SAO Business Services LLC is a business and program administration company focused on developing professionally managed certification and credentialing programs.
Our initial focus is the development of independent professional certifications for qualified providers serving individuals affected by lipedema, including Certified Lipedema Specialist™, Certified Lipedema Therapist™, and Certified Lipedema Surgeon™.
The goal is to build a credentialing system that is structured, transparent, and meaningful. Certification should represent more than completion of a course or the use of a professional title. It should be supported by clearly defined eligibility requirements, appropriate assessment, professional standards, ethical expectations, continuing certification, and a reliable way for the public to verify a credential.
About the Founder
SAO Business Services was founded by Susan O’Hara, PMP, AIPPM, ITMLE, a business, technology, and program leader with nearly three decades of experience managing complex initiatives and building systems, processes, and organizations.
Susan’s professional background includes:
- Project and program management
- Information technology leadership
- Product and business management
- Business operations and process improvement
- Organizational and nonprofit leadership
- Governance and policy development
- Stakeholder and vendor management
- Building structured programs from concept through implementation
Her role at SAO is to build and administer the certification infrastructure, rather than to serve as the clinical authority.
This includes developing the organizational framework for:
- Certification governance and policies
- Candidate eligibility and application processes
- Examination and assessment administration
- Credential issuance and verification
- Public certification registries
- Ethics, complaints, and appeals processes
- Continuing certification and renewal
- Quality management and operational oversight
Clinical Expertise and Certification Development
Healthcare certification requires expertise from the professionals who actually practice within the relevant disciplines.
For that reason, clinical standards, competency requirements, examination content, and other profession-specific requirements will be developed with qualified subject-matter experts in the appropriate medical and professional disciplines, supported by professionals experienced in credentialing, examination development, and assessment.
Susan’s responsibility is to bring those disciplines together within a structured certification system and ensure that the resulting programs can be administered consistently and professionally.
Our Direction
SAO Business Services is building toward a certification model in which:
- Professionals understand exactly what is required to earn and maintain a credential.
- Certification decisions are based on established requirements rather than subjective judgment.
- Credential holders are accountable to defined professional and ethical standards.
- Employers, patients, healthcare organizations, and the public have a reliable way to verify certification status.
- Certification programs continue to evolve as professional knowledge and standards develop.
SAO’s certification programs are currently in development. Additional information regarding eligibility, examinations, certification standards, governance, continuing certification, and program availability will be published as development progresses.