DEKA Gets Award in ‘Revolutionizing Prosthetics 2007’ Program
DEKA Research and Rehabilitation of Manchester, N.H., was awarded $18.1 million in funding by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of the “Revolutionizing Prosthetics 2007” program.

DEKA, an engineering and technology firm, will lead the two-year program with the goal of creating the most advanced, neurally-interfaced upper limb prosthesis. Researchers and clinicians from Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago PT LLC, Liberating Technologies Inc., University of New Brunswick Institute of Biomedical Engineering, and Northwestern University will collaborate in the program.

According to DARPA, researchers will focus on some of the more difficult mechanical aspects that typically plague upper-limb prostheses, such as providing “near-human” strength and the ability to simultaneously control a shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. Researchers will work on creating a cosmetic covering that is both functional and similar in appearance to a natural limb.

“At DARPA, we have the vision of a future where a soldier who has lost an extremity in battle will regain full use of that limb again. We will get to this future by making revolutionary, neurally-controlled prosthetics,” said Col. Geoff Ling, DARPA program manager.

For more information, visit www.darpa.mil. 

Revamped Northwestern Program to Include Online Study
The Northwestern University Prosthetic-Orthotics Center (NUPOC) in Chicago will replace its traditional program with a blended learning certificate that combines off-campus distance learning with clinical on-campus study. The new program begins in February 2007 and will decrease the amount of time students need to spend in the physical classroom to approximately two months.

The change does not reflect any reduction in the number of clinical hours previously required of students. 
“We’ve changed around the way we’re doing things by putting clinical hours into one bank of time,” said Jodi Fox, director of distance learning at Northwestern.

“NUPOC now has the technology to film almost any lecture or demonstration and make the course available to its students immediately over the Internet. Mobile camera crews also record clinical and laboratory procedures so that students can see—and take part in—every didactic course offered as part of the program,” said Fox.

Students will also participate online in synchronous classes and meetings with their instructors, as well as real-time, peer-to-peer discussions.

Class size will not be changed for the blended-learning programs. According to Fox, 24 students are accepted into the orthotics program and 21 into the prosthetics program per semester. NUPOC traditionally offered two semesters of study, but the program is being increased to three semesters annually with the blended-learning programs.

The final traditional certificate programs in prosthetics and orthotics will begin in January 2007.

The application deadline for the February 2007 program has passed. The deadline to apply for the August 2007 program is Mar. 1, 2007.

For more information, visit www.nupoc.northwestern.edu. 

BCP/ABC Integration Voting Period Ends
The final vote on the proposed integration between the Board for Certification in Pedorthics (BCP) and the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) ended November 30. A final result of the vote is expected in early December.

Packets were mailed in early November to all certified pedorthists and included information on the integration and the official ballot. A minimum quorum was needed for the integration to be official.

The result of the vote was not available at press time, but an update will be given in AOPA In Advance, AOPA’s bi-weekly, members-only newsletter. To sign up, contact Megan Obrist at mobrist@AOPAnet.org.

For more information visit BCP’s Web site.

AOPA Membership Renewal Forms Mailed
AOPA membership renewal forms were mailed again in November to all current AOPA members. The deadline to renew is Dec. 31, 2006.

For current non-members, AOPA is now offering new members the chance to join and start receiving benefits immediately on the date they become a member through Dec. 31, 2007.

AOPA is a not-for-profit trade organization whose member benefits include bi-weekly updates on coding information, Medicare reform, competitive bidding and other breaking news in O&P through the members-only e-mail newsletter, AOPA In Advance.

As an AOPA member, all of your employees have access to on-staff coding, reimbursement, billing, documentation and compliance experts. Members also receive significant discounts on AOPA’s O&P products and seminars.

For patient care facilities, the cost to join is $1,470.

If you have not received your renewal form or have questions, contact AOPA Membership Coordinator Kerry Stalknecht at (571) 431-0876, ext. 254.

SPS Scholarship Awards Announced
SPS of Alpharetta, Ga. recently announced the winners of its 2006 scholarships, awarded to full-time employees of the company or their children.

Jolie Davis, SPS supervisor in the receiving department, got the top honor of a $1,000 scholarship. Davis will be attending Lanier Technical College, majoring in management and supervision.

