MasterCard

o AmEx

CREDIT CARD NUMBER

please check one: o I will be staying at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel. o I will not be staying at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel.

(I will be staying at __________________________________________)

o Check ExP. DATE

fax registration form and payment information to: 571/431-0899 Or mail form with payment to AOPA Policy Forum, Dept. 34711, Alexandria, VA 22334.

NAME ON CARD (PLEASE PRINT)

SIgNATURE

special Accommodations required: o Yes o No (If Yes): ________________________________________________________

Questions?

Registration, travel and/or hotel accommodations questions, contact us at 571/431-0876 or adavis@AOPAnet.org.

Have you attended the o&p policy forum or a legislative Conference in the past?

Policy Forum content or legislative questions, contact us at 571/431-0810 or kdodson@AOPAnet.org.

o Yes. If yes, how many? m 1 m 2 m 3 o No. This is my first Policy Forum.

Convenient online registration is available at

m 4

m 5+

www.AOPAnet.org

n

Calendar

2011 ■■

PROMOTE EVENTS IN THE O&P ALMANAC

CALENDAR RATES Telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses and Web sites are counted as single words. Refer to www.AOPAnet.org for content deadlines.

Member Non-member Words Rate Rate 25 or less $40 $50 26-50 $50 $60 51+ $2.25 $3.00

per word per word Color Ad Special: 1/4 page Ad $482 1/2 page Ad $634

$678 $830

BONUS! Listings will be placed free of charge on the Attend O&P Events section of www.AOPAnet.org.

Send announcement and payment to: O&P Almanac, Calendar, P.O. Box 34711, Alexandria, VA 22334-0711, fax 571/431-0899, or e-mail srybicki@AOPAnet.org along with VISA or MasterCard number, the name on the card, and expiration date. Make checks payable in U.S. currency to AOPA. Note: AOPA reserves the right to edit Calendar listings for space and style considerations.

For information on continuing education credits, contact the sponsor.

Questions?

E-mail srybicki@AOPAnet.org.

AOPA-sponsored activities appear in red.

54

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

■■ JANUARY 5 Ultraflex: Pediatric Spasticity Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, 8:00 – 9:00 am ET. Covers clinical assessment of the pediatric neuromuscular patient with spasticity and using R1 and R2 for determining orthotic design for maintaining and improving muscle length.

Presenter: Keith Smith, CO, LO, FAAOP. Register by calling 800/220-6670 or at www.ultraflexsystems.com.

JANUARY 12 Ultraflex: Pediatric UltraSafeGait™ Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, 5:00 – 6:00 pm ET. Covers assessment of pediatric pathological gait and influencing shank kinematics with the new Adjustable Dynamic Response™ (ADR™) technology. Presenter: Keith Smith, CO, LO, FAAOP. Register by calling 800/220-6670 or at www. ultraflexsystems.com.

■■

■■ JANUARY 18 Ohio Willow Wood: Discover LimbLogic® VS via WebEx, 1:30 pm ET. Critical components and operation discussed. Covers interpreting feedback from fob and basic fabrication processes for system. Credits: 2.5 ABC/ 2.0 BOC. To register online, visit www.owwco.com/webinar.php.

■■ JANUARY 19 Ohio Willow Wood: LimbLogic® VS for Technicians via WebEx, 1:30 pm ET. Learn essentials of elevated vacuum socket fabrication using available socket adaptors with LimbLogic VS. Learn how to deal with airtight issues, unit operation, and diagnostics that will keep the system

optimal for patient use.

Credits: 2.5 ABC/2.0 BOC. www.owwco.com/webinar.php.

Smith, CO, LO, FAAOP. Call 800/220-6670 or register at www.ultraflexsystems.com.

■■ JANUARY 20 Ultraflex: Adult UltraSafeStep™ Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, Noon – 1:00 pm ET. Focuses on normalizing adult pathological gait with the utilization of Adjustable Dynamic Response™ (ADR™) knee and ankle technology. Register by calling 800/220-6670 or at www. ultraflexsystems.com.

