An Economics Illustration

     A “start-up” general practice prosthetic provider must accept an initial four to five year cycle between first fitting a patient, and seeing that patient again for a new prosthesis.  During that entire cycle, or “interval”, the only means of growing the practice is to constantly fit an ever increasing number of new patients. In addition, four to five years is a very long time to retain the relationship with a given patient absent any contact.

     In contrast, a pediatric practice may expect a simple one year cycle due to the growth of the little patients until perhaps their 13^th or 14^th birthday.  The pediatric prosthetist must then presuppose a close, warm relationship with each and every patient-family, and do everything in his or her power to assure that warm relationship over a life-time.

If every means is exhausted to earn those relationships , then the pediatric prosthetist may see a growth paradigm similar to the one drawn below.

If only 50 new  patients are accrued each year: (sub total fittings in bold print)

The American Amputee Coalition reports 1,000 children born, in the united states alone, with a limb loss each year.   50 new children fitted per year as shown above is 5% of that annual total.  We genuinely believe we are now positioned to move to a 50% market share of fitting those newborns within four to five years.     See graph below.