O&P Clinical Care Insiders

In this episode, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), welcomes David Patterson, MS, CO, LO, founder of GOAL Pediatric Orthotics and chair of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists’ new Pediatric Society, to discuss the need for greater education, collaboration, and support in pediatric orthotics. Patterson explains why pediatric care can be challenging for clinicians who see children as only a small portion of their caseload and how the new Society aims to build confidence through mentorship, shared learning, and expanded educational resources. They also explore advances such as 3D printing, the need for stronger pediatric orthotics research and best practices, and the importance of recognizing that treating children requires a different approach shaped by growth, family involvement, and compliance.
 
O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), welcomes Jessica Corso, CO/L, FAAOP, orthotist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and chair of the Academy’s Craniofacial Society, for a conversation recognizing National Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Awareness Month. Jessica discusses current efforts to improve cranial remolding orthosis care through standardized training, consistent clinical practices, and ongoing outcomes research. She also explores the importance of evidence-based care in expanding insurance coverage, emerging advances such as 3D-printed helmets, and the Academy’s initiatives to support clinician education, collaboration, and high-quality patient care.
 
O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode of O&P Clinical Care Insiders: Industry Partners Edition, host Seth O'Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), is joined by Lucas Crisanti, CPO, an ABC-certified prosthetist/orthotist, Ottobock prosthetic clinical specialist, and global running clinic coach, to discuss the growing role of adaptive sports in prosthetic care. Drawing on his background as a competitive runner and years of experience supporting para athletes, Lucas shares how volunteering with adaptive sports programs shaped his passion for helping individuals with limb loss discover the physical and emotional benefits of running as exercise and medicine. The conversation explores Ottobock's role as the clinical partner and repair sponsor for major international competitions, including the 2023 Para Pan American Games and the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where clinicians provide on-site prosthetic repairs and technical support for athletes from around the world. Lucas also highlights Ottobock's sports prosthetics portfolio, discussing key component options designed for running and other athletic activities, along with the importance of matching technology to each athlete's goals. The episode concludes with an overview of Ottobock's educational opportunities for clinicians—including MyLearning courses, Athlete's Corner continuing education programs, Full Circle Movement community events, global Running Clinics, and upcoming opportunities leading toward the LA 2028 Paralympic Games—all designed to help more clinicians empower patients to pursue sport and physical activity at every level.
 
This episode is sponsored by Ottobock.
 
O&P Clinical Care Insiders: Industry Partners Edition is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), is joined by Leigh Davis, MSPO, CPO, LPO, FAAOP(D), of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Beate Flügel of Heidelberg University Hospital for a conversation about international collaboration, scoliosis management, and advancements in orthotic care.
Drawing on nearly a decade of partnership between the Academy and Germany’s OTWorld, the guests compare educational pathways, clinical practices, and professional development opportunities in the United States and Germany. They discuss Germany’s unique dual vocational training system for orthotists and prosthetists, as well as the similarities and differences between OTWorld and the Academy Annual Meeting.
The conversation also explores current approaches to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis bracing, including the use of Rigo-style braces, the importance of physiotherapy, and strategies for improving patient adherence. Davis and Flügel discuss the role of nighttime versus full-time bracing, the growing use of objective wear-time monitoring to measure compliance, and efforts to standardize digital workflows and advance 3D-printed scoliosis brace technology. Together, they highlight how international collaboration can drive innovation and improve outcomes for patients around the world.
 
This episode is sponsored by Spinal Technology.
 
O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, recorded live at the 52nd Academy Annual Meeting in Nashville, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), is joined by Kiley Armstrong, MS, MPO, CPO, research prosthetist/orthotist at Northwestern University, for a conversation on the role social determinants of health play in orthotic and prosthetic care. Armstrong shares her journey into a leadership role with a soccer organization for individuals with amputations before previewing her session, “Considering Social Determinants of Health to Elevate O&P Care and Outcomes.” The discussion explores how factors such as education, economic stability, social environment, neighborhood conditions, and access to healthcare can significantly influence patient outcomes, often extending beyond the clinical intervention itself. Armstrong highlights real-world barriers including transportation, childcare, and insurance challenges that can contribute to missed appointments and interrupted care, while emphasizing the importance of trust building, awareness of implicit bias, and open communication in the clinician-patient relationship. She also shares practical strategies for addressing disparities, including leveraging community resource tools, developing referral networks, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and clinic leadership to better support patients.
 
O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.
 