■■ FEBRUARY 9 AOPA Audio Conference: “Using the Lower Limb Medical Policy to Your Advantage.” To register contact Ann Davis at 571/4310876 or adavis@AOPAnet.org.

■■ JANUARY 25 Ultraflex: Complex Orthopedic Rehabilitation Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, Noon – 1:00 pm ET. Focuses on Ultraflex combination dynamic and static stretching orthosis for addressing complex orthopedic rehabilitation goals and restoring range and function. Register by calling 800/220-6670 or at www. ultraflexsystems.com.

■■ FEBRUARY 2 Ultraflex: Pediatric Spasticity Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, 8:00 – 9:00 am ET. Covers clinical assessment of the pediatric neuromuscular patient with spasticity and using R1 and R2 for determining orthotic design for maintaining and improving muscle length.

Presenter: Keith Smith, CO, LO, FAAOP, Call 800/2206670 or register at www. ultraflexsystems.com.

■■ FEBRUARY 9 Ultraflex: Pediatric UltraSafeGait™ Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, 5:00 – 6:00 pm ET. Covers assessment of pediatric pathological gait and influencing shank kinematics with the new Adjustable Dynamic Response™ (ADR™) technology. Presenter: Keith

■■ FEBRUARY 15 Ohio Willow Wood: Providing Elevated Vacuum Suspension with LimbLogic® VS 2:00PM CST at United Forum of the Americas. San José, Costa Rica. Learn how to create comfortable and secure suspension for lower-limb amputees using LimbLogic VS. Features, operation, and fabrication techniques for laminated and thermoplastic sockets will be presented.

■■ FEBRUARY 17 Ultraflex: Adult UltraSafeStep™ Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, Noon – 1:00 pm ET. Focuses on normalizing adult pathological gait with the utilization of Adjustable Dynamic Response™ (ADR™) knee and ankle technology.

Call 800/220-6670 or register at www.ultraflexsystems.com.

■■ FEBRUARY 17–19 PrimeFare West Regional Scientific Symposium 2011.

Salt Lake City. Salt Palace Convention Center. Contact Jane Edwards at 888/388-5243.

■■ FEBRUARY 22 Ultraflex: Complex Orthopedic Rehabilitation Continuing Education Course, via WebEx, Noon – 1:00 pm ET. Focuses on Ultraflex combination dynamic and static stretching orthosis for addressing complex orthopedic rehabilitation goals and restoring range and function.

Call 800/220-6670 or register at www.ultraflexsystems.com.

n

■■

FEBRUARY 28–MARCH 4

Spring 2011 SuperCourse at Motion Control Inc. Salt Lake City. In-depth training of Utah Arm/U3+/ Hybrid Arm; ProControl2; Hands-on experience with user interface software so bring your laptop.

CEUs: 34 (estimated) awarded

by ABC; First Look at NEW Li-Ion Battery for U3/U3+/ Hybrid, NEW Electric Wrist Rotator, NEW TRIAD Preamps; Plus an overview of the NEW and EXCITING Motionfoot® from Motion Control. The Spring 2011 SuperCourse is a 5-day event. The fee is $1,350.

For more information or to register, call 888/696-2767, e-mail info@UtahArm.com, or visit www.UtahArm.com.

MARCH 7 Ohio Willow Wood: Discover LimbLogic® VS via WebEx, 1:30PM EST. Critical components and operation discussed. Covers interpreting feedback from fob and basic fabrication processes for system. Credits: 2.5 ABC/ 2.0 BOC. To register online, visit www.owwco.com/webinar.php.

■■

■■ MARCH 9 Ohio Willow Wood: LimbLogic® VS for Technicians via WebEx, 1:30 pm ET. Learn essentials of elevated vacuum socket fabrication using available socket adaptors with LimbLogic VS. Learn how to deal with airtight issues, unit operation, and diagnostics that will keep the system optimal for patient use.

