The TEAMS behind your Medical Equipment

Any time you want something done right, you need a team behind you.  Whether it is a medical procedure, a legal matter, or acquiring new equipment- you need a team to ensure that the job is done right.

Seating and Mobility Equipment can be intimidating, and the process painful and confusing.  A team with the knowledge and experience in this area is essential.  There are two teams, the one that helps you select and provide you with your equipment and the one that keeps it working for the equipment's useful life.

The initial team would consist of  you, your physician, a physical, occupational and possibly a speech therapist, your family, caregivers and the equipment supplier. Each of these individuals are crucial in providing information to ensure that the equipment fulfils your needs, and your goals.  You are responsible for helping the team what your goals/desires are for your future, what you need your equipment to do to keep up with your life demands.  Your physician will need to provide a history, and any goals/concerns that they have. The Physical and Occupational Therapist(s) bring information on body posture, functional capability, and expected prognosis.  These clinicians perform a functional assessment and are very involved with the equipment prescription. Your family and caregivers need to voice their concerns about function, equipment and accessibility issues. The supplier brings equipment knowledge and works directly with all involved to help recommend the most appropriate equipment based on all the information that is gathered.

This team works really hard to trial and document the equipment, which is sent to the insurance for consideration.  This team works with the insurance provider to provide any additional documentation that is needed to receive an approval. On delivery, the Equipment supplier works with the user, the clinicians, and the caregivers to adjust and optimally fit the equipment.

Once the equipment is used on a daily basis, the technical service department because the support team to help maintain, adjust and repair the equipment; until such time the equipment is worn out and needs to be replaced. 

In the event that the equipment no longer fits, or there is a change of condition, the user is referred back to the physician and clinical team to review the equipment and make any recommendations on changes needed.

This article was written by Carey J. Britton, ATP/SMS, CRTS at Active Mobility Center. Active Mobility Center is a Seating and Mobility Specialty company located in Pompano Beach, Florida. Carey can be reached at (954) 946-5793 or at cbritton@wheelchairguys.com .

Buying Locally is it Important?

As a consumer, we all wrestle with the decision on whether to make a purchase locally or from a catalog or from a website. Many times you can get a lower price from a catalog or website, but sometimes at a huge cost.

If you are in the market for a book, Amazon is the leader; not only because of the price, but because of the selection. It only takes a few times of going to a local book store and not finding what you are looking for and are told they can special order it for a premium; that you become an Amazon Fan.

There is a trend of people shopping on line for medical equipment. The reason many times, is that a local brick and motar company is more expensive than the catalog or on line company. As a consumer I understand that every dollar needs to go farther these days; but also understand that when buying equipment that needs service and support I need someone in my corner when there is an issue.

I receive regular phone calls from customers asking me to repair their equipment, to modify equipment that they bought on-line or to take their on-line equipment as a trade when they find out it doesn't work for them. 

Although the mission of Active Mobility Center is to help the community, we have had to make tough decisions on how to best service our customers. This is a trend in the Medical Equipment industry; as when a customer calls and asks us to put tires on their wheelchair that they purchased on line to save a few dollars, or wants us to consult them on how to fix, or modify a chair they purchased online cheaper that doesn't fit.  Most companies have adopted the policy that they didn't provide the equipment than they do not service it.

Not to sound uncaring, but the costs to operate a medical equipment company are tremendous. Like other brick and motor companies, there are the standard operating costs. Unlike many of these other companies, medical equipment companies have additional insurance, accreditation fees, yearly fees to work with Medicare, required continued education of staff, contstant retraining of staff to the changes in the industry and with insurance, and much more. 

To spend time with those customers who do not patronize the local provider takes valuable time and resources from the firm's loyal customers; and the key to keeping customers is ensuring their needs are met.

Your local medical equimpent company provides the valuable services of their knowledge, their experience, and their network.  This experience and available follow up service/support is what you pay extra for; and to ensure your local support will be there when you need it. Because they are local, they have to be the expert to keep people coming back, they need to have a network so when you have a question or problem, they can recommend a person or place to solve your issue.

Please contact Carey Britton at cbritton@wheelchairguys.com with any questions or comments, he can be reached at 954-946-5793.