Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/36987
24 Mobility RESNA creates wheelchair guide BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor ME ad final 6-21_Layout 1 7/6/11 3:13 PM Page 1 ARLINGTON, Va. – RESNA published a guide in June that describes, step- by-step, what is involved in pro- viding a wheelchair for a patient. “There were certain parts and pieces of this that existed in other places, but the basics of the provision process were nowhere,” said Lauren Rosen, head of the Wheeled Mobil- ity and Seating Special Interest Group for RESNA, the commit- tee that originated the paper. “It’s astounding that this didn’t exist.” RESNA brought together a group of experts, including PTs, OTs, physicians, ATPs, rehab engineers and manufactur- ing employees, to develop The Wheelchair Provision Guide. The guide describes the pro- WWW.HMENEWS.COM / AUGUST 2011 / HME NEWS ‘It’s astounding that this didn’t exist’ cess in its simplest form, accord- ing to lead writer Mary Shea, clinical manager of the wheel- chair clinic at the Kessler Insti- tute for Rehab in West Orange, N.J. “We made a lot of effort to make sure it was a guide and not a guideline,” said Shea. “(We Step Up to Joint Commission Accreditation wanted) to make sure that it was readable to all stakeholders.” Mark Schmeler, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Reha- bilitation, said creating provi- sion guides like this one is a step toward getting respect and acknowledgment. “Unless someone goes out and does a research study tomorrow that disproves our wheelchair guide, that sort of prevails as the gold standard,” said Schmeler, one of the paper’s authors. Schmeler said the guide can be used in policymaking, teach- ing and even litigation. Additionally, Rosen sees the guide as a possible step toward clinical practice guidelines, a foundation of many fields in PT and OT. Such guidelines help to ensure consumer protection and help to raise the standard of services provided, she said. HME ATG REHAB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Rehab comprises 13 branches in six mid-Atlantic states, serving more than 35 hospitals and reha- bilitation facilities. ATG Rehab plans to keep those employees there under the ATG Rehab name. Also staying on is Gary Gilberti, Chesapeake Rehab president and founder, who will become presi- dent of ATG Rehab’s new Mid- Atlantic region. “We’ve been talking for many years about putting the two orga- nizations together,” stated Gilberti in the release. “The time is now right for us to do so.” On June 9, ATG Rehab announced that it had acquired the complex rehab division of West- Med Rehab in Rapid City, S.D. “(WestMed’s) focus on provid- Free webinars make it convenient to learn how. Joint Commission accreditation has helped thousands of DME providers reach a new level of recognition in the markets they serve. Our customers tell us they select Joint Commission accreditation not only because we’re the most widely recognized throughout the industry but also because of the many helpful support services we provide to make their accreditation experience a productive and positive one. Take your company to new heights in quality, service and recognition. Join us at a free upcoming webinar to learn how you too can make the transition to Joint Commission accreditation! Learn how to get started and practical preparation tips from our experienced team. Register for an upcoming session today! Visit www.jointcommission.org/freeDMEwebinarSept ing great local service and superi- or expertise in the area of assistive technology was already in place, so it was a great match,” said Cody Verrett, vice president of sales and marketing. The acquisition will bring the rehab division under the ATG Rehab name, leaving WestMed’s other HME operations intact. “Westmed realized that, with the declining resources in the industry, it makes sense to focus on a smaller operation,” said Tim Pederson, one of Westmed’s founders. This makes four buys this year for ATG Rehab, which announced in January that Audax Private Equity was its new majority inves- tor. “I think that it has gone really smoothly because we’re consis- tently making decisions where it makes really good business sense,” Verrett said. HME