 |
Living Outside the Box: Kaia Halvorson, CPO, LPO
By Jodi Mills Gracious and affable, Kaia Halvorson, CPO, LPO,
speaks with enthusiasm when discussing the future of O&P. Her
mindset is such that one would think nothing is impossible. With a
positive, determined focus, Halvorson sees endless potential and
opportunity in this ever-changing field.
 Having celebrated her one-year anniversary as
national director of orthotics for Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc.,
Bethesda, Maryland, in July 2004, Halvorson looks forward to the
challenges that the next couple of years will bring. Her enthusiasm
is contagious, and her motto is to "look outside the box.
Opportunities are everywhere if you are creative."
Halvorson's life has been one filled with amazing experiences.
She thoroughly enjoys life with all it has to offer. Whether that
is growing up as the daughter of a Lutheran minister in Anchorage,
Alaska, or devoting herself to the rigors of competitive figure
skating, you can be certain that she is enjoying each moment to the
fullest. Her childhood was spent fishing on the Kenai River and in
Homer. After learning to ice skate, she began competing, contending
with the likes of Tonya Harding when she was just a girl from
Portland, Oregon.
From Figure Skating to O&P
As Halvorson's college years approached, she shifted her focus
from a possible career as a figure skater, with the potential to
become an instructor or coach, to the world of O&P. One of the
motivating reasons for this choice is a memory she has of a friend
who valiantly won a fight with cancer and ultimately became an
above-knee amputee. Eight-year-old Kaia was amazed at her friend's
bravery and how she never allowed the loss of her leg to hamper her
zest for life. Having two aunts that dealt with multiple sclerosis
and the challenges of staying active and having fulfilling lives
was also a source of inspiration. Immersing herself in the field of
O&P was a way that she could use her creativity to make a
difference in people's lives.
Obstacles along the way have been met with determination and
optimism. During her first year of prosthetics and orthotics at the
University of Washington, her father died from cancer. The
compassion and professionalism of the people that cared for her
father left a lasting impression. Instead of allowing her grief to
overwhelm her, she used the experience as a constant reminder to
"look at the world through a different lens." She became intent
upon giving her patients the same outstanding care and compassion
that her father received.
Halvorson completed her education in the Orthotics and
Prosthetics Program of the University of Washington, receiving her
bachelor of science degree. An interview with Jeff Miller of Boston
Brace, Avon, Massachusetts, led her to venture from one coast to
the other. "The fun began in Boston," says Halvorson. "My East
Coast experience at Boston Children's Hospital reinforced the
age-old adage that if you can treat pediatric patients, you can
treat anyone." From July 1993 to December of 1996, Halvorson gained
much experience in Boston as well as at the Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital and United Prosthetics Inc.,
Boston, owned and operated since 1914 by the Martino family.
Halvorson will tell you that it was there that she learned from a
literal museum of education and prostheses. It was the icing on her
East Coast cake!
The West Coast then beckoned her to return. As interesting and
challenging as pediatrics was, the time she would next spend at
Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, played a close
second, if not equal. Her responsibilities as director of orthotics
at the level one trauma hospital included serving as clinical
orthotic coordinator for the center that serviced Alaska, Idaho,
Montana, Oregon, and Washington; staff training; development of
orthotic training materials with therapists; and development and
direction of on-call staffing for a hospital providing 24/7 care
365 days a year.
Teaching Is Her Passion
 Her ever-growing list of accomplishments includes
becoming a faculty member at the University of Washington in
December 1996. The staff and curriculum is one she feels very
strongly about supporting, and she intends to continue this
relationship throughout her career. Seattle Systems Inc., Poulsbo,
Washington, offered her a chance to become the company's clinical
consultant. Halvorson thus gained invaluable experience in the
engineering, manufacturing, and business components of O&P. Her
recommendation is that every O&P professional take some time to
explore these other sides of the profession. The experience she
gained and the contacts she made are what have enabled her to grow
into her current position with Hanger, she says.
