Össur announces Empowerx, new practice and workflow management.

On Sept. 23, Össur, a global leader in the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) industry with a rich history of ground-breaking clinical innovations, announced its new intuitive software EmpowerX.

The first fully automated, artificial intelligence-integrated Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics/Orthotics & Supplies (DMEPOS) practice and workflow management solution for U.S.-based orthopedic practices and hospital systems.

Designed to streamline workflows, reduce errors and enhance patient care, noted a company press release, EmpowerX enables clinicians to focus on delivering excellent patient care by automating product procurement and purchase order management, efficient inventory oversight and effortless dispensing of bracing and supports. Also, it seamlessly handles insurance verification, automatically conducts same-or-similar checks, and includes Medicare ABN requirements. EmpowerX by Össur is fully HIPAA-compliant and compatible with HL7 data sharing standards.

EmpowerX also provides Smart Inventory Management through real-time tracking and data analytics, automating reordering and forecasting demand while reducing waste and costs. Its speed and comprehensiveness are further enhanced with proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, a feature built leveraging Microsoft Azure AI.

“EmpowerX is an entirely new solution for orthopedic practices and hospital systems seeking to enhance their accuracy and efficiency, enabling them to maintain focus on patient care while successfully navigating the complex, challenging and evolving reimbursement environment,” said Mark Tymchenko, Össur’s VP of Bracing & Supports and Business Development.

According to Tymchenko, rather than opting to merely provide software updates to the company’s existing Empower platform, the team at Össur embraced the opportunity to create an entirely new solution from the ground up.

“After collecting extensive customer feedback and conducting field research to identify the greatest challenges and opportunities associated with in-office DME programs, we created an entirely new solution. EmpowerX represents an entirely new solution intended to revolutionize our industry and set a new pinnacle of performance,” he said.

EmpowerX offers solutions for addressing clinical operations and clinician burnout

EmpowerX helps free a practice’s staff to emphasize their clinical duties rather than administrative tasks, which have been widely cited by authorities ranging from the U.S. Surgeon General^[1] to the Ambulatory Surgical Center Association as a leading source of dissatisfaction and burnout among healthcare professionals. In addition, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine reported that specifically navigating electronic health records was among the most frequently-cited cause of healthcare worker frustration and burnout.^.[2]

Compared to standard bidirectional practice management systems, which often require manual workarounds and tedious data entry processes, EmpowerX features ConneX, an innovative three-point data solution designed to automate workflows by integrating EMR/EHR systems to reduce errors, provide greater flexibility and easier navigation than other existing systems.

Empower Xperts provide personalized support

EmpowerX customers also have extensive, personalized support and exclusive access to Empower Xperts, dedicated teams of professional subject matter experts who provide personalized consulting to help clients address their administrative, reimbursement, billing and inventory management challenges. Empower Xperts play a critical role in facilitating clients’ easy onboarding, and provide the critical expertise needed to optimize clinical operations, including hands-on support in the event of payor audits.

The Empower Xperts team has over five decades of practice management consulting experience; each practice has the support of a dedicated Empower Xpert account manager who is assigned to provide support and service on an ongoing basis. To date, the team has processed nearly 4 million orders and supported over 87,000 physicians in over 4,800 billing locations, collecting more than $350 million in reimbursements.

About Össur

Össur is a leading global provider of innovative prosthetics and bracing and supports that help people live a Life Without Limitations^®. A recognized technology pioneer, Össur focuses on improving people’s mobility through the delivery of solutions that advance patient care. Significant investment in research and development has led to over 2,100 patents and numerous award-winning designs, renowned for advancing the orthotic and prosthetic industry. Össur is part of Embla Medical (Nasdaq Copenhagen: EMBLA).

[1] https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/health-worker-burnout/index.html

[2] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26744.