How Illinois Orthopedic Network Embraces Low Code for Improved Data Management 

Managing medical data becomes increasingly complex as healthcare organizations grow, often placing new demands on their systems. For Illinois Orthopedic Network (ION) these challenges became evident with the rising demands of their patient base and operations.  

Co-Founder and CIO Trayce Hicks, drawing on her expertise in database management and a deep commitment to improving patient care, realized their existing tools could no longer keep up. Seeking a scalable and efficient solution, Hicks turned to low-code development to modernize their approach to data management. 

Here’s how ION transformed their processes with low code to better serve their patients and support their expanding network. 

A Commitment to Healing and Recovery  

Illinois Orthopedic Network (ION) is a Chicago-based orthopedic practice that focuses on workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. Since its founding in 2012, ION has grown to include more than 100 physicians dedicated to helping patients recover through modern diagnostics, personalized treatments and surgical procedures.  

Hicks, who co-founded the organization with her best friend in the medical field, has been pivotal to ION’s mission and operations. Prior to transitioning to the private sector, she spent 20 years at the U.S. Department of Labor, where she honed her expertise in database management — a skill that would later prove critical to ION’s success. 

Her connection to the work is deeply personal; after surviving a life-threatening accident in her 20s, she came to understand the critical role that accurate, accessible medical data plays in effective patient care and recovery.

“I was run over by my truck, almost killing me. That experience made me want to help others get back to life like I did,” she shares. “My role is to ensure our doctors, nurses and case managers have the data they need to provide the best care possible.”  

The Challenge: Outgrowing Their Legacy System  

As ION expanded its network, their outdated database struggled to keep pace with the organization’s increasingly complex needs. What once served as a functional system became a bottleneck in managing sensitive healthcare data. “We were using an Access database, but it just wasn’t enough,” Hicks explains. “We needed something more scalable and powerful to support our workflows”.  

This realization set Hicks on a search for a better solution.  

Hicks began exploring platforms that could handle the demands of a rapidly growing organization. After evaluating several options, she discovered Caspio — a low-code platform that quickly stood out as the ideal solution.  

“I had never heard of Caspio, but it checked every box,” she shares. “Other platforms came close, but I kept coming back to it.” With its affordability, built-in HIPAA compliance and ability to create tailored applications, Caspio offered the scalability and flexibility ION required to modernize its data infrastructure. “It allowed me to build exactly what we envisioned without being confined to out-of-the-box solutions,” she adds.  

Hicks delved deeper into her decision to adopt Caspio and the impact it’s had on ION in a recent episode of Caspio’s “Low Code/High Impact” podcast. Her story highlights the power of finding scalable, customizable tools to address complex data management challenges. 

Watch the full interview below or listen to the podcast episode on your favorite streaming platform.   

A Perfect Fit for Their Unique Needs  

Embracing low code through Caspio marked a major turning point for ION. Using the platform’s intuitive interface and visual development tools, Hicks was able to build custom solutions that directly addressed the organizations’ unique workflows.  

One of the biggest challenges ION solved was optimizing the delivery of medical data to users. The network works closely with attorneys, physicians and therapists — professionals who rely on timely, accurate data to aid in patient recovery or facilitate legal settlements. What was once a time-consuming process became fast and efficient. “The hardest thing for our partners is getting the right medical data, and we make it happen fast,” Hicks states.  

This also led to compliments from doctors, attorneys and nurse case managers, who emphasized how seamlessly the system worked for them. “They have all told us how much they appreciate the ease of getting medical data through our system. When someone stops in the middle of their day to thank you for what you’re doing, that makes your day,” she explains.  

Ensuring Security With Built-In HIPAA Compliance  

For an organization like ION, securing sensitive healthcare data is non-negotiable. Hicks’ extensive experience with HIPAA compliance, developed during her time at the U.S. Department of Labor, has played a key role in ensuring their data management processes meet rigorous standards.  

“I’ve been HIPAA-trained by the feds,” she says. “We want to ensure only those with a need and a right to access the data can do so.” Caspio’s built-in HIPAA compliance features provided ION with the tools to meet stringent security and regulatory requirements without creating additional complexity. These safeguards gave both ION and its partners peace of mind, knowing that patient data was protected at all times.  

However, protecting patient data requires more than compliance and demands constant vigilance. Aside from leveraging Caspio’s HIPAA compliance, Hicks also emphasized the importance of proactively protecting against potential security threats. “There are always people trying to break into systems. Our top priority is ensuring our patients’ information remains secure, no matter what,” Hicks explains. 

With Caspio’s robust security measures, ION can focus on delivering exceptional orthopedic care while maintaining its commitment to data privacy for their network.  

 The Keys to Long-Term Success  

In addition to addressing ION’s immediate needs, Caspio proved to be a scalable solution that adapts seamlessly to the organization’s evolving requirements. Hicks emphasized the importance of choosing a platform that supports growth, particularly as ION’s network of physicians and partners broadens. “The best thing about Caspio is it grows with us,” Hicks shares. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution but a flexible platform we can rely on as we scale.”  

The platform’s cost-efficiency been another significant advantage. Hicks noted that the HIPAA Edition’s inclusion of free data transfers was especially valuable for ION, given how frequently its partners download large volumes of information. “If we had to pay for those transfers, it would be unsustainable,” she explains. These savings have enabled ION to reinvest in other areas of its operations, further enhancing the care they provide to patients.

Hicks also describes the customer support as “second to none.” She recalls several instances where the Caspio support team went above and beyond to help resolve issues. “Whenever we run into a problem, they’re right there with a solution,” she adds. “They genuinely care about helping us succeed. It’s not just about fixing things; it’s about ensuring we’re getting the most out of the platform.”  

Looking Ahead: Embracing New Possibilities With Low Code  

ION’s success with Caspio has inspired Hicks to continue exploring the platform’s full potential. Now a Caspio Certified developer, she has gained deeper knowledge of the platform’s capabilities and is using that expertise to implement advanced features like Triggered Actions and automation for their solutions. “I love Caspio so much that I wanted to deepen my knowledge,” she shares. “It lets you achieve anything you can imagine.”  

If you’re ready to start your own low-code journey, the time to take that first step is now. Caspio offers the tools, flexibility and support to help you transform your business and drive meaningful change — just as it has for ION. 

Try Caspio free today and learn how you can scale your business with low code.