The History of Rehab Plus
In April 1987, Rehab Plus opened its doors to the public in a small unit in Savannah Plaza in Kingston, Jamaica. It was the first medical/home health care facility on the island with a store front which allowed people to see and touch different designs of wheelchairs, bathroom safety products, braces and other products related to the industry.
History in the making is always an exciting time for a company, but it was also a daunting task to figure out how best to serve the needs of the people of Jamaica. It soon became evident, that offering rehabilitative aids alone was not enough….
The company embarked on intensive overseas and local training and decades later, have garnered a wide knowledge base which forms the basis of the services offered by this small giant in the health care industry. Our qualified staff can offer doctors, physiotherapists and other health professionals, leading edge alternatives in patient care.
In 2010 Rehab Plus rebranded the prosthetic side of its business under the name Jamaica Orthotics Pedorthics & Prosthetics (JOPP) which provides artificial limbs for the lower limbs and continues to expand its prosthetic line of products.
Many products are available at Rehab Plus ranging from therapeutic & orthopaedic footwear, medical compression stockings, custom foot orthotics, custom-made braces namely, spinal braces for scoliosis, Scottish Rite Orthoses, Ankle Foot Orthoses, Hip Spica to name a few. Compression garments for burns and keloid scars and post-mastectomy products are also a part of our product line. Along with a large product line, the company provides seven specialized medical services which are dispensed on the basis of prescriptions from doctors and referrals from physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropodists, podiatrists, and other health professionals.
It is our services for which Rehab Plus is best known. Skills honed over three decades form the basis of these services which include:
- Comprehensive Pedorthic care (management of problems of the lower limb) including diabetics, children and athletes.
- Bracing and exercises for Scoliosis (an “S”-shaped curve of the spine). Orthopaedic braces for lower and upper extremities.
- Manufacturing of foot orthotics (in shoe supports) for problem feet.
- Providing and fitting medical compression stockings.
- Post-mastectomy breast forms, bras & swimwear.
- Artificial limbs through its partner firm JOPP.
Our professional and technically competent staff continues to deliver services, some of which are not available elsewhere, and carefully assists customers in accessing the best products for their health care needs.
The company’s accomplishments include:
1988: The development of a comprehensive program for managing Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis [AIS].
1990: The provision of a full-service Pedorthic department including an Orthotic Laboratory, which targets lower extremity problems of young children, athletes, as well as persons suffering from diabetes, arthritis, and many other conditions of the feet which result in pain and abnormal positioning.
1993: The training and Certification of the company’s first Orthopaedic Shoe Technician to enhance the offerings of the Pedorthic department. The training and Certification Orthopaedic Fitters of orthopaedic devices and soft braces.
1996: The American Board Certification of Jamaica’s first Pedorthist, a health professional trained in the management and treatment of conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower extremities. Such treatment requires a full assessment, designing, fabricating, fitting and adjusting pedorthic devices and utilizing therapeutic footwear to aid in the healing and/or improvement of problems of the feet.
1998: The introduction of Jamaica’s first Computerized Gait Analysis System. This system uses digital scanning to accurately asses the pressures on different parts of the foot during walking and standing, thereby guiding the Pedorthist, in the making of foot orthotics and shoe modifications to create an even distribution of weight on the feet.
1999: Commenced outreach programmes at various hospitals throughout Jamaica, geared toward providing free assessments and recommendations to persons with scoliosis, as well as those suffering from abnormalities of the feet, and hands.
2000: Certification of two Orthopedic Fitters. The establishment of a department specializing in work place hazards; a Physical Therapy approach to Industrial Work Injury Prevention.
2001:
(i) Certification of 2 persons in the Management of Post-mastectomy patients (persons who have experienced breast surgery).
(ii) The provision of adaptive equipment namely specialized wheelchairs, tilt tables, custom-made leg braces and other orthopaedic devices.
2002: Introduced a Loaner Scheme for Surgical Instruments (in particular the Zimmer locked nail system) and the Wright Medical Hip and Knee Systems and accompanying implants to the island’s public and private hospitals.
2003: Facilitated the certification of Jamaica’s second Pedorthist. through The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC).
2007: Facilitated the Launch of The Scoliosis Club of Jamaica, a support group for children with scoliosis, as well as their families.
2010: Rebranded orthotic and pedorthic services and added prosthetic services under the partner firm Jamaica Orthotics Pedorthics and Prosthetics (JOPP).
2011: Rehab Plus invited the president of the International School of Pedorthics to Jamaica and hosted the training of 4 persons for certification in Pedorthics.
2012: Carried out the company’s first prosthetic finger replacement under its trading partner JOPP.
2014: Provided the company’s first mechanical upper extremity prosthesis including cosmetic and functional hand attachments.
2016: Commenced 3D scanning and computer aided manufacturing and design for spine and feet to enhance the accuracy and outcomes of scoliosis braces and custom-made orthotics.
2017: Started group exercise programmes for children with scoliosis under the guidance of a registered Physical Therapist.
2018: Introduced a modular below knee prosthetic limb with adjustable socket, resulting in reduced waiting time for the final product and a more cost-effective limb.
2019: Reached the landmark of providing scoliosis braces for 1000 children.
2021: Introduced compression hosiery for sports, recovery from exercise and walking.
2023: Added a biomedical engineer to our team.
Today, more than three decades later, Rehab Plus and its Partner Firm, Jamaica Orthotics Pedorthics & Prosthetics (JOPP) located at 12 Tangerine Place, Kingston 10, provide care especially for Jamaicans, but also for Caribbean and other peoples who desire to avail themselves of the services we offer. The company remains small, but impactful, with commitment, customer orientation, and good old-fashioned warmth and courtesy being at the center of our daily operations.
We serve as the link between your doctor and health professional and you, our valued customers.
We Provide:
• Mobility Products
• Diabetic Foot Care
• Physio Equipment
• Braces & Supports for Neck, Back, Arms & Legs
• Bathroom Safety Products
• Stockings For Circulation
• Garments For Scars & Amputations
• Athletic & Therapeutic Footwear
• Children's Orthopedic Shoes & Braces
Services:
• Gait Analysis
• Shoe Fitting
• Custom-made Foot Orthotics
• Shoe Modifications
• Diabetic Off-loading Shoes
• Adult Therapeutic Footwear
• Scoliosis Bracing & Exercises
• Custom Burn & Scar Garments
• Medical Compression Hoisery
• Post Mastectomy Care