On Friday, March 27, 2020, Congress passed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aide, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. It specifically allocates $350 billion dollars to help small businesses keep people employed. This portion of the bill, known as the Paycheck Protection Program, provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses. And, if the loan is used within certain guidelines, the loan is forgivable.

We’ve created a quick overview below to help you understand the opportunity and if it might be right for your O&P clinic. As always, consult your accountant regarding the bill details and your specific situation.

Ask anyone who has ever met her, and they will say that her smile and infectious laughter absolutely lights up a room. Liz Hillen, M.Ed., CPO, LPO, has been in the O&P industry for over 20 years, first starting out with Hanger Clinic as a Clinic Manager in the Tampa Bay area, and then as a Clinical Specialist with Ottobock. Her experience has made her uniquely qualified to collaborate with suppliers and provide an overall comparative education to the clinicians SPS serves. We sat down with her to discuss her perspective on the changing dynamics between patients and clinicians in this digital age.

Rae Buhosky, CPO/L, MSPO, remembers a time she felt she made a difference in a patient’s life.

Her patient, a man with a unilateral transtibial amputation, came to Valley Prosthetics & Orthotics (VPO), in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on crutches about a year after he lost his left leg in a traumatic accident.

Welcome to the New Year! January can feel like a blur as we reflect on our past and try to reconfigure our lives to align with our goals. We’re throwing out the old and welcoming new processes, good habits, and resolutions.

In previous blog posts, we explored the unique history of 3D printing in the orthotic and prosthetic industry and the challenges associated with this evolving technology. In our final installment, we will examine the benefits this technology brings to the limb loss community and clinicians.

In the medical field, 3D printing is expected to be worth $3.5bn by 2025. Despite this technology’s wide variety of medical applications, 3D printing is mainly popular in dentistry and biomedical engineering. With the 3D printer’s accessibility and relatively inexpensive costs, why isn’t 3D printing more widely used in O&P? In part one, we explored the history of 3D printing in O&P. In part two, we will explore the barriers clinicians face to adopting this technology.

3D printing—also known as stereolithography (SLA) or rapid prototyping (RP)—is the process of making three dimensional objects from digital files. In this blog series, we will explore how 3D printing has changed the orthotic and prosthetic industry. But first—let’s start from the beginning.

Working with a distributor has advantages that helps your clinic save time and reduce costs. Distributors handle a multitude of product sourcing from manufacturers so you can focus attention on improving patient outcomes. According to a Tugsten Network study, businesses have estimated spending 55 hours weekly bogged down with supplier handling processes. By shopping with a distributor, you’re free from having to process invoices, negotiate contracts, and host back-and-forth communications with an army of suppliers.

Cheryl Hile is no stranger to setting records and she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Through boundless determination, plus the SpryStep AFO that allows her to keep running without the fear of falling, she has not only overcome adversity but also defied what many thought was impossible. 

AlliedOP prides itself in offering innovative prosthetic solutions. From New Jersey to Pennsylvania, AlliedOP’s 12 locations assist patients with prosthetics, orthotics—and even bionic technology. We were fortunate to have a moment to chat with Dave Coville, CEO of AlliedOP, about his thoughts on the orthotic & prosthetic industry, and approach to partnership with SPS.