What Should I Expect
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT
Orthotics
Orthotics, sometimes referred to as braces, are by definition, devices that aid in the correction and or support of a weakness or deformity of the skeletal or muscular system. Orthotics is a very broad field and encompasses a wide variety of devices – far too many to list – including upper and lower extremity, thoracic and cervical, orthotic insoles, specialty pediatric devices, such as cranial molding helmets, and hundreds more.
Patients come to us for a variety of reasons, including prevention and treatment of complications from diabetes, neuromuscular conditions, sports related injuries, post-polio, and CP. Many may have been suffering from chronic pain for years. The majority of the orthotic devices that Virginia Prosthetics provides are custom measured and fabricated at our Roanoke fabrication center, which greatly increases the probability that your device, when delivered, will require little if any modification to achieve an optimal fit. Not having to outsource our fabrication like many other O&P companies now do also reduces the turn-around time for the patient.
Why Virginia Prosthetics
Superior Service- one of the most important decisions any patient makes is choosing an orthotic provider who can best serve them. There are many O&P companies, but just as in any service industry, some are much better at providing a superior service. Your relationship with your orthotic provider should be one that instills confidence and satisfaction.
Clinical Experience- vital to our ability to provide the best in orthotic care is the vast clinical experience of the practitioner that will work with you. Our practitioners are all board certified and have over 230 years of combined clinical experience. Many of our employees are orthotic users or amputees themselves so we have an intimate knowledge of our patients’ special needs.. Each of our practitioners is a college graduate at the bachelor or masters level who has then attained an advanced degree in orthotics, many from Northwestern University’s School of Medicine. All our practitioners must maintain their awareness of the constantly evolving orthotics field by attending continuing education courses annually, as well as participating in the many in-service demonstrations that Virginia Prosthetics hosts at its headquarters in Roanoke, Va.
In-House Fabrication- Virginia Prosthetics has a full service fabrication facility at our corporate headquarters in Roanoke. In addition to this state of the art plant, all of our offices have the equipment necessary to make most repairs and modifications. Most O&P provider companies use what is called “central fabrication.” Rather than fabricating and assembling your orthoses at their facility, they sub contract the fabrication of your orthoses to another company. This creates unnecessary delays in the delivery of your orthoses and greatly increases the potential for problems created by poor communication or incorrect fit.
Technological Advantage- Virginia Prosthetics is designated as a Beta Test facility by many of the world’s leading orthotic manufacturers. As Research and Development departments develop new orthotic devices and components, such as advanced rehabilitation systems and micro processor devices, these companies partner with Virginia Prosthetics to test and evaluate the new devises before they are available to the general public. This relationship provides Virginia Prosthetics with invaluable experience into the ever growing selection of advanced orthotic components. Our many firsts include being the first O&P company in Virginia to implement a computer aided design and manufacturing system (CAD/CAM) giving us years more experience than other O&P companies.
Guiding Principal- for more than 40 years Virginia Prosthetics has operated on the principal that providing the best possible patient treatment in a professional and caring manner will ensure that we remain a leader in the O&P field. We have treated tens of thousands of patients, giving each one the individualized attention they deserve.
Patient Service and Delivery
Pre and Post-Operative and Trauma Services- Oftentimes we will first meet a new patient in the hospital. Many orthopedic and neurological surgeries require some type of orthotic device to ensure a positive outcome and to guard against injury. Orthotic devices are also prescribed in the event of vehicular accidents and other various traumatic injuries. Your physician may have requested us to evaluate you clinically or to fit a device that they have already determined to be appropriate. We have Virginia Prosthetics’ orthotists who are on hospital call at all of our major regional hospitals seven days a week.
Office Visits- We want our patients to feel comfortable, confident and appreciated every time they visit one of our offices, whether it’s their first appointment or they have been our patient for years. We always welcome family members and care givers as they are an integral part of your life. We see patients by appointment and can usually accommodate someone within one week, but we welcome walk-ins. Be aware that we must have a prescription from your physician before we can see or treat you.
New Patients- When you come to our offices with a prescription for an orthoses we will thoroughly evaluate and discuss your current level of ambulation and functionality to determine that you are getting a device that will meet your specific needs. During this meeting we will explain and demonstrate the components available that meet your physician’s directives and that are appropriate to your level of physical activity. The orthotics field is constantly improving and we want you to have the best device that is currently available. Virginia Prosthetics offers the latest orthotic devices and we possess the knowledge and experience to insure that you benefit from the highest degree of mobility possible.
We will then evaluate and measure you for your new device. In the instance of universally sized devices, this may be as simple as taking a few measurements by tape or simply using a sizing chart. Most orthotics that we provide however are custom fit, custom fabricated devices that require very precise dimensions. In these cases, we will generally use a casting technique. Casting for measurements is very similar to being cast for a fracture. Using quick set fiber tape, this is a quick and completely painless procedure. Generally that will conclude the first visit, we will then file the appropriate insurance requests for you and upon receipt of approval we will immediately contact you to return to our office for fitting and delivery.
During delivery of your orthoses, we will check to see that the fit is correct and will make final adjustments based on a thorough examination. You practitioner will take time to show you how to properly put on and take off your device and explain the recommended wearing schedule. Remember, we are here to help you in any way that we can, but to ensure as positive an outcome as possible, you must wear your device according to the recommended schedule.
