Quantum Rehab, the complex assistive technology division of Pride Mobility Products, has revised its supplier standards.

“We really wanted to ensure that Quantum Rehab products are provided in the manner that they were intended for,” said Ted Raquet, VP of domestic sales, in explaining why Quantum Rehab has strengthened its standards.

The revised standards now require that starting April 1, Quantum products be provided by “a supplier that employs a RESNA-certified assistive technology supplier (ATS) or a RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Practitioner (ATP) specializing in wheelchairs, who is directly involved in the wheelchair selection for the patient.” Said Cody Verrett, Quantum’s director of clinical education & development, “We thought that that was consistent with CMS’ (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) designation of upholding the RESNA ATS certification required for Group 2 single power (option) and above. And we felt like if that was the direction that CMS was going to go, that our standards should reflect that and have that in writing.”

Raquet pointed out that supplier standards have existed since Quantum’s 2002 launch, but “as time has evolved and the industry has been going through never-ending changes, we felt that we should enhance our supplier standards, make them more stringent.” In the process, Raquet says Quantum called upon clinicians and top rehab providers for their input regarding what they wanted the standards to include.

Those advisors, Raquet said, called upon Quantum to reaffirm its policy against selling rehab equipment online. “We’ve never allowed for the drop-shipment of complex rehab power chairs, or for complex rehab power chairs to be sold over the Internet,” Raquet said. “But when we were talking to providers and clinicians, those are two points they wanted us to stress much more heavily.” The revised standard states, “Quantum products may not be sold over the Internet.”

In addition, Verrett said Quantum’s standards reaffirm rehab’s service component: “We want to make sure that each individual rehab location is committed to and dedicating service personnel to service the Quantum equipment, and is also promoting continuing education for those service personnel as well.”

The standards are currently in effect except for the RESNA certification requirement, which begins April 1. All Quantum suppliers, current and future, will need to meet the standards, though Raquet said, “If an existing Quantum provider is showing in good faith that they’re working toward that certification, then there’ll be some leniency. Let’s say the exam’s not taking place in their area until April 15 or May 1…certainly, that would be taken into consideration, because they’re going through the process to comply.”

Says Verrett, “It’s absolutely a process of trying to make everyone compliant, but we don’t want to exclude anyone in good faith and making the efforts to get compliant.”

Verrett indicated that Quantum’s compliance and education departments can help suppliers working to meet the revised standards, and that Quantum has a traveling RESNA ATP/ATS prep course as well.
He also anticipates that Quantum suppliers who work to meet the newly revised standards will reap other benefits. “It comes down to the beneficiary,” he says. “We’re elevating the level of service to the consumer, as well as elevating the abilities of our providers through certification, through implementing a goal-oriented, client-centered outcome-measurement system. It’s intended to help elevate all our providers in a more well-rounded fashion for the provision of assistive technology.”
To view Quantum’s revised standards, visit www.quantumrehab.com/RTS/index.html.