RSLSTEEPER – An Overview

Originally founded in 1921, RSLSTEEPER is now the largest supplier of Prosthetic and Orthotic patient care services in the United Kingdom, providing both manufacturing and clinical services to the UK Government National Health Service.

In addition to these services, we are also a manufacturer of Prosthetic and Orthotic hardware, Reciprocating Orthoses for the spinally injured, as well as Assistive Technology Systems which allow a greater level of independence for stroke patients, and those affected by conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease, Cerebral Palsy etc.

The company is also a major distributor of both Prosthetic and Orthotic systems in the UK and numerous overseas markets. Partnerships with other manufacturers have brought significant benefits to our patients, as we are not committed to supplying own brand products, but will draw upon a broad range of components that best suit the needs of our users.

RSLSTEEPER is currently registered to ISO standards 9001 - 2000 and 9002 - 2000 for products and services, and is also FDA approved for prosthetic and orthotic component supply to the USA.

The company is structured through two Divisions – each containing teams dedicated to focusing on a specific area of rehabilitation care.

Patient Care Services Division

With approximately 120 clinical staff and 200 technicians, the company manages some 200,000 Prosthetic and Orthotic patients per year, providing an extensive range of hardware and clinical expertise to give the highest levels of patient care.

Prosthetics

RSLSTEEPER is one of the UK’s leaders in the delivery of high quality; patient focused, cost effective Prosthetic services.

With more than 80 years experience in Prosthetics, we are recognised as a leader in this field, and continue today as one of the premier companies in the world.

Patient care and quality of service is at the forefront of our philosophy, and with this in mind we operate the “5 C’s” approach as a determinant for the measurement of quality – an approach created in partnership with the UK Government National Health Service – Comfort, Choice, Capability, Cosmesis and Caring.  This approach enables milestone monitoring of our services, and ensures that we maintain the high standards that we have become renowned for.

The scope of our service experience has provided numerous benefits in the level of care offered, and has led to significant benefits to our clients.  These include the use of CAD/CAM technology, major improvements in fitting techniques and socket comfort, research and development programmes that have led to world-wide media interest, and ensuring cost effective service management through effective component prescription where whole life costing of limb systems have been analysed.    

With consolidation of services now becoming more prevalent in the UK market, we have pioneered the creation of “Centres of Excellence”, where Prosthetics, Orthotics and Wheelchair services are combined within one rehabilitation centre.  In this respect we have created a seamless service, incorporating all aspects of rehabilitation care – extending this to the supply, service and maintenance of all varieties of both powered and manual wheelchairs.  

Our private patient facility is where clients from all over the world are treated to the highest standards in Prosthetic and Orthotic care.  Our clinic regularly receives national and international media coverage: recognition of RSLSTEEPER as one of the premier prosthetic service providers in the world.     

Within the Patient Care Services Division under the brand name of Meditech I.T., we have also pioneered the development of purpose built software called “RIS” – Rehabilitation Information System – which is specifically designed for the clinical, financial and management requirements of rehabilitation centres and allied disciplines.  This system enables key information such as clinical and financial history across several rehabilitation disciplines to be recorded.  Furthermore, performance can be monitored across a broad range of activities.

The company also recognises that Continual Professional Development (CPD) of our staff is an integral part of providing a high quality service to our clients and ultimately our patients.  We ensure that staff undertakes their CPD activities by facilitating this process through an annual appraisal scheme.  This process also gives our staff the opportunity to identify other areas of personal and professional development to enable them to fulfil their career potential.

Orthotics

RSLSTEEPER sit at the forefront of clinical service development in the UK, having been responsible for fundamental yet essential changes in the way that patients are referred into the care of our Orthotists.

Our objective has been to raise professionalism and awareness of the role that Orthotics has to play in patient care.  This has been achieved through new and effective protocols and procedures which have seen superior management of patient’s ongoing care, with treatment outcomes being recorded and reported, enabling us to lead the way in working towards true evidence based practices.

We are also unique in having a “National Best Practice Working Party” whose role is to co-ordinate and report against numerous regional audit projects, the purpose of which is to ensure that the choice of patient care is being based upon sound clinical evidence.
To this end we have been very successful and consequently are recognised and respected as leaders in our field of expertise.

All Orthotic services are fully supported by our purpose designed manufacturing facility in Leeds which provides high quality, full spectrum Orthotic manufacturing including footwear, Orthotic insoles, ankle foot Orthoses (AFO’s), knee Orthoses, knee ankle foot Orthoses (KAFO’s), spinal Orthoses and upper limb Orthoses.  Furthermore, we have access to a comprehensive range of ready-made Orthotic hardware through our Product Sales Division.

Assistive Technology

To complete our range of rehabilitation services, RSLSTEEPER also designs, manufactures, services and maintains electronic systems that enable elderly and severely disabled people to live more independently and safely either within their own home, or a care facility.

Assistive Technology is any device that helps a less able person do something that more able people can already do. RSLSTEEPER focuses on Electronic Assistive Technology for the home or care facility.  Home automation and environmental control systems help people who lack full mobility to open doors, answer telephones and intercoms, and operate a host of electronic devices from lamps and televisions to motorised chairs and beds.

