Tour: Prosthetic Laboratories of Rochester, Inc.
On Tuesday Senator Nelson received an opportunity to tour Prosthetic Laboratories of Rochester, Inc. Founded in 1984, the company has grown to include 100 employees and multiple sites around the mid-west in locations including La Crosse, Brainerd, and Sioux Falls. Prosthetic Laboratories specializes in making customized prostheses (replacement limbs) and orthotics (bracing). Employees at all stages of the process strive to help patients suffering from diabetes, scoliosis, cancer, post-mastectomy, lymphedema, and amputees. Senator Nelson was able to tour both the fabrication and patient care areas. The Rochester site completes the fabrication in-house for all Prosthetic Laboratories locations. Molds, plaster, plastic, heating, vacuuming, and cooling are all some of the tools utilized by the company in making products customized to each patient. The patient care area is used in educating patients about their prostheses and for therapy.