The Orthopaedic Section chose The AVS Group as a partner to complete two design revisions of their Web site. The first Web site redesign offered an improved information architecture and navigation with a more professional look and feel. The Orthopaedic Section Web site offered more interactivity for members with the addition of member surveys, a “members only” bulletin board, and the ability to register for, and make online purchases of, home study courses and off-site programs.

The subsequent Web site redesign for Orthopaedic Section featured a new graphical look and information architecture with quick links for the most commonly accessed pages. It also offered added interactivity with the addition of online courses. The Orthopaedic Section has five subsections beneath its umbrella that have their own areas within the Web site. These subsection sites also became more visitor-friendly with the addition of menus applicable to each area, along with additional information available to visitors. Feedback from subsection members has been extremely positive.

• Increased Orthopaedic Section Web site traffic (before the first Web site redesign, the site was receiving approximately 1,000 user sessions per month. Following the redesign, the Orthopaedic Section Web site had 14,400 user sessions).
• Reduced mailing and printing costs by publishing newsletter and other literature electronically.
• Maintained consistency for ease of site maintenance (using server-side includes).
• By posting more and more information to the site, staff productivity improved by decreasing numbers of phone calls. Orthopaedic Section staff are now able to direct members to the Web site to get the information they need, thus allowing them to focus on other responsibilities.
• Increased home study course registrations. It is easier for foreign therapists to register for courses via the Internet versus registering through the mail or phone, due to problems with differing time zones and language barriers.

Some of the longer-term benefits included:

• Revenue-generating opportunity through sale of ads in online OP newsletter.
• Online courses—members can take courses online, along with online assessment (quizzes and tests), interfaces with membership database for administration of adding and tracking user members.
• There is a possibility that the Orthopaedic Section will no longer provide their magazine in hard-copy format. Instead, the Orthopaedic Section may go to posting the magazine exclusively online, therefore saving thousands of dollars in printing and postage.

“Contracting with The AVS Group to take over our Web site design was the best move we ever made. The individuals whom we have worked with over the last three years have proven to be extremely professional, insightful, creative and easily accessible. They continually provide suggestions that benefit the site and our site visitors. I highly recommend The AVS Group to any individual or company that is looking to create a new Web site or update their current one. The customer will not be disappointed!”

Tara Fredrickson
Executive Associate, Orthopaedic Section

The Orthopaedic Section is a component of the American Physical Therapy Association, which consists of approximately 13,300 physical therapists, students, and physical therapist assistants, who are interested in orthopaedic problems treated by physical therapy.

The Orthopaedic Section provides a means by which members having a common interest in orthopaedic physical therapy can meet, confer, and promote patient care through education, practice, and research. Orthopaedic physical therapy endeavors to promote optimal human health and function.