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Orthotics/Prosthetics Profile
Author: | Tuesday November 23, 2004
After years of working for other people he opens his own office.
O&P Business Profile
Opening Practice
Offers Challenges
& Rewards
Gerald Martin, CPO, LPO is a wanted man. Some of his loyal former patients have tracked him from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale where he opened his own practice earlier this year. This doesn’t bother Martin, who became frustrated with the fast pace of larger corporations where it was difficult to spend enough time with patients.
“When you make the decision to have your own practice you have to realize you are the final answer. I believe in taking the time with each individual to make sure their prosthetic limb or orthotic device fits correctly and meets their needs,” Martin told the Voice.
He opened in February of this year and has found that business has grown even faster than he anticipated. That is partly because he worked in South Florida in the past and has referral sources who are glad to have him back and because of those patients who will travel to make an office visit. His biggest challenge is getting onto the various insurance plans and getting to know those professionals and potential patients who are not familiar with him.
Martin has come to this point in his career over 20 years, starting out as a lab technician back in Virginia. Prior to that he had worked on the oil rigs of Oklahoma and in the shrimping industry in Texas. His interest in the medical field and in prosthetics and orthotics grew and he started taking courses culminating in his receiving a BS Degree in Prosthetics from Florida International University (FIU). (He was in the last graduating class at FIU before the program was dropped.) Martin took additional courses and also completed a residency at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.
Once he decided to have his own business, another good thing happened. He met his new wife, Kim while in Tampa and she works with him now as office manager.
Paul Legg (he appreciates the irony of his last name as an amputee) was one of those who sought out Martin. “He is the only person I found who could make a leg for me that fit properly,” Legg told the Voice during our visit to Martin Prosthetics & Orthotics. “I am sure there are other prosthetists who could do the job right, but in my case, I just couldn’t find one until I met Gerry,” Legg emphasized.
Martin believes that starting out as a technician has helped him in fitting his patients and he has fabrication facilities at his office. Especially with hard to fit patients he will do the fabrication himself and he sees that as a plus and in keeping with his philosophy of doing the job right the first time.
“Ideally I would like to see fewer patients each day and be able to spend quality time with them,” Martin said. He is involved with the local amputee associations and is seeking to get to know other groups and organizations as he continues to build his practice.
Ed. Note: To learn more or to receive a free evaluation call Gerald Martin, CPO, LPO, FAAOP at 954-722-1995. His office is located at 7128 W. McNab Rd. in Tamarac in Western Broward County.
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