Kim Stebbings

Anodyne Therapy LLC, Tampa, Fla, is the company behind the Anodyne Therapy System, an FDA-approved infrared medical device that helps increase circulation and decrease pain. Since 1994, nearly 5,000 facilities have used the Anodyne Therapy System. Rehab Management recently had the opportunity to ask Kim Stebbings, vice president of sales and marketing for Anodyne Therapy LLC, about how the system works and why patients continue to come back.

Q: Tell us about your company.

A: Anodyne Therapy LLC is the market leader in infrared photo energy therapy with more than 4,800 professional care sites and over 10,000 prescribing physicians. We provide a turnkey implementation and marketing package with each professional system and assist in generating referrals to our customers through our sales force and our referral service at www.anodynetherapy.com. As a result, Home Health Line mentioned Anodyne in the top six programs for generating home care referrals. In addition, we own a Medicare DME provider, which enables us to bill Medicare and private insurers for Anodyne Therapy Home Systems for patients.

Q: How does the Anodyne Therapy System work?

A: Anodyne Therapy emits monochromatic (890 nm), infrared photo energy (MIRE™), which penetrates approximately 5 cm into tissue. The light energy breaks the bond between hemoglobin in red blood cells and nitric oxide—a molecule that has been shown to be the body’s most powerful vasodilator and a mediator of all growth factors. Local release of this molecule by Anodyne Therapy generates an increase in circulation of up to 3,200% in just 20 minutes. In addition, nitric oxide is the mediator of the pain-relieving effect of morphine, so Anodyne has an analgesic effect as well.

Q: What makes this treatment unique?

A: Anodyne Therapy is the only research-based photo energy therapy with 15 published clinical studies on nearly 5,000 subjects with chronic, painful circulatory conditions—particularly in the extremities. In many cases, patients had failed multiple interventions prior to trying Anodyne Therapy, so it is particularly rewarding to clinicians to help patients with their pain and circulatory problems. The US Military, as well as many sports teams, also use Anodyne.

Q: What do you envision for the future of your industry?

A: The photo energy industry is on the verge of becoming a mainstream treatment in the rehab setting. This modality is now being added to the curriculum at many PT and podiatry schools and to textbooks. We believe this is in large part because of the clinical data published on Anodyne Therapy and the significant outcomes that are achieved daily in our facilities.

Q: What keeps your patients coming back?

A: Without a doubt, it is the clinical results they receive. Being able to sleep through the night and walk and exercise again gives patients independence and a quality of life they never thought possible. And patient satisfaction ultimately drives physician and word-of-mouth referrals.

—Morgan Saffari