Credits: 2.5 ABC/2.0 BOC. www.owwco.com/webinar.php.

■■ MARCH 9: AOPA Audio Conference: “Enhance Your Claims Success, Two Letters at a Time.” To register contact Ann Davis at 571/431-0876 or adavis@AOPAnet.org.

■■ MARCH 16 Ohio Willow Wood: Alpha Liner Family: Selecting and Evaluating for Successful Patient Outcomes Manufacturer Workshop1:30PM EST at 2011 Academy Annual Meeting. Orlando. Workshop curriculum includes case studies, features and benefits, and evaluation criteria to help choose the optimum liner for patients.

■■ MARCH 16–19 37th Academy Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium. Orlando. Caribe Royale Orlando. Contact Diane Ragusa at 202/380-3663, ext. 208 or dragusa@oandp.org.

■■ MARCH 28–APRIL 2 Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics 2011 Annual Meeting.

Park City, UT. The Canyons.

For more information, call 847/698-1637, e-mail acpoc@ aaos.org, or visit www.acpoc. org.

■■ APRIL 7 Ohio Willow Wood: LimbLogic® VS Applications Practitioner Course. Mt. Sterling, OH. Course covers various clinical aspects of LimbLogic VS applications: static and dynamic socket fitting, vacuum pump configurations, fob operation, system evaluation, liner options, alignment, and troubleshooting. Credits: 7.25 ABC/7.0 BOC. Registration deadline: 3/17/2011. Contact: 877/665-5443.

■■ APRIL 7-9 Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago: Advances in Rehabilitation for the Patient with a Lower Extremity Amputation. Chicago.

Approved for 17.50 ABC Credits. Contact: Melissa Kolski, 312/238-7731; www. ric.org/education.

■■ APRIL 8-9 Ohio Willow Wood: LimbLogic® VS Applications Technicians Course. Mt. Sterling, OH. Learn all aspects of fabricating LimbLogic VS for various applications: socket materials, controller configurations and care, fob operation, troubleshooting.

Fabricate sockets following recommended techniques for airtight socket designs.

Credits: 12.25 ABC/12.0 BOC. Registration deadline: 3/17/2011. Contact: 877/6655443.

■■ APRIL 11-12 2011 AOPA Policy Forum.

Washington, DC, L’Enfant Plaza Hotel. To register contact Ann Davis at 571/4310876 or adavis@AOPAnet.org.

■■ APRIL 15 Ohio Orthotics and Prosthetics Association Annual Spring Meeting.

Columbus, OH. Hilton Columbus. Contact Dianne Farabi at 614/659-0197 or dfarabi@columbus.rr.com.

■■ APRIL 15–16 Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP) Annual Spring Technical Meeting.

Columbus, OH. Hilton Columbus. Exhibits included.

Contact Richard W. Butchko 614/659-0197 or butchko1@ columbus.rr.com. See Web site at www.ohiochapteraaop.com.

APRIL 27–29 New York State Chapter of AAOP Educational Program.

Albany, NY. Albany Marriott Hotel. Contact Joann Marx, CPO at Marx4nysaaop@aol. com.

■■

MAY 11-14 PA Academy of Orthotic & Prosthetics Spring Conference. Pittsburgh.

Sheraton Station Square.

Contact: Beth Cornelius or Joseph Carter at 814/455-5383.

■■

Calendar ■■ MAY 12–14 Western and Midwestern Orthotic Prosthetic Association/California Orthotic and Prosthetic Association Annual Meeting.

Reno, NV. (New) Peppermill Hotel. For more information, contact Steve Colwell at 206/440-1811 or Sharon Gomez at 530/521-4541 or visit www.wamopa.com.

■■ JUNE 3–4 PrimeFare East Regional Scientific Symposium 2011. Nashville. Nashville Convention Center. Contact Jane Edwards at 888/388-5243.

