Orthotic Fabrication
In-House Fabrication Allows Us To Provide Superior Patient Service.
Virginia Prosthetics is proud to distinguish itself from many other O&P providers in that we have our own central fabrication facility located at our Roanoke office. In today’s business model where many companies have turned to outsourcing most or virtually all of their orthotic and prosthetic fabrication to manufacturing companies located elsewhere in the country, Virginia Prosthetics has always believed that in order to provide the highest level of patient service, we must perform our own fabrication.
Having an in-house fabrication facility allows us to eliminate the majority of errors that are inherent with communicating detailed information long distance from one person to another, i.e. from the practitioner who actually evaluates and measures the patient to the production worker who has never seen the patient and must make the device without the benefit of the practitioners supervision and input.
At Virginia Prosthetics, the same highly trained practitioner who evaluates and measures you also fabricates or works hand in hand with the technician who fabricates your device. This process ensures that the orthotic or prosthetic device you receive will have the highest degree of intimate fit and finish available.
In addition to the quality and fit advantages, manufacturing in-hose allows us to produce and deliver the finished device with minimal interruption to the schedule and any necessary adjustments or modifications can be made immediately during the fitting appointment. This allows the patient to return to their everyday lives that much more quickly.
Basic Steps in the Making of a Custom Orthosis
The primary function of an orthosis is to improve function by:
- Applying or subtracting forces from the body in a controlled manner to protect a body part.
- Restricting or altering motion to prevent or correct a deformity
- Compensating for deformity or weakness
Orthotic devices come in many types and are made of different materials, but most will involve some combination of plastic, metal, and leather.
Evaluation and Measurement
On your first visit, your practitioner will meet with you to evaluate you and measure for your device. They will coordinate your next visit and give you an appointment date based on the time required to order any special materials and fabricate your device.
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Once we are ready to begin your device, your practitioner will meet with the certified orthotic technician that will fabricate your device. This meeting and the availability of the practitioner through-out the fabrication process is just one of the benefits that an in-house fabrication facility provides to ensure that your device will be of the highest quality and the most precise fit.
Fabrication
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Orthotic Practitioner and Technician meet to review the dimensions and specifications prior to starting the fabrication of a custom orthotic device.
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| (sequence showing Tony fabricating a double metal upright) |
All our Orthotic Technicians are highly skilled craftsmen with years of training of training and experience. Our orthotic devices are made by hand to exacting dimensions and specifications. The fabrication process can involve many hours of labor.
Fitting and Delivery
When you come in to be fitted with your custom orthotic you will again meet with the same practitioner who originally measured and supervised the fabrication of your device. During your fitting, should something need to be adjusted or modified, it will be a quick, simple process for your practitioner to take the device into our fabrication facility and make the necessary adjustment. Again, if you were at a facility without our capabilities, you might have to wait while the device was returned to the manufacturer and make another trip back for a final fitting.
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(Patient being fitted and delivered)
Once your practitioner is confident that your device is correctly fitted, they will explain its proper use and review your wearing schedule. To achieve the most positive outcome possible, it is imperative that you follow their recommendations.
