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
QUICKIE ACCESS
Knee pivot manual wheelchair adds benefits of tilt and recline
Sunrise Medical’s
QUICKIE ACCESS
is a knee pivot
manual wheelchair for independent
propelling that offers the benefits of tilt
and recline. Using a forward pivot location,
the chair provides low knee rise during tilt,
enabling easy foot propulsion and clearance
under tables for easier social engagement.
The ACCESS has adjustable tilt and recline,
providing alternative positions for pressure
management, meeting the recommended
angles of 25 degree
Sunrise Medical (US) LLC
QUICKIE Q200 R
Rear-wheel drive chair offers easily transportable, everyday performance
The QUICKIE Q200 R compact rear-wheel-drive power
wheelchair delivers top-tier traction, stability, and the
ability to climb three-inch curbs. The 23”
wide base provides great traction when
traveling up ramps, and oversized 9” front
casters offer better obstacle climbing than
typically seen in rear-wheel drive power
wheelchairs. Starting at just 216 lbs., the
Q200 R works with hoist and boom-style
vehicle lifts. With a fold-down back and
removable leg and arm supports, the
Q200 R will snugly fit in most SUVs or vans.
Seating options include both Rehab and
Captain-style seating systems.
Sunrise Medical (US) LLC
ZIPPIE Q300 M Mini
Chair brings pediatric power seating to Sunrise's most compact base
To give children the independence
to safely explore a wide variety of
environments, the ZIPPIE Q300 M Mini
features a patented, all-wheel independent
suspension; an ultra-narrow mid-wheel drive
base; a 17” turning radius; and a 17” seat-to-floor height. With optional C-Me seat
elevation, children can drive up to 3 MPH
while elevated up to 12”, without locking
out the suspension or needing to stop while
transitioning. Up to 50 degrees of power tilt,
with a wide range of JAY cushions and backs
and WHITMYER headrests are available to
address any seating needs.
Pride Mobility Products
Baja Wrangler 2 Scooter
Scooter packs in a variety of attention-getting features
The new Baja Wrangler 2 Scooter offers
various new features, including updated
suspension for a much smoother ride. A
steering dampener isolates the wheels from
the tiller to reduce vibrations in the hands
and arms. Other highlights include dual
drive off-road capabilities, speeds up to 11
miles per hour, independent traction and
torque, improved aesthetics, a 350-pound
weight capacity, 14.5-inch front and rear
tires, a strengthened heavy-duty seat post,
a full LED lighting package, an LCD console,
and a black vinyl memory foam high-back
seat with sliderse.
Sunrise Medical (US) LLC
ZIPPIE Sphynx
Transportable tilt wheelchair helps families that are always on the go
Sunrise Medical’s new
ZIPPIE Sphynx is a
compact, transportable
wheelchair with static
tilt and recline to
accommodate various
client needs. Designed
for busy families that
are always on the go, the Sphynx weighs 28 lbs. and can be easily
folded and lifted for portability. With available tilt angles of 10°, 20°,
or 30°, clinicians can select a seat position to accommodate weight
shift as needed to support optimal posture. The Sphynx back
support can be quickly adjusted from 85° to 100° recline to assist
with feeding, digestion, respiratory function, and visual orientation.
TeleHealth Clinical Evals
TeleHealth Clinical Evals
CRT patient evaluation services via HIPAA-compliant audio/video
TeleHealth Clinical Evals is a partner for
complex power and manual mobility
equipment patient evaluations. Its
team of licensed physicians and therapists provide face to face, PT/OT clinical mobility evaluations via HIPAA compliant audio/video
conferencing. All Telehealth Evaluations are payer compliant, convenient,
and efficient for patients in the home or a facility. All evaluations
come with the attestation of no financial relationship with the
provider. There is no cost to the provider for evaluations.
Invacare Corporation
AVIVA Storm RX
New chair developed with the customer experience in mind
The Invacare
AVIVA Storm RX
rear-wheel drive power wheelchair brings
new features to enhance the user, provider
and clinician experience. It is targeted for
users who travel outdoors but also need
maneuverability for indoors. Intuitive to
drive the chair offers an easy transition for
people that move from a manual to power
wheelchair. The compact base design
offers better maneuverability and SureGrip
suspension system helps increase traction
going over obstacles. Front caster bushings
decrease vibrations the user sees and thus
helps reduce fatigue, and the front casters
are moved outward to allow use of a center
mount front rigging to help improve the
comfort of the user.
ATLAS Clinical Evals Software ACES
ATLAS Clinical Eval Software ACES
Single platform for patient mobility evaluations and seamless referrals
ATLAS Clinical Eval Software (ACES)
increases E2D, revenue cycle, and annual revenues to the ATP and
provider. With ATLAS Clinical Eval Software (ACES), the ATP can
prepare the integrated patient mobility and home evaluations
within the software and refer it seamlessly to the therapist’s ACES
secured portal. The Therapist can use ACES for clinical mobility
evaluations that allows a mobility evaluation to be conducted in
person or remotely at the patient’s home. ACES manages the therapist’s
report and other necessary documentation that supports the
patient mobility equipment to insure it is complete and accurate.
Pride Mobility Products
Go-Go Endurance Li
Go-Go Endurance Li brings lithium-ion to Pride’s travel mobility range
The new Go-Go Endurance Li incorporates a standard,
airline-approved 8Ah battery pack, and offers a 16Ah MAXX
lithium battery option to enjoy longer range
per charge. Compared to sealed lead acid,
lithium-ion is 60 percent lighter, offers a
31 percent longer range and maintains
speed throughout the discharge cycle,
and 140 percent faster charging. It also can
be topped off and short charged without
impacting the useful life of the battery
and comes with a two-year warranty The
Endurance Li comes with two standard
compact, foldable seat options: 17 in. x 17
in. and 20 in. x18 in.
GF Health Products
Everest & Jennings PureTilt
Manual tilt wheelchair lets users readjust their posture throughout the day
The Everest & Jennings PureTilt has a user-or-caregiver-adjustable
tilt control to facilitate easy posture adjustment
throughout the day, vital for comfort
and pressure relief. PureTilt standard
features include an ergonomic, contoured,
adjustable-height back; ergonomic rear
handles; nonremovable padded, hinged
arms that swing up and back to facilitate
transfer; a nonremovable angle-adjustable,
length-adjustable padded hydraulic leg rest
with retractable footplate; padded height-adjustable
headrest; 6 in. front swivel
casters; 22 in. rear wheels; wheel locks; and
rear anti-tippers. The back tilts forward
for convenient storage and transport.
Maximum weight capacity is 300 lb, evenly
distributed.