Tag: Mark Schmeler

PITTSBURGH – Hybrid events are increasingly more common, but the 38th International Seating Symposium will take place exclusively in-person on April 13-15 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.  “We’re focusing on making this a really good in-person event,” said Mark Schmeler, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, associate professor and vice chair for educating and training in the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. “We’re...

PITTSBURGH – A new study showing the functional mobility, employment and safety benefits of seat elevation devices is a good example of how large data sets can be used to, hopefully, guide policy and practice, says Mark Schmeler.  The study, published online in Assistive Technology, the official journal of RESNA, in October, pulled findings from the Functional Mobility Assessment tool, which now has more than 13,000 data points.   “This is the first example our industry...

PITTSBURGH – Organizers have moved the International Seating Symposium from October to January, in large part, to make sure clinicians are free to help with COVID-19 patients who are in recovery, says Mark Schmeler.  “We are all, as clinicians, busy taking care of people,” said Schmeler, an associate professor in the Rehabilitation Science and Technology Department at the University of Pittsburgh, which is organizing the event. “You see on the news that ICU beds are...

PITTSBURGH – How might the exploding use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic change the provision of complex rehab technology forever? Dr. Brad Dicianno and Mark Schmeler offer their takes.  Shift workflow  While some stakeholders are quick to point out that telehealth isn’t appropriate in every case, Dicianno and Schmeler say they’re not so sure, at least on a certain level.  “Brad...

PITTSBURGH – Two recent studies help to back up claims that using telehealth to provide complex rehab technology is equally as effective and, in many cases, patient preferred.  The first study, published in the International Journal of Rehabilitation, found that pre- and post-scores on the Functional Mobility Assessment questionnaire were similar for two groups receiving complex rehab wheelchairs: veterans with disabilities...

PITTSBURGH – Telehealth can be effective in providing complex rehab technology, including custom-designed and custom-fitted manual and power wheelchairs, to veterans, according to two recent studies published in the International Journal of Telerehabilitation. The first study involved a cohort of veterans with disabilities who were assessed by a therapist through telehealth in their home for CRT and then compared to a matched sample of non-veterans who were assessed through traditional in-person...

PITTSBURGH - More than anything, the University of Pittsburgh's new Master of Rehabilitation Technology program will help to raise awareness among young professionals that specializing in assistive technology is a valid profession, says Mark Schmeler. So far, the department has received MRT applications from 10 students, mostly with engineering or pre-health science degrees, with a goal of up to 20 for the first year of the program. “There's a lot of potential workforce talent out there that...

WASHINGTON - The complex rehab industry needs to make the most of CMS's decision to expand telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic, says Mark Schmeler.The agency announced in late April that it would begin allowing occupational therapists and physical therapists to provide telehealth services—a big win for therapists who specialize in seating and mobility, and who are trying to continue serving patients remotely.“We don't want this taken away (after the pandemic),” said...

PITTSBURGH - The theme for the 35th International Seating Symposium in Pittsburgh is “Bridging the gap between data and value.” “Five years ago, people looked at me like I had two heads when I talked about data and outcome measures in this field,” said Mark Schmeler, an associate professor and vice chairman of education and training in the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh, and director of ISS. “Now all you have to do is...

ARLINGTON, Va. - More than a year after U.S. Rehab launched the Functional Mobility Assessment tool to a select group of its members, the results are in—sort of.“We're seeing a trend, but it's not statistically significant,” said Mark Schmeler, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, atthe RESNA/NCART 2016 Conference in Arlington, Va., in July.Developed over the past 15 years by Schmeler and Margo Holm, also a professor at UPitt's...