Dorothy Taylor, a material handler at SPS, received a $750 scholarship. She plans to pursue a degree in nursing.

Brittany Ann Kvalsten, daughter of SPS Purchasing Manager Per Kvalsten, received a $750 scholarship. She will attend Kennesaw State University and pursue a career in neonatology.

Recipients were chosen on the basis of their cumulative GPA (for current college students) or highest combined math and verbal score on the SAT exam or converted ACT scores. “We are gratified to be able to honor the high achievements of these individuals and assist them in the pursuit of their personal educational goals,” said Ron May, president and COO of SPS.

For more information, visit www.spsco.com.

Bionic Hand Debuts in Germany
Touch Bionics, a Scotland-based bionic technology company, debuted a bionic hand—the i-LIMB Hand—this October at Rehacare, an international medical trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany.

According to the company, the i-LIMB Hand has five individually powered digits designed to enhance dexterity and grip, and is manufactured using high-strength plastics and injection molding techniques to keep the device lightweight. It is the first commercially available product available from Touch Bionics’ i-LIMB system.

For more information, visit www.touchbionics.com.

Massachusetts and California Sign Parity Bills
In September, the governors of both Massachusetts and California signed bills ensuring prosthetic coverage in their states. These “prosthetic parity” bills mandate that insurance plans offering benefits for O&P care must provide full coverage without caps and co-pays that restrict access to prescribed devices, according to the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA). The ACA is a major sponsor of such laws.

“This will ensure that the tragedy of a child losing a limb is not compounded by forcing that child to spend the rest of their childhood in a wheelchair when help is readily available,” said Morgan Sheets, advocacy director for the ACA.

For more information, visit www.amputee-coalition.org. 

New and Discounted Products Available from AOPA
AOPA is offering several different ways to get the latest information and tools, often at a discount.

AOPA has released an update to its popular Mastering Medicare manual that covers the significant changes to Medicare in the past few years. The new version, called Mastering Medicare Version 2, gives readers access to changes in the supplier enrollment process, quality standards, supplier standards, the Medicare appeals process, billing and documentation requirements, and more.

AOPA is also offering its annual year-end discounts on select current products. AOPA has a limited number of its expert coding products available at 50 percent off the regular price, including the 2006 CodingPro CD-ROM, 2006 Illustrated Guide and the 2006 Quick Coder.

In addition, AOPA and Office Depot have developed a new partnership designed to bring benefits to its members. Benefits include discounts of 60 to 80 percent off the most frequently ordered items as well as additional discounts on other Office Depot products.

For more information or to order products and services, contact Kerry Stalknecht at (571) 431-0876, ext. 254. 

Study of Speedy Guinea Fowl May Help Prosthetic Design
Understanding how guinea fowl move can help scientists develop prosthetic limbs that can create or absorb energy and better navigate rough, uneven terrain, according to a study recently published by two Harvard researchers in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Guinea fowl stand and run on two legs and have a spring in their step that makes it possible to recover almost instantly after stumbling or tripping. The scientists, including Harvard biology professor Andrew Biewener, constructed a 20-foot plywood runway complete with an 8.5-cm-deep pothole. They concealed the presence of the hole so that the birds would certainly trip, and then measured the birds’ recovery time, which was as short as 26 milliseconds.

“This was a sort of novel approach to animal or human locomotion,” said Biewener. “The principles that come out of how running animals stabilize themselves to avoid falling, which does involve both passive dynamics and the ability to respond and actively produce energy, is something that, from a prosthetic design view, would allow [wearers of prosthetic devices] to have a more active lifestyle,” he said, “and manage to run, rather than simply walk.”

Transitions

People In The News
Stephen Hamilton, CO; Jerry J. Smith, RTPO; Elaine Rowe and Karen Rodrigue have all joined Advance Orthotic & Prosthetic, based in Auburn, Maine.

The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) has announced changes to its leadership, effective Dec. 1, 2006. Stephen B. Fletcher, CPO, is the new president. Michael J. Allen, CPO, FAAOP, will serve as vice president; Robert S. Lin, CPO, FAAOP, as secretary-treasurer; Donald Virostek, CPO, as a new director. William DeToro, CO, FAAOP, will be leaving the board after eight years of service.

