Heritage Medical Equipment, LLC

Long Island Lightning

Coach Gerry Fleming Inspires The Team

The Long Island Lightning is looking for players and support.  Through basketball, this team teaches physically disabled youth, ages 7 to 21, to become as enabled as possible.  This is a fun, structured, and easy-to-learn atmosphere for kids to meet friends and learn team work.  The hard work they put into this team is intended to build charachter and teach perserverance.

Gerry Fleming a CPO from Westchester volunteers as a coach, mentor, and role model.  "This a great team, with great kids", he said.  "I'm proud to be their coach."  Gerry is a 34 year veteran of the sport.  "It's a lot fun and a great experience travelling with the players."

Gerry's teams have travelled all over the country to compete.  They've played in cities like Baltimore, Richmond, Houston, Seattle, and Denver.  In 2005 the Long Island Lightning went to San Jose, California to be crowned National Champions!

The Long Island Lightning has a "Varsity" and "Prep" team.  Christopher Bacon, President of the Greater Long Island Wheelchair Athletic Club explains, "We will work as a team to prepare all the children in the club to play at the next level. For our prep kids, we will prepare them for the faster game at the varsity level, and for our varsity kids, prepare them for the college experience. Our expectation is that all the kids in this program attend college, the opportunities are in place, we will help guide them there. 

The Greater Long Island Wheelchair Athletic Club is currently looking for players, volunteers and support.  Please contact:  President - Christopher Bacon president@gliwac.org

Great job guys!  Keep up the great work!

 

Hi Fiona!

Fiona Jean Weber

Just when you think babies can't get any cuter, here comes Fiona jean.  She is the granddaughter to a very proud Jim Weber, and daughter to an even prouder Jimmy Weber.  Mama and baby are healthy, happy, and at home.  Congratulations Webers! 

 

 

 

NYAAOP - Albany 2012

 

JIm Cavanagh is at Albany, where are you?  And don't say Leipzig.  Today started the annual meeting for the 2012 New York State Chapter of American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists.  Cybertech Medical and Heritage Medical Equipment are excited to announce the release of the new Protege L-0637 back brace.

"It's a new L-0637 PDAC approved LSO.  This brace is completely modular," explained Cavanagh, "it takes you from pre-op, initial post-op, to a rehab progression step down system."  WOW!

This brace has removeable anterior, posterior and lateral panels.

"it is a complete continuum of care for the patient."  Cavanagh said.  "This a great brace for a great meeting."  

 

All Pro Medical Supplies

Bruce Fogel, Lenny Butler, Rob D'Arpino

The practitioners at All Pro Medical Supplies keep up with their continuing education requirements.  This week they participated in Heritage Medical Equipment's on-site seminar "Bracing the Arthritic Knee".  The ABC and BOC approved this course for 2.5 CEUs.  

All Pro Medical Supplies, Inc. is a full service orthotic facility with offices in Plainview and Patchogue - Long Island NY.  Their staff is available all day, every day no matter what time.  Leonard Butler, CO has been fitting patients with unloader knee braces for over 15 years.

"The course was great!  Even though we fit knee braces for arthritis everyday there's always new information and science coming out," Butler said after completing the 2 hour in-service.  "It's important to learn all that you can."

 

 

 

Carmen the Little Lamb

 

Dean Barrett, CPO and manager of a Hanger facility in Grass Valley, CA doanted his time, expertise, and ingenituity to help Carmen, the little lamb pictured above.  This new patient will be with Barrett for years to come.  Though the prosthesis is designed to accommodate for growth, like humans, she will need multiple legs until she reaches adulthood.

Carmen broke her leg only days after being born.  The leg didn't heal and eventually became infected.  She hobbled around for weeks until being taken to UC Davis where she received two surgeries and rehabilitation.  The leg could not be saved and that is when Barrett offered his assitance.

Carmen is now residing at Animal Place, a sanctuary for farm animals located in northern California.  Great job Dean and everyone at UC Davis and Animal Place!  The world needs more people like you in it.

Somerset Prosthetics & Orthotics

Glen Honcharik, CP & Joseph Evans CPO

 

Glen Honcharik and Joseph Evans of Somerset Prosthetics & Orthotics recently participated in Heritage Medical Equipment's "Bracing the Arthritic Knee" course.  We discussed the importance of knee braces as treatment options for patients suffering with knee osteoarthritis.  

Somerset P&O is a full service orthotic and prosthetic facility located in Bound Brook, NJ.  They accept most insurances.  Their new website is coming soon!

Experts in Knee Pain and Knee Arthritis

Bethany Gaffney, ATC & Caitlin Ludemann, ATC

This week we are writing live from the New England Orthotic & Prosthetic Society annual meeting in Warwick, RI.  Here we find new-comers to the O&P field who present with a wealth of knowledge and expertise.  Caitlin Ludemann and Bethany Gaffney are athletic trainers who work with Ferraro & Forbes.

They were hired to help represent Townsend Design's line of functional and unloader knee braces.

"We have been representing Townsend in New England for 21 years," explained Sally Forbes, owner of Ferraro & Forbes.  "Patients with knee osteoarthritis deserve a conservative solution for their joint pain.  Not everyone needs medications, injections, or surgery.  Bethany and Caitlin are doing a fantastic job getting our message to the people who need to hear it."  

"We talk to doctors regularly to explain the benefits of bracing the arthritic knee."  Forbes said.  "But it's difficult to be heard with the glut of information the drug companies flood the market with."  

Sally added, "We love to work with our O&P partners to generate awareness at local physician practices and clinics.  We are not the competition, the drug companies are."

 

Pediatric Knee Braces

The only thing John Scott loves more than fishing in Mexico is AOPA in Las Vegas.  And he loves fishing a whole lot.  Ask him about the world record sailfish that got away.  

John Scott is the owner and orthopedic brace designer for New Options Sports, a Texas-based support, splint, and brace manufacturerer.  

New Options Sports just released their new line of pediatric braces and supports.  

"The knee brace behind me is designed specifically for children."  Scott explained.  "These knee supports will provide protection and stability for pediatric patients.  Kids deserve soemthing just for them."   

Low Back Pain at AOPA

It doesn't take long standing on the trade show floor for low back pain to develop.  At least for me.  On the second day of the meeting my back was killing me.  I'm glad these guys were in Las Vegas.  Michael Montalbano and Scott O'Donnel of Hope Orthopedic helped me out big time.  They let me wear a Ninja back brace for the last two days of the show.  Back pain relief.  I stood taller, looked a little thinner, and felt much better.  Thanks guys!   

How To Make A Cast?

 

Dave Littig, CPO explained how to make a cast at last week's AOPA meeting.  Littig works with ST&G, a manufacturer of casting tape, orthopedic products, and prosthetic supplies.  His lecture explained the benefits of C-Form, an elastic stretch cast tape.  

Members from the audience participated during the presentation by volunteering to be casted.

"This cast material conforms easily to complex shapes which is important in orthotics and prosthetics,"  Littig explained.  "This is like no other casting material; it's inexpensive and versatile."