Mobility
The mobility products can be tricky to navigate as the industry seems to be split into two worlds: funded and retail. Luckily, for HME providers this can lead consumers to their stores in more ways than one.
The global wheelchair market is expected to reach $6.1 billion in 2022, according to market research and consulting firm Lucintel, because of a growing elderly population, increased spinal cord injuries and continuing wheelchair needs from other mobility patient groups. Lucintel predicts that power chairs will see the most of the growth, which is great for providers as standard power scooters and chairs are sold easily in their stores.
Medicare makes the process of funding mobility difficult and lengthy leading some consumers to fund their own independence. For instance, geriatric patients have largely accepted the fact Medicare won’t pay for mobility products beyond bottom-rung options, which means they are more willing to pay out of pocket for what they want, sometimes with the help of their family.
At the same time, CRT patient needs continue to grow and are require highly specified solutions. Manufacturers in that segment of the mobility market continues to expand in terms of the types of products that they offer to serve the needs of pediatric to adult patients.
Ultimately, this means that providers looking to sustain and hopefully grow their funded and cash revenues must stock a broad variety of mobility devices, as well as accessories for users who might need to enhance their funded or cash product. Display multiple chairs around your store so that you can easily provide comparisons for customers. Above all, train your staff to be knowledgeable experts on all the products offered.
Let’s take a look at some of the most recent items on the market:
Sunrise Medical (US) LLC
ZIPPIE Voyage
Lightweight stroller launched with more options for child seating and positioning
With the launch of the updated ZIPPIE Voyage
lightweight stroller, Sunrise Medical has added
more options to support growing children and
their caregivers. The Voyage offers adjustable
components to create a seating system customized
to the child, accommodating a wide variety
of ventilators and functional accessories like
utility hooks, an O2 cylinder holder and a rear
accessory platform. An enhanced folding mechanism
is simple for parents, and a new stroller
handle is angle and height adjustable to accommodate
caregiver heights and preferences.
Numotion
Gyroset Glory and Gyroset Vigo devices
Bluetooth headset, now offered through Numotion, turns head into virtual joystick
As part of a new partnership, Numotion – the country’s
largest complex rehab technology provider
– will become the first U.S. distributor for NOW
Technologies’ full line of next generation power wheelchair
control systems. The Budapest-based NOW Tech
offers products utilizing Bluetooth and gyroscopes that
create smooth, intuitive proportional head control. The
Gyroset Glory and Gyroset Vigo devices resemble a
mobile phone headset that turns the user’s head into
a virtual joystick. Other companion products create
streamlined controls for chair tilt and recline.
GF Health Products
Lumex Knee Walker
Knee walker provides comfortable option for patients healing from foot injuries
Ideal for patients recovering from foot surgery,
Achilles injuries and foot breaks or sprains,
the new Lumex Knee Walker can be a more
comfortable alternative to crutches and help
patients still carry out an active lifestyle. The
walker comes with a built-in shock absorber
designed to provide a smoother ride as well as
a contoured, padded polyurethane knee pad
for maximum comfort. Patients can use the
product in indoor or outside environments and
use the adjustable handle and knee pad to accommodate their specific height.
Inspired by Drive
Miko Tilt in Space Mobility Base
Lightweight mobility base gives pressure relief, easy transport for child
Designed to grow with the child, the new
Miko Tilt-in-Space Mobility Base features a
tilt-in-space wheelbase and fully reversible
Flexi seating system. The chair offers pressure
relief by redistributing the pressure of the
child’s back and shifting it away from posterior
locations. The Quick-Lok seating interface
allows the seat to be adjusted from a forward
to rear-facing position, while the lightweight
frame folds for quick and easy transport. The
Miko with Flexi comes with a rear wheel lock,
under-seat carrier and fold-away canopy.
GF Health Products
Traveler SE Plus
Foldable wheelchair makes transportation and seat elevation easier
With the addition of the Traveler SE Plus to its standard Everest & Jennings wheelchair line, GF
Health Products is introducing an
effective combination of a standard
wheelchair for transportation
with adjustable seat height.
The chair is easily foldable and
comes with tool-free swingaway
footrests or swingaway elevating
legrests. A carbon steel frame
with hammertone finish provides
strength and durability for the
patient. In addition, the TSE Plus
has a two-position axle and caster
fork that provides two inches of seat height adjustment.
GF Health Products
Wheelchair Positioning Tray
Easy-to-clean wheelchair tray designed for relaxation
Ideal for eating, reading and writing while
seating in a wheelchair or resting in bed,
the new Wheelchair Positioning Tray by
GF Health Products has an ergonomic
design with contoured cutout and a
comfortable beanbag-style base. The
tray is easy to clean and includes
depressions to place cups or
bottles. A convenient carry
handle is attached to the tray,
which also comes with a washable
nylon cover, which provides
a zippered small pocket on top and a side pocket.
Pride Mobility Products
Zero Turn 10 Scooter
Full-size four-wheel scooter provides navigation in tight spaces and around corners
The Zero Turn 10 Scooter is a full-size four-wheel
scooter with a three-wheel turning radius. Featuring
patent-pending iTurn Technology, the Zero Turn
10 provides navigation in small spaces and around
corners. Other highlights include Comfort-Trac
Suspension; indoor/outdoor use with high traction
including on gravel, trails, and grass; a full LED
lighting package with sequential
turn signals; an integrated
cupholder in the tiller; a puddle light; a USB
charging port; and a 400 lbs. weight capacity.
Pride Mobility Products
iRide Scooter
Full-size, four-wheel scooter provides navigation in tight spaces and around corners
The iRide Scooter by Pride Mobility features a height-adjustable,
removable seat with a foldable tiller; a lithium-ion
battery pack; an easy-to-grip tiller adjustment
knob; a twist-grip throttle; an on/off switch; and
a digital LCD display. Specifications include
a 250-lb. weight capacity; speeds of up to
3.7 mph; a turning radius of 33.5 inches; a
length of 38 inches; a width of 19 inches—20
inches; and a base weight of 32.2 lbs. when
disassembled.
Sunrise Medical (US) LLC
QUICKIE Q700-UP M
Standing wheelchair allows users to stand at up to 77 degrees
Combining its Q700 M mid-wheel drive base and
SEDEO ERGO seating system, Sunrise Medical has
launched its QUICKIE Q700-UP M standing wheelchair.
The chair enables patients to experience the positive
health benefits of standing, including maintenance of
vital organ capacity and the potential to avoid pressure
sores. The Q700 chair comes with Sunrise’s new biomechanical
standing seating system that can stand at up
to 77 degrees. Users can take advantage of up to six
programmable memory positions.
GF Health Products
Everest & Jennings Advantage Wheelchair
Low-maintenance wheelchair provides strength and durability
GF Health’s Everest & Jennings Advantage Wheelchair provides
comfort and durability at an
affordable price. Designed as
a low maintenance wheelchair,
it offers an attractive silver vein
durable hammertone steel
finish. The chair is available in 16,
18 and 20-inch seat widths, all
of which include black padded
nylon and vinyl upholstery available
with standard chart pocket.
The chair’s carbon steel frame
provides strength and durability. The wheelchair can come with swing-away footrests
or an elevating legrest.