Care Center Spotlight: The Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Center
The Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Center care center (OFAC) was founded in 2006 by Dr. Steven K. Neufeld, based on a belief in providing specialized foot & ankle medical care. The practice started with 10 staff members at their South Arlington location. In 2010 the practice moved to its current location in Falls Church. Today the care center boasts three physicians, non-operative podiatrists, an orthopaedic fellow, three physical therapists, two athletic trainers, certified Pedorthists and two PA-Cs. All in, the care center numbers almost 50 team members strong and provides a host of foot and ankle services, many of which are unique not just within The Centers but also to the Maryland-DC-Virginia region.
The practice provides care for The Washington Ballet, The Redskins, and The Nationals. In order to maintain a cohesive culture Administrators Rick Griffin and Amy Walker shared that the team participates in various activities such as employee holiday events, team member engagement challenges, clinic challenges among the providers, and a various array of healthy competitive games to keep everyone motivated and engaged.
A Mission of Specialized Care
A practice-wide focus on one area of the body has allowed the team at OFAC to develop a deep knowledge and skill set surrounding foot and ankle care. Their offerings within are broad, consisting of surgical options and conservative in-office procedures. OFAC also treats certain conditions with various regenerative options such as Shock Wave, stem cell treatment, and PRP injections. Custom bracing and orthotics, as well as, orthopaedic footwear are all services patients can get through OFAC. In fact, the practice has in-office equipment and a certified Pedorthist that allows them to provide same day orthotics, a process that normally takes about two weeks! The practice is the only one in Virginia, Maryland and DC with a weight-baring CT scan machine.
The physicians at OFAC are experts in foot and ankle care. In addition to their time in practice and the OR, they use available resources to research, and teach. The practice is the only group in the region with an AOFAS accredited orthopaedic foot and ankle fellowship program; Physicians at OFAC hold assistant professorships at Georgetown University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Additionally they established the Institute for Foot and Ankle Advancement, a non-profit research organization designed to advance understanding and innovation in foot and ankle care.
The Value of The Centers
With a belief in specialized care that has fueled the OFAC mission over time, why join The Centers, a diverse group of orthopaedic practitioners across a broad range of subspecialties? Dr. Neufeld shared that a few years ago he could see the healthcare environment shifting. From delayed and unfavorable response from insurance companies regarding reimbursement, to increases in malpractice insurance, new physicians flocking to hospital systems for employment and specialty practices acquiring small groups. It is the very belief in specialized care that led Dr. Neufeld and the team to shape The Centers. By joining forces with other practices, the team at OFAC upholds their belief in specialized private practice. The Centers was a natural fit.