MDNews - Minnesota

W HEN THE CALL came in requesting a prosthetic evaluation, Robert "Bob" Tillges, CPO, FAAOP and founder of Tillges Certified Orthotic Prosthetic Inc. (TCOP), went to the hos- pital himself to meet with Aaron Holm, who had lost both legs above the knee in a roadside accident. "I spoke with representatives from five different prosthetic companies," Aaron recalls. "Only Bob asked to look at my legs. He explained that if I needed to go back into surgery to prepare my limbs for prostheses, he'd rather I went back in right away, before I healed. That made sense to me. I was fortunate. When Bob saw my legs, he said, 'I can definitely work with that.'" TCOP views early evaluation with the patient and surgeon as a critical factor in successfully fitting patients with the right socket. "Our first priority with new patients is to evaluate the overall body and lifestyle," Bob says. "We recognize that for many of our clients, there is a life beyond activities of daily living. We work to understand their goals, objectives, occupation and activity level. Some individuals are avid soccer players, hunters, fishermen, gar- deners or dancers. Others may love to read, play cards or enjoy board games. This understanding is critical to serving patients with the products that will best support their lifestyle. It is equally impor- tant for us to maintain a comprehensive understanding of available products." Today, Aaron is a member of the TCOP sta ff. As he strode through TCOP's headquarters in Maplewood, introducing MD News Minnesota to the rehabilitation gym, designed for amputee patients to support and encourage each other through therapy, and the spacious workshop where prosthetics and orthotics are custom-fabricated, his own prostheses were impossible to detect. Bob Tillges founded TCOP in 1992, after successfully managing two orthotic and prosthetic facilities. TCOP's first facility was a modest 1,800 square feet. Today, the flagship location is 13,000 square feet, with additional locations in Woodbury, Minneapolis, and 10 out- reach clinics throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The company employs 51 healthcare professionals, with all practitioners certi- fied by the American Board of Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics. Three of Bob's sons — Mike, Steve and David — have joined him in his practice. The family is planning ahead to serve the next generation of patients with the most advanced technology available, including products developed at their new technol- ogy company, Tillges Technologies, LLC. In addition, TCOP is helping to advance the orthotic and prosthetic field through education of resident physicians, physical By Marian Deegan Tillges Certified Orthotic Prosthetic Inc. Committed to Serving Patients with the Most Advanced Technology Available COV ER FE AT UR E Tillges Certified Orthotic Prosthetic (TCOP) patient Sara, walking with her temporary transtibial prosthesis for the first time. Steve Tillges, CPO, fitting a transradial prosthesis on TCOP patient Justin 6 | Minnesota MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M

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