The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA), based in Knoxville, Tenn., recently announced three additions to its staff. Charlene Whelan is the new health educator; Matthew Brunger will serve as an information specialist with the National Limb Loss Information Center (NLLIC); and Donna Ogle is the new information services assistant with the NLLIC.

Marshall J. Cohen, Esq. and Dr. Joseph M. Lane were both recently honored by the ACA for their continued efforts to assist people with limb loss. Cohen is a founding partner of the New York law firm Cohen & Perfetto and serves on the ACA board lobbying for more equitable insurance coverage through prostheses. Dr. Lane holds many positions with several different organizations, including professor of orthopedic surgery and assistant dean of the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

The Board for Certification in Pedorthics Inc. (BCP) has announced changes to its leadership. David Cardillo, C.Ped., is the new president. Don Cooper, C.Ped., will serve as president-elect. Lou Iannuzzi, PT, C.Ped., is vice president and Darlene Hall, C.Ped., is secretary-treasurer. Dan Ballard, C.Ped., and Gordon Rabing, C.Ped., are two new directors. John Brest III, C.Ped., and Wayne Rosen, C.Ped., will serve as members at large.

Brad Mattear is the new general manager at O&P 1 of Waterloo, Iowa.

The Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund Inc. has announced changes to its leadership, effective Dec. 1, 2006. Michael Burton will continue to serve as president; Elizabeth Mansfield is the new vice president; Jim Hendricks, treasurer. New members of the board are Lisa Arbogast, Lauren McVey, Bill Neu III, CPO, Dennis Williams, CP and Philip Tamoush. Bob Arbogast, Jennifer Fayter and Jack Richmond have rotated off the board.

Dan Luitjohan, CP, and Bill McLellan have joined Prosthetic and Orthotic Care Inc. of St. Louis. Luitjohan will serve as staff prosthetist; McLellan will serve as director of sales and marketing.

Rhonda Robinette, CO, has joined Snell Prosthetic & Orthotic Laboratory of Little Rock, Ark. Robinette, a graduate of the Northwestern University certificate course for orthotics, will serve a one-year residency.

Molly Cooper, CPO, has joined SPS of Alpharetta, Ga., as the director of technical and clinical services. Prior to joining SPS, Cooper worked on the clinical staff at the Center for Orthotic and Prosthetic Care in Louisville, Ken.

Matt Farris is the new distribution manager for the SPS distribution center in Garland, Texas.

Crawford Gillies has joined Touch Bionics of Edinburgh, Scotland as its chairman. Gillies formerly served as the European managing director of Bain & Company, a management consultancy. 

Businesses In The News
Andover Medical Inc., a provider of durable medical equipment based in N. Andover, Mass., has entered into a letter of intent with New York-based Ortho-Medical Inc.—a supplier of durable medical equipment—to acquire all of its outstanding stock.

The Center for Orthotic & Prosthetic Care at Duke University Medical Center has acquired the former Raleigh Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinic located in Raleigh, N.C.

Foot Solutions, based in Marietta, Ga., had the highest pass rate in a recent survey of 10 pedorthic
pre-certification schools. The company also opened its 200th store in Victoria, Australia.

Innovative Neurotronics (IN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc. based in Bethesda, Md., announced that it has achieved ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certifications for quality management from BSI Inc. “The achievement of ISO certification verifies IN has implemented comprehensive quality management systems in product development, operations, shipping and customer service,” according to a statement released by the company.

SCOPe Orthotics & Prosthetics Inc., based in San Diego, recently opened a new location—SCOPe Life-Like—in Torrance, Calif.

Shaw’s Prosthetic Plus Inc. has moved to a new location at 1019 Old Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY, 42303. Its e-mail address has also changed to shawsoandp@bellsouth.net.

The West Texas Rehabilitation Center was awarded $120,490 for equipment for its orthotics and prosthetics department by the San Angelo Area Foundation, a private community foundation devoted to improving the quality of life in the San Angelo, Texas area.

In Memoriam
Gregory L. Kidder, CPO, passed away on Sept. 23, 2006 at the age of 51. Born in Parkersburg, W.V., Kidder attended Northwestern University Medical School, University of Minnesota Medical School and University of Tennessee Medical School. After moving to Crystal River, Fla. in 1991, he opened Kidder Orthopedic.

Kidder was an active sponsor of the Barr Foundation and enjoyed diving, boating and fishing.