In this episode, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), speaks with Lt. Col. Christy “Clock” Kinsey, who underwent a transfemoral amputation and became the first female to return to duty as an Air Force pilot after limb loss. Christy shares the story of losing her right leg in a hit-and-run boating accident and the role peer mentorship played in her recovery. She walks through the challenges of remaining on active duty and ultimately returning to flight status—proving she could safely operate and egress an aircraft, meet rigorous physical standards, and adapt across multiple prosthetic systems for flying, running, and cycling. The conversation also explores the realities of active-duty care, including navigating HIPAA barriers, frequent relocation, coordinating between military and local providers, and planning for deployment. Christy reflects on pregnancy-related fit changes, mental health and isolation, and the critical role of flexible, clinician support in sustaining both her career and quality of life.
 
O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode of O&P Clinical Care Insiders: Industry Partners Edition, host Seth O'Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), sits down with Fraser Allan, prosthetist/orthotist at Thuasne, to explore the SpryStep® Agilik™ KAFO and its microprocessor-driven approach to mobility. Fraser explains how the device differs from traditional high-resistance, stance-yielding systems by providing powered knee flexion and extension to actively replace lost muscle function. The conversation highlights improvements in swing-phase mechanics, support for crouch gait when stability is present, and the potential to reduce fatigue by limiting compensatory movements. They also cover key clinical considerations, including common contraindications such as contractures and spasticity, along with the importance of proper patient selection and expectation-setting. The episode wraps with a look at the device’s development, sensor technology, functional capabilities like sit-to-stand and stairs, and the trial-to-fabrication process.
 
This episode is sponsored by Thuasne.
 
O&P Clinical Care Insiders: Industry Partners Edition is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), sits down with Lesleigh Sisson, CFo, CFm, founder of O&P Insight, for a MythBusters-style conversation about common misconceptions in O&P clinical practice. Together, they unpack several assumptions that can lead providers astray, including the belief that prior authorization guarantees payment and the importance of accurate enrollment and place-of-service billing for multi-office practices. The discussion also covers payer requests for invoices, clarifying what providers are—and are not—required to supply. The episode highlights key compliance considerations, such as why proof of delivery alone is not enough to justify billing, how standard written orders must be supported by current documentation of continued use, and the role CPO notes can play in supplementing physician records. Seth and Lesleigh also explore issues such as diagnosis-code mismatches, replacement rules within a reasonable useful lifetime, prosthesis eligibility when a power wheelchair is present, and circumstances where additional test sockets may be justified with proper documentation.
 
Show Notes
Lower Limb Prosthetic LCD and Policy Article
LCD - Lower Limb Prostheses (L33787)
Article - Lower Limb Prostheses - Policy Article (A52496)
 
Power Mobility Device LCD and Policy Article
LCD - Power Mobility Devices (L33789)
Article - Power Mobility Devices - Policy Article (A52498)
 
Standard Documentation Requirements
Article - Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs (A55426)
 
Same or Similar Resources
Same or Similar: How to Avoid Denials - JA DME - Noridian
Same or Similar Chart - JA DME - Noridian
 
Making Corrections to Medical Records
Documentation Guidelines for Amended Records - JE Part B - Noridian
 
The Medicare Learning Network
The Medicare Learning Network® | CMS
 
Medical Records Requirements
MLN909160 – Complying with Medical Record Documentation Requirements
MLN4840534_Medical Record Maintenance & Access Requirements
Provider Minute: The Importance of Proper Documentation
MLN905364 – Complying with Medicare Signature Requirements

In this episode, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), sits down with Brian Hafner, PhD, bioengineer and professor in the University of Washington’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, to discuss the development and validation of the Prosthetic Mobility Performance Test (PROMPT). Dr. Hafner shares insights from his upcoming Thranhardt Lecture at the Academy Meeting, where he will introduce the research behind this flexible, performance-based tool designed to measure lower limb prosthetic mobility in clinical settings. The conversation explores the challenges of building and validating outcome measures, cross-institutional collaboration, lessons learned during the pandemic, and the evolving role of standardized data in improving patient care and shaping policy within the orthotics and prosthetics profession.
 
O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.
 
Show notes
Interviews with Rehabilitation Specialists:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9007274/
 
Survey of Physical Therapists:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12367168/
 
Survey of Prosthetists:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9452451/

In this episode, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), is joined by Dan Milius, CPO, a clinical prosthetist at the University of Colorado Center for Prosthetics and a member of the CU Limb Restoration Team, for an in-depth conversation on the advancements of osseointegration and bone-anchored prosthetics. Together, they unpack common misconceptions, discuss the importance of a truly collaborative, multidisciplinary care team, and share best practices for the early postoperative and rehabilitation phases. The episode also highlights recent initiatives from the Bone Anchored Prosthetics Society, including the Unconference and the State of the Science Conference, while addressing scope-of-practice and reimbursement considerations. The discussion offers practical insights for clinicians navigating the complexities of osseointegration care.
 
O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.