While working as a prosthetist in a hospital, Eric Neufeld noticed a troubling trend among patients in need of prosthetic devices.
Patients weren't showing up to their appointments at an alarming rate.
After polling the patients and doing some research, Neufeld realized that in most of these cases, the patients wanted to attend the appointment but were held back for some reason.
“These are people who are physically disabled and, in many cases, financially strapped,” he said.
He realized that these patients often couldn’t leave the house without the assistance of someone else, resulting in a high dependency on others. When they couldn't get a ride, they missed appointments.
“I thought, let’s just go to them,” Neufeld said.
So, Neufeld launched Agile Orthopedics, a mobile prosthetic and orthotic service, providing in-home services to patients across metro-Denver.
“We’re old school in the sense that we’re going to people’s homes,” he added.
The company operates out of a customized Sprinter van designed to serve as a mobile clinic. After setting up an appointment with Agile Orthopedics, Neufeld said the company will come to the home to do a 3D scan of the patient’s limb, assess their needs, analyze the home environment and begin a prototype.
Within a week, the company will return to the patient’s home with a prototype for testing. Neufeld said the company will often coordinate with a physical therapist to ensure the prosthetic fits the patient’s daily needs. If all goes well, the final product will be made and delivered to the patient for use.
The company serves patients in need of prosthetics and orthotics, across a number of different body parts. To date, they’ve served about 200 patients in the Denver-metro area.
When it comes to the final prosthetic or orthotic device, Neufeld said it mirrors what patients would receive if they went through a traditional clinic setting. The cost also remains the same, as Agile Orthopedics works with a number of insurance providers.
Where Neufeld said Agile Orthopedics differs, is in the company’s use of technology and convenience offered to the patient.
In traditional settings, Neufeld said patients are often fit with a caste to mold the prosthetic. At Agile Orthopedics, Neufeld uses 3D scanning and printing technology to craft the device.
“We’re lean and changing paradigms,” he said.
The company currently has four employees, working out of an office space on Santa Fe Drive in Denver, though appointments often have them on the road.
Neufeld said Agile Orthopedics’ model hits on the Uber-esque trend impacting a number of industries, bringing convenience to those in need.
“Why would our field be any different?” he said.
The company has been entirely bootstrapped to this point and Neufeld said they’ve been profitable since the first month, due to the low overhead of a mostly mobile business.
While they haven’t yet considered outside investment, Neufeld said the company will explore expansion, both locally and nationally.
In the coming months, he hopes to further refine the personal service Agile Orthopedics provides, bringing a comprehensive approach to mobile patient care.
“We’re focused on how to make it a real concierge service, by understanding what patients need aside of the device,” he said.
