Gearing up for your first evaluation for mobility equipment or want to make the most of your next appointment with your Assistive Technology Professional (ATP)? Consider these tips to help you prepare

Be Ready to Communicate Your Mobility Goals 

As the Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) user, you need to be able to tell the story of what you want to accomplish — and that includes your personal and professional goals as well as how you like to spend your free time. If there’s something you want to be able to do or a particular mobility need you have, be prepared to talk to your ATP about that desire and why it’s important to you. The more clearly you or your caregiver can communicate that need or goal, the better. 

Be Able to Explain What’s Not Working

If something isn’t working quite right with your mobility equipment—from a faulty joystick or failing battery to a hard-to-maneuver manual chair—be prepared to communicate the problem in detail to your ATP. If you cannot communicate it yourself or don’t feel comfortable sharing about your personal circumstances, ask a caregiver or friend to accompany you and help you communicate your needs and desires. 

Review Your Insurance Coverage and Advocate for Yourself

As the insurance policy holder, you need to know and understand what your insurance provider covers and what it doesn’t as well as any documentation requirements they may have. By understanding what documentation is required to prove medical necessity or move the order forward, you can proactively advocate for yourself with your physician and therapy teams to help us obtain the necessary documents and forms. Once documentation has been submitted to your insurance provider, you can contact your provider to expedite your authorization. And—whether it’s your first evaluation or your 100th—be sure to bring your insurance card and other important information to the appointment. 

Do Your Research

Prior to your appointment or evaluation, take a look at the manufacturer’s website to learn more about what’s currently available and might fit your needs. While you may ultimately end up with a different mobility solution, having a solution in mind can help the ATP better understand what you want or need. Come to the appointment prepared to try out a new seating system or piece of equipment or to be assessed while operating the equipment or driving the chair. 

Ask Questions

Make a list of questions you want answered or information you need to understand during the appointment and go over it with your ATP. Ask to be educated on how your equipment works and what you can do to help maintain it and for documentation that supports these efforts. 

Seek to Understand the