Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/48253
■ Cindi Petito's OT and ATP experience provides a good background for hew new home modification business. See story page 24. Separate benefit bill gets champion .................. 1 Tobin to share user's perspective at CELA ............ 23 Dickerson honored for advocacy efforts ............. 23 NCART creates advocacy tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Mobility WWW.HMENEWS.COM / DECEMBER 2011 / HME NEWS 23 BRIEFS NRRTS makes 'Complex' book available on website WALSENBURG, Colo. – Mark Sullivan's ac- count detailing the benefits of complex re- hab is now available in book form. NRRTS sent "Complex" to its Directions subscrib- ers and is making the book available at nrrts.org, with prices varying depending on how many are purchased. "Complex" offers case studies of how complex rehab has helped individuals, as well as images of people in developing nations who were unable to receive proper seating and mo- bility. Sullivan, global vice president for the power wheelchair and seating categories at Invacare, also published his work earlier this fall in a free PDF format. NCART to launch Medicaid network BUFFALO, N.Y. – NCART Director Don Clay- back announced the launch of the NCART Medicaid CRT Network in October. The coalition is working to bring together a li- aison from each state to keep NCART in- formed about Medicaid issues throughout the country. Liaisons will input a one-page report into a national issues and activity database. NCART will then use the data to determine where to focus its efforts. Hoveround produces, premieres infomercial SARASOTA, Fla. – Hoveround announced in November the premiere of a 30-minute mo- bility product commercial. The commercial includes user testimonials, product infor- mation and Medicare's power chair ben- efit and coverage process. The company stated in a press release that it hoped the stories in the infomercial would inform more mobility-restricted people about the differ- ence its product could make in their lives. Pa. governor declares Assistive Technology Awareness Month HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett declared November 2011 As- sistive Technology Awareness Month. Cor- bett stated in the proclamation that Penn- sylvania is "a leader in the development and implementation of assistive technology pro- grams for its citizens with disabilities and older residents." Manual wheelchair users burn more calories KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A manual wheelchair user can burn up to 120 calories in half an hour at 2 mph on a flat surface—three times as many as a power wheelchair user, says an article published in the Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. Professor David Bas- sett, Jr., of the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sports Studies at the Uni- versity of Tennessee, Knoxville, calculated the calorie costs of different activities for manual wheelchair users. The article could help those developing exercise recommen- dations or power wheelchair users. Pilot proves its possible to track outcomes data BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor PITTSBURGH – They knew you could do it. A NRRTS and University of Pittsburgh pilot project has proved that complex rehab providers can collect and report data, announced Simon Margolis, execu- tive director of NRRTS, in October. "We wanted to see if they could all use the same tool to collect data in a consistent and mean- ingful way," Margolis said. Providers asked patients 10 satisfaction Simon Margolis questions as part of the Functional Mobil- ity Assessment (FMA). Patients either agreed or disagreed with statements about comfort, health, ease of tasks, mobility indoors and outdoors, and use of public and private transportation, among others. Providers then faxed the results to NRRTS, where the collected data was entered into a UPitt database. Data was collected from patients twice; once before new complex rehab technol- ogy was provided and then again after the patient had his or her new equipment. So far, 97 initial surveys and about half that many follow-up surveys have come in over the past few months. The pilot will continue for two more months in the hopes that more follow-up data will be collected. Mark Schmeler, a professor at UPitt's School of Health and Rehabilitation, said he saw "a very significant difference" in patient satisfaction between the first and second times patients took the surveys. "We all said it was true, that people do have better function with a properly fitted wheelchair—but now we're proving it," Schmeler said. That proof could go a long way toward making sure policy- makers understand the effectiveness of complex rehab. A larger sample size and data collected over time could prove the worth of items like seat elevators, which Medi- care currently doesn't cover because there's no statistical evidence they work. Both Margolis and Schmeler want to continue collecting data with the FMA— the issue now is how to make that happen. "We'll look around to see what kind of Mark Schmeler money is out there," said Margolis. "I expect that will go well, since both parties were extremely positive about the results." HME ATG Rehab donates boy's first mobility system ATG Rehab President and CEO Paul Bergantino presented a customized wheelchair to the grandparents of Edil Garcia Rivera of Puerto Rico. Rivera, 3, suffers from a seizure disorder called hypotonia and has cognitive disabilities, leaving him unable to walk. ATG Rehab custom built and donated the Quickie Iris tilt-in-space manual wheelchair, which the company designed to meet his needs as he grows. United Spinal leader to speak at CELA 2012 BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor NRRTS President Michele Gunn, left, poses with David T. Williams Advocacy Award winner Gerry Dickerson and NRRTS Executive Director Don Clayback after NRRTS's open meeting at Medtrade. Dickerson fights the good fight BY ELIZABETH DEPREY, Associate Editor KRESS, Texas – Gerry Dickerson, director of rehab for Medstar, has spent the past 20 years educat- ing other providers about gov- ernment policies and educating lawmakers about the industry. "We are a very small and essentially insignificant industry in the grand scheme of things," Dickerson said. "We're very easy to pick on." NRRTS and NCART recently recognized his efforts and chose him as the first-ever recipient of the David T. Williams Advocacy DICKERSON SEE PAGE 24 WASHINGTON – Paul Tobin is ready to share a new perspective with CRT providers: the user's. He'll get his chance at CELA 2012, set for April 17-19, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel-Crystal City, as keynote speaker. Tobin, president and CEO of United Spinal Association, recently told HME News why he thinks end users and providers need to work together. HME NEWS: What is the goal of United Spinal? Paul Tobin: Our mission is to improve the quality of life and independence of people with spinal cord injury and disorders. HME: How does CELA fit into Paul Tobin that goal? Tobin: For people who have mobility impairment, if you don't have access to the right piece of equipment, then you likely can't access other things that lie beyond the thresh- old of your home. If we have somebody that has their independence and quality of life com- promised because they don't have the right piece of equipment, that's where CELA fits in. It's probably the stron- gest singular opportunity for people in this community to be part of the discussion in the most meaningful setting. HME: What is your goal at CELA? Tobin: I look forward to the opportunity to work with KEYNOTE SEE PAGE 25