Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/59015
26 Mobility BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor RECENT ONLINE discus- sion about a wheelchair user's accident raised the question: who should be respon- sible for patient safety? The doc- A AIN INSTANTLY STRAINS SPRAINS tor, manufacturer, provider or patient—or a combination of any and all of the above? Here's what providers told HME News they were doing to ensure their patients' safety. Side note: Safety items can also present an oppor- SORE MUSCLES JOINT PAIN STRAINS ARTHRITIS tunity for mobility providers to offer more cash products. IN THE HOME When doing a home safety assess- ment, provider Scott Soderquist keeps an eye out for potential hazards. "We look for electric SPRAINS JOINT PAIN WWW.HMENEWS.COM / APRIL 2012 / HME NEWS Providers address key safety issues REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK cords, throw rugs and things like that," said Soderquist, president of Rehab Equipment Associates in Manchester, N.H. "If there's an issue with thresholds or some- thing else that requires modifica- tion, we address it with them." ARTHRITIS FREEZES PAIN INSTANTLY SORE MUSCLES FREEZES PAIN INSTANTLY STRAINS THE BEST PORTABLE PAIN RELIEF 1. CRYSTAL CLEAR 2. QUICK VANISHING SCENT 3. PRICED LESS THAN BIOFREEZE® 4. EASY TO ORDER Certain modifications, like bath safety items or ramps, are things patients might not think of until arriving home with a new wheel- chair, he said. ON THE ROAD The belts used to position users in wheelchairs are not designed to act like seatbelts in a motor vehicle, says Michelle McMahon, president of Cheyenne, Wy.-based Frontier Access & Mobility. She encourages her patients to con- sider products that are crash test- ed and designed to safely strap a wheelchair into a vehicle. "There's still a tremendous amount of edu- cation that needs to happen with that," said McMahon. OUT AND ABOUT Items like reflectors, lights and flags are meant to increase a wheelchair user's visibility when they're out on sidewalks and crosswalks. "A lot of people don't know it's available until we offer it to them," said Mort Copeland, COO of Charlotte, N.C.-based Chair & Equipment Rental & Sales. Still, some users won't purchase these items, he said. "They've never had them and they don't feel like they need them," he said. "If this isn't the first time they're getting a wheelchair, they feel comfortable with what they had before." HME RESNA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 Nepomuceno does plan to increase marketing efforts for the year-old SMS exam, but he says he's happy with that creden- tial's progress so far. "I think in terms of its perfor- mance in being a new credential or certification, it's performing like we would expect," he said. "You have the early adopters and then more people will come into the program as time goes on." Nepomuceno comes to RESNA with seven years of experience in developing, man- aging and delivering certifica- tion programs. Although his last job was in the construction industry, he said his work at RESNA is very similar. "The processes are the same in terms of developing tests and publishing exams," he said. "What's different is the content area, and that's not my domain." Credentialing is important in a field where public safety is a major factor, said Nepomuceno. It assures the public that the Do your patients need deep penetrating, fast relief for muscle aches and joint pain, back aches or minor arthritis? Fast Freeze is a potent analgesic with pinpoint control. Your patients can use it virtually anywhere they can rub and take it on the go anywhere. A more diverse and cost effective alternative to Biofreeze®. A better product at a lower price. ©2012 Dr. Comfort All Rights Reserved CALL AND MAKE THE SWITCH TODAY! 877.352.7833 drcomfort.com MEDTRADE BOOTH 834 professionals with those cre- dentials have a certain level of knowledge, he said. "The credential offers a bench- mark for performance," he said. "Having a vehicle for customers to know that certain providers have met this benchmark for quality is something that offers value to people." HME SPRAINS SORE MUS JO