Mobility

The Clinician Task Force has released final versions of a decision tree and a clinical paper on using telehealth for the provision of complex rehab technology. Both the decision tree and paper will be distributed through the CTF and NCART.  “The decision tree, we are hoping that people can use it as a standalone reference,” said Cara Masselink, the executive director of the CTF, during a recent CRT industry webinar, “but also with the paper, which describes a whole lot...

WATERLOO, Iowa – U.S. Rehab has posted a white paper called “Telehealth for Complex Rehab: Is it Effective?” to its website.  “Telehealth has been a great tool for complex rehab technology professionals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Greg Packer, president of U.S. Rehab. “But what we have seen is that telehealth should be available to use outside of the public health emergency.”  U.S. Rehab notes that studies have indicated that...

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...

BALTIMORE – Erin Michael and Meredith Linden, both physical therapists, envision a hybrid model for evaluating patients for complex rehab technology post-pandemic that melds the best of in-clinic and remote visits.  Here’s what Michael, PT, DPT, ATP/SMS, manager of patient advocacy and special programs at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, and Linden, PT, DPT, ATP/SMS, a clinical...

HARTFORD, Conn. – Lifeway Mobility has invested in Gamburd, a Los Angeles-based provider of accessibility solutions for people with limited mobility.  Israel Gamburd, the company’s founder, together with his wife, Regina, will continue in their current roles.  “Israel is a true accessibility pioneer,” said Paul Bergantino, president of Lifeway Mobility. “The Gamburd team has extraordinary technical expertise and a tireless determination...

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The passion that drove Dr. Cara Masselink to pursue a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary health sciences is the same passion that will drive her leadership of the Clinician Task Force, she says. “After I was in a management position for a while, I was advocating for individual people and their needs a lot, and I wanted to make a greater impact,” said Masselink, as assistant professor in the occupational therapy program at Western Michigan...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Mike Barner says if Simon Margolis were still around, he’d be pleased with the complex rehab industry’s continued development but “challenged” that there’s still no separate benefit.  “That’s such a big haul and we’ve had some major interruptions related to the fall out of competitive bidding that we’ve had to address immediately,” said Barner, who was named a Simon...

LUBBOCK, Texas – NRRTS has seen strong interest from providers in Canada for its registered rehabilitation technology supplier (RRTS) designation, with the organization receiving about 80 applications in less than two months.  NRRTS announced in October that it was offering the designation to providers in Canada and then in December that it was partnering with the Canadian Assistive Devices Association to promote it there.   “When...

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Numotion has acquired Wheeler’s Medical Supply, a Jacksonville, Fla.-based provider of intermittent catheters and incontinence supplies.  The acquisition expands Numotion’s existing medical supplies business, which provides catheters, incontinence, ostomy and advanced wound care products.  “Growing Numotion’s medical supplies offering with the addition of the Wheeler’s team enables Numotion to...