Hand-fitted to last

ULTIMATE PRECISION: Joshua R. James, owner of South County Artificial Limb & Brace Co., works on a right-ankle foot orthosis. James admits to being a perfectionist in his trade, which he says requires the utmost precision. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
ULTIMATE PRECISION: Joshua R. James, owner of South County Artificial Limb & Brace Co., works on a right-ankle foot orthosis. James admits to being a perfectionist in his trade, which he says requires the utmost precision. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Precision is paramount at South County Artificial Limb & Brace Co., a South Kingstown-based firm that provides custom design and fabrication of orthotics and prosthetics.

Joshua R. James, clinical director, is the second-generation owner of the company, and he says the high level of focus on detail is a trait he learned from his father, Robert C. James. James’ father founded the company with his mother, Lois A. James, in 1976.

“I’m a perfectionist,” Joshua James quipped. “As much as it might drive my office staff and wife crazy, it’s the only way I can do it.”

A family-run business, South County Artificial Limb’s tagline is to treat patients like family. Prosthetics, James says, is a study of tradition, which differs depending on the company. James, for instance, favors elevated vacuum prosthetics, which is a three-part casting process that takes a little longer, but – again – must be done with the utmost precision or it won’t work.

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“In today’s day and age there’s a lot more science behind it,” he said. “But as long as you’re willing to learn the science, you can put your own twist on it.”

South County Artificial Limb patients are predominantly from Rhode Island and neighboring states, although some travel from New York and Vermont. About half of the patients are also veterans, including a number of people who served in the Vietnam War and two veterans from World War II.

The business receives referrals from the Providence VA Medical Center, as well as from individual surgeons and podiatrists at Newport Hospital and Kent Hospital, James said. Other Rhode Island patients receive care at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Maryland, before being discharged back home and seeking out James as a lifetime prosthetics and orthotics professional.

Recently, James added, he’s begun serving veterans of more recent combat.

“We’re seeing more and more from Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.

The company has grown since its founding to include two satellite offices, in Woonsocket and Plainfield, Conn. A third satellite was opened in Pawcatuck, Conn., but James shut it down after he found himself spread too thin.

“I didn’t want to lose touch with my patients,” he said.

He’s planning to expand his staff, presently comprising five employees, at which point he says he’ll consider reopening the additional location. He’s also looking into 3-D printing, which has been lauded at national trade conventions. Although, he added, no matter what technology comes down the pipeline, knowing how to customize orthotics and prosthetics by hand will always be a part of his approach.

“That’s something my father instilled in me,” James said. •

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