Our Environmental Control Systems help people to control their home environment through a single switch.   Users of these systems typically have Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Cerebral Palsy, a Head Injury, Muscular Dystrophy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, a Spinal Injury or have suffered a Stroke.   T.V.s, radios, doors, intercoms, telephones, lamps, curtains, windows, riser recliner chairs and beds, and alarms are among the devices that can be controlled.

The company’s team of highly trained, professional and caring engineers, who are based across the UK, carry out assessments, usually in conjunction with a health professional such as an Occupational Therapist. The assessment consists of a demonstration of the system to the user and carers and a decisions by all three on the individual configuration of the system. Our own engineers then go on to handle installation, service and maintenance
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Upon completion of the installation, we give tuition to the user, carers and family on how the system works.

Our systems are aimed at people who have limited ability to use their hands. They are scanning based menus that can be controlled through a wide range of  switches, from a simple push button, to those that allow operation by the blink of an eye, the flick of a tongue, a breath or any other body movement.

Our controllers use both radio-frequency and infra-red technology.  We also supply controllers provided by other companies to ensure that the most suitable application may be catered to, even in the most complex of cases.
 
A range of devices to complement the above systems is also available, and can help users with communication difficulties. Various interfaces such as keyboards, single switches with scanning menus and screen-based icons are available, as are different levels of sophistication in communication output.  These can accommodate simple phrases for someone whose speech may just be slow or impractical for telephones, to a large array of words and phrases for those who lack any speech but can formulate complex sentence structures via a keyboard or screen based system.

Product Sales Division

Allied to the above services, the company is also a manufacturer and distributor of a comprehensive range of upper and lower extremity Prosthetic and Orthotic components, Reciprocating Gait Orthoses and upper and lower extremity silicone cosmeses for patients. 

Our upper extremity range provides effective solutions for all levels of users, from simple cosmetic systems to full specification myo electrically powered systems.  Furthermore, our staff are qualified to fit systems from every major manufacturer.   

Through a network of 24 international distributors, our products and services are supplied throughout the world, supported by our team of clinicians who provide local training and education to our clients on a regular basis.

As our product base has strengthened, we have now expanded in to distribution of high quality lower extremity components and materials, together with an extensive range of workshop tools, machinery and equipment.  These have been selected on the basis of leading edge technology, function, price competitiveness and proven successful patient outcomes.
These brands are supplied from some of the most respected companies in the world, including Seattle Systems, Freedom Innovations, College Park Industries, LTI and Silipos from the USA, and Medi, Bauerfeind, Schein and Streifeneder from Germany.

Our depth in experience with the Prosthetics and Orthotics market has given us an extensive network of manufacturers from which to draw the most suitable products for patient care, and also be continually updated in the latest technologies, both in hardware development and clinical techniques.

Within our Orthotic product range we are able to offer an extensive range of off the shelf Orthoses including footwear, spinal Orthoses, functional knee bracing, soft goods, Orthotic insoles, knee Orthoses, AFO’s, KAFO’s PRAFOs, and are distributors for the highly innovative Ambroise range of full length calipers.

Of particular interest has been our Advanced Reciprocating Gait Orthoses (ARGO) range – a sophisticated walking brace for paraplegics.  The ARGO has been successfully supplied throughout the world and continues to be at the forefront of paraplegic ambulation. 

To complement our range of hardware, in 1998 the company created a custom high definition silicone cosmeses unit in London.  Available for almost all levels of amputation, these products are the most realistic prostheses currently available where the cosmeses are individually colour matched to the patient and built up in skin coloured layers to give a truly unique and life-like translucence.  Hairs, veins, acrylic nails and even freckles are then added in the manufacturing process to complete the finish.  

 In addition to hardware supplies, the company also offers training and education services at one of three key locations in the UK, including the renowned Queen Mary’s University Hospital Rehabilitation Centre in Roehampton, London.  These courses may be arranged for groups or individuals, and cater to all levels of experience for both clinical and manufacturing disciplines – from basic Prosthetic/Orthotic principles to high level, hybrid systems for both upper and lower extremity applications.

The company also undertakes patient care clinics overseas, and has a wealth of experience in providing visiting services from our specialists where local teams require additional support or on site training to strengthen clinical knowledge and expertise.  Furthermore, our extensive manufacturing facilities may be used to fabricate products for overseas clients where experienced resources may be limited.  Projects undertaken have supported clients in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait.   

Regular attendance at numerous international trade shows allow us to keep updated on new products and clinical techniques which we share with our clients where appropriate.

We also have partnerships with an experienced team of Physical therapists and Occupational therapists who specialise in the rehabilitation of Prosthetic and Orthotic patients.

Training and education forms a key part of our support strategy, and is instrumental in ensuring long term success for our partners.  Our staff are on hand to support this education process and provide regular updates on new technology, both in respect of hardware and clinical techniques available from almost all key manufacturers.

Summary

A comprehensive range of Prosthetic, Orthotic and rehabilitation products and services available impartially from one supplier, offering our clients real clinical choice. 

RSLSTEEPER strives to provide a unique level of personal service to our clients in a partnership environment.  Our aim is to embark on long-term relationships, offering a range of high quality product and service solutions embracing the latest technologies from around the world – a choice which allows our clients to make the right decisions in patient focused clinical care.