MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Prosthetic and Orthotic Designs
By DEBORAH CONN
Office Expansion Facility that opened in 2018 doubles in size
J
ON HESS, CPO, LPO, has
John Hess, CPO, LPO, works with a lower-limb patient.
been an O&P practitioner for 21 years—but that role follows a career as recreation therapist at Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, New York. It was in that previous role that Hess was first introduced to patients with limb loss; he felt an immediate attraction to the hands-on nature of O&P work. Hess decided to go back to school at Northwestern University to study O&P, becoming certified in orthotics in 2000 and prosthetics in 2003.
FACILITY: Prosthetic and Orthotic Designs OWNER: Jon Hess, CPO, LPO LOCATION: Middletown, New York Hess works in the facility’s fabrication lab.
Hess worked for several facilities until 2018, when he decided to open his own practice. “It was a leap of faith,” he says, “but my instincts told me it was the right thing to do.” He never looked back. “I would not trade this experience for the world. I love making my own decisions, and I appreciate the financial benefits of owning my own practice.” Prosthetic and Orthotic Designs is located in Middletown, New York, not far from where Hess grew up. He is the sole practitioner, with another dedicated staff member—Iveliz Franceschi—managing the 46
APRIL 2021 | O&P ALMANAC
HISTORY: Three years
Jon Hess, CPO, LPO
company’s finance, accounting, billing, and HR functions, as well as the company’s administrative staff. Hess and his team are in the process of moving from a snug 1,300-square-foot office, where bumping elbows is an occupational hazard, to a facility that’s double the size—and right next door. “The only change to our address will be our suite number,” Hess says. The new space will better accommodate P&O Designs’ fabrication lab, where Hess and an independent technician build devices. While Hess has worked with computer-aided design, he prefers taking measurements and building sockets by hand. “In my experience, nothing is better than getting hands on the cast and making and relieving pressures,” he says. “In my opinion, when you create a relief or a pressure on a socket on CAD/CAM, you lose some of the intimacy of the shape. When I physically put plaster on a bony landmark, I know exactly how much pressure is going on.” Hess sees an even split of orthotic and prosthetic patients, providing head-to-toe orthotic treatments and primarily lowerextremity prostheses. Many of his patients have diabetes or arthritis.
Hess responded vigorously to the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging Franceschi and office staff to work from home. He took advantage of both the Payroll Protection Program and a loan from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which “absolutely helped us,” he says. Hess benefits from a solid cadre of referral sources and a network of therapists and former patients who knew his work from past positions. Aside from a company website and social media presence, Hess has not needed to market his services to create the volume he wants. Even so, he has retained someone to call new referral sources and plans to strengthen his internet marketing efforts. Before the pandemic, P&O Designs sponsored a local arthritis walk, and Hess has presented programs to a nearby amputee support group. Hess recognizes the ebb and flow of his business. “I am very busy right now,” he says, “and when I am that busy every single day, I’ll know it’s time to hire another practitioner and more office staff. That would be a good problem!” Meanwhile, Hess, Franceschi, and the administrative staff enjoy their work and have a genuine interest in the wellbeing of their patients. “Our commitment to providing the best care and being honest with our patients is why we’re succeeding,” says Hess. “We treat our patients like family, and we back up what we say. That goes a long way.” Deborah Conn is a contributing writer to O&P Almanac. Reach her at deborahconn@verizon.net.