The quest to educate the world--yes, the world--as to its view
of orthotics and prosthetics is one Halvorson takes very seriously.
Teaching is her passion, and her current position allows her to
concentrate her efforts within O&P as well as reaching
patients, allied health professionals, physicians, and payers.
Occupational therapists and case managers can also benefit from her
knowledge and expertise. Hanger's educational program, utilizing
Halvorson's expertise, offers seminars to educate these groups on
new components and techniques. Guidance is also offered on
reimbursement recommendations. The goal is to enhance current
relationships and better serve patients.
Halvorson admires the team approach that practitioners and staff
at Hanger embrace. They welcome new technology and design, knowing
that it will further the profession of O&P. Case in point is
the development of the Insignia technology, an integral component
in improving patient care. Halvorson reveals that it touches every
facet of their business. "Insignia's three-dimensional laser
scanner provides the patient an alternative to plaster casting,"
says Halvorson. "We utilize this technology not only for
fabrication but also for documentation." Objective data documenting
patient outcomes is a benefit that also aids in providing
reimbursement justification.
Hanger has realized that association with DME cannot rule its
destiny and Halvorson agrees. The company is working to build its
profession around complete patient care, education, and
professionalism within the medical community, she notes.
O&P's Future: Halvorson's View
What does Halvorson see in the future for O&P? Stepping up
to the plate and taking charge of justifying and documenting
treatment protocols and procedures is a start. "This cannot be left
to decision-makers that have no interest in furthering the O&P
industry," emphasizes Halvorson. "It will be up to all of us to set
the bar and define the clinical standards of treatment." Developing
new technologies will also play a substantial role in O&P
industry progress, she believes. Halverson comments, "The medical
community grows leaps and bounds each year by embracing technology.
We, as O&P providers, need to match their enthusiasm in order
to keep pace and offer our patients the best continuum of care
available."
Computerized devices now being used are opening up avenues that
haven't been thought of before, such as creating burn masks for
trauma patients and even going into the plastic surgery realm.
Technology is just tapping the surface on what it can do for
O&P, and Halvorson plans on being involved in this process.
Balancing Career and Life
Traveling extensively is a big part of Halvorson's life in her
position at Hanger. Making Seattle her home base allows her to keep
in touch with her family and friends. Time spent at home is
precious, given the amount of time she is away. Her mom, brother,
and sister all live in the area. The patience and understanding
displayed by long-time companion, Joseph Busch, eases Halvorson's
transition from life on the road to being at home.
Sanity is a valuable commodity in today's world. Living about a
mile from the Puget Sound allows Halvorson to spend lunch hours
running on the beach regaining her sanity. It's a time she allows
herself to clear her head, put the trials and tribulations of
everyday life aside, and reflect on her fortune, family, and
friends. Cooking and catering is a long-standing passion that has
led her to begin documenting personal recipes to create a cookbook
of favorites. Classical music, off-Broadway shows, skiing, and an
annual escape to Mexico all rank among things Halvorson relishes in
her downtime.
Balancing such a demanding career with day-to-day life would be
daunting for the average person. Halvorson makes it all seem like a
walk in the park. Spending the last year getting a good foothold on
her role at Hanger, getting to know everyone, and acquiring an
understanding of all the regimes involved has kept her on the
go.
Teaching is also something she insists will never go away for
her. She firmly believes that part of being a good educator is
being a good clinician. She'd like to get back into the patient
care side again, once the program at Hanger is more established. In
the meantime, you can rest assured that this leader in the O&P
industry will continue to excel at all she does. Taking her own
advice, Halvorson recommends, "Don't lose sight of why you got into
this field in the beginning: patient care. Ultimately we are in
this for the patients, and if we follow our values of clinical
excellence and unsurpassed patient care, our businesses will
flourish."
Continue to look outside the box for new opportunities to
advance O&P. Exciting times are ahead for this industry. Join
Kaia Halverson in being part of every moment. 
Table Of Contents - October 2004
|
|
