In the mobility industry, we are all
charged with trying to find solutions
for some of life’s most basic needs:
mobility and independence. Regardless
of whether we are manufacturers, clinicians
or providers, we all must put the
needs of chair riders first.
It is easy to get distracted from that
basic goal — after all, we work in a
complicated world of reimbursement and
profit margins.
Although we face challenges imposed
by the noisy regulatory environment at
the state and federal levels, the goal
in the world of mobility seems quite
similar to that of other consumer products:
We are tasked with developing
innovative solutions to serve a specific
need. My past work experience is in the
consumer products and retail industries,
connecting end-users with products,
services or solutions that offer a needed
benefit. Now I get to pursue my personal
passion of marketing and developing
products that serve a specific purpose.
That purpose in this case happens to be
an individual’s ability to be mobile. In the spectrum of needs (and not
to mention Maslow’s hierarchy), this one is pretty basic and essential.
So now instead of end-users, I think in terms of riders and how to
develop and market products in the complicated landscape of reimbursement
in the United States.
Creating a Rider-centric Model
Mobility is no different than consumer electronics or fast-moving
consumer goods — the consumer (or in this case, rider) is always king.
Products and services should be designed with the same end goal in
mind. That goes for everyone from the engineering and marketing
departments at manufacturers like Invacare to the ATPs or RTS’s at the
provider’s facilities. We should all be working towards making sure
that every single solution designed, manufactured, ordered and delivered
gives the rider the maximum level of independence, comfort and
mobility that can be achieved.
From a manufacturer’s perspective, that means designing, manufacturing
and marketing innovative manual wheelchairs that have a long list
of required attributes. A chair should be easy to use, easy to service and
hold up to the rigors of everyday use. I can’t forget that a chair should
also look good. This is key. A wheelchair is an extension of one’s body,
an orthosis, so aesthetics should not be forgotten. It also needs to be
sold at a price that is affordable for both the provider and the consumer.
Finally, it needs to be reimbursable. There are often attributes listed
above that get left out when a chair is designed and sold.
Providers should be focused on making sure the equipment selection
meets the needs identified by a clinician, as well as the rider
themselves. Whether it’s a first-time rider or someone’s fourth chair,
measurements and component choices should be driven by what will
make the rider the most comfortable and most efficient in their chair.
The perfect chair fit is not just about the measurements (although
those are important) — it has to do with selecting the best product for
a particular situation and making the right component choices.
Personal Journeys
Prior to joining Invacare, the industry surrounding mobility products
was relatively foreign to me. My only exposure was through my immediate
family.
About 10 years ago, my father suffered a series of debilitating
strokes, and I learned the differences among OT, PT and ST while stumbling
with my mother and siblings through my father’s recovery and
rehab experiences. I have visited facilities and providers all over the
country since I started in my position and am alarmed at how often
something has to be sacrificed to get equipment for a rider — like
selecting a model based on what will be covered by the patient’s insurance
or because of the familiarity of the order form.
Chair selection is often limited by insurance, but that is nothing new.
This is why it is critical to offer a range of mobility solutions at a range
of price points. With material technology and the benefits of economies
of scale, it is possible to develop lower-cost solutions that still offer the
configurability and range of options required for an individual’s needs.
At Invacare and Top End, we have been working this year to expand
our custom manual offering so that we have more products in different
niches, at both the high and low ends of the price spectrum.
About six months ago, I had a chance to meet a young woman,
Molly, in Tampa, Fla., who was injured about 18 months before in a car
accident. A single mother of two young children, Molly’s energy and
her determination to, as she put it, “move on with her life” struck me.
But I was alarmed when I learned because of insurance or lack thereof,
she was still using a loaner chair and still had no permanent chair.
I couldn’t even imagine what it would feel like to be in her situation.
As a quadriplegic, she was sitting in a chair that was 2" too wide
and had virtually no seat slope. She could barely reach the wheels, let
alone propel them. After spending some time figuring out what type of
chair she needed and how she could get one, she is finally getting her
own chair: a chair that fits her, and one that she will actually be able to
propel. I am amazed at the things I have learned so far about the many
facets of mobility, but I am even more astonished by how a story like
Molly’s has affected me.
This is what this industry is all about — helping people get back to
living normal and independent lives. Life doesn’t stop just because you
are sitting down.