■■ SEPTEMBER 19–22 AOPA National Assembly.

Las Vegas. Mirage Hotel. Exhibitors and sponsorship opportunities, contact Kelly O’Neill, 571/431-0852, or koneill@ AOPAnet.org.

2012 ■■ MARCH 21–24 38th Academy Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium. Atlanta. Hilton Atlanta. Contact Diane Ragusa at 202/380-3663, ext. 208 or dragusa@oandp.org.

2013 ■■ FEBRUARY 20–23 39th Academy Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium. Orlando. Caribe Royale Orlando. Contact Diane Ragusa at 202/380-3663, ext. 208 or dragusa@oandp.org.

JANUARY 2011 O&P ALMANAC

55

n

Ad Index

COMPANY Allard USA Inc. ALPS American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics Apis Footwear Arizona AFO BOC International College Park Industries Inc. Daw Industries Dr. Comfort Euro International Ferrier Coupler Inc. Fillauer Companies Inc. Motion Control KISS Technologies LLC KNIT-RITE Oandpstudyguide.com OPTEC OssurÂŽ Americas Inc. Otto Bock HealthCare

PAGE 25 27

PHONE 888/678-6548 800/574-5426

WEB SITE OR E-MAIL www.allardusa.com www.easyliner.com

51 35 19 47 15 1 5, C3 13 33 23 39 29 2 37 6, 7 C4 C2

703/836-7114 888/937-2747 877/780-8382 877/776-2200 800/728-7950 800/252-2828 800/556-5572 800/378-2480 800/437-8597 800/251-6398 888/696-2767 410/663-5477 800/821-3094 410/266-1671 888/982-8181 800/233-6263 800/328-4058

www.abcop.org www.bigwideshoes.com www.arizonaafo.com www.bocinternational.org www.college-park.com www.daw-usa.com www.drcomfortdpm.com www.eurointl.com www.ferrier.coupler.com www.fillauercompanies.com www.utaharm.com www.kiss-suspension.com www.knitrite.com www.oandpstudyguide.com www.optecusa.com www.ossur.com www.ottobockus.com

PEL Supply Company

49

800/321-1264

www.pelsupply.com

SPS

9

800/767-7776 Ext. 3

www.spsco.com

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation (required by U.S.P.S. Form 3526) 1. Publication Title: O&P Almanac 2. Publication No.: 1061-4621 3. Filing Date: 9/28/10 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: 12 6. Annual Subscription Price: $59 domestic/$99 foreign 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication (Not Printer): American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association, 330 John Carlyle St., Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher (Not Printer): Same as #7 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: Thomas F. Fise, address same as #7. Editor: Josephine Rossi, Stratton Publishing & Marketing, Inc., 5285 Shawnee Road, Suite 510, Alexandria, VA 22312. 10. Owner (Full Name and Complete Mailing Address): American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association, same as #7 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has Not Changed During the Preceding 12 Months.

13. Publication Name: O&P Almanac 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: October 2010

15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: a. Total number of Copies (Net Press Run) b. Paid and/or Requested Circulation

(1) Paid or Requested Outside-County Mail Subscriptions

(2) Paid In-County Subscriptions

(3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Streeet Vendors,

Counter Sales, and other non-USPS Paid Distribution

(4) Other Classes Mailed through the USPS c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation d. Free Distribution by Mail

(1) Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541

(2) In-County as Stated on Form 3541

(3) Other Classes Mailed through the USPS e. Free Distribution Outside the Mail f. Total Free Distribution g. Total Distribution h. Copies Not Distributed i. Total (Sum of 15g and h) Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation

56

O&P ALMANAC JANUARY 2011

Avg. No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months

Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date

16,656

18,240

15,967 0 0

14,911 0 0

0 15,967

0 14,911

0 0 0 250 250 16,217 488 16,705 96%

0 0 0 2,000 2,000 16,911 521 17,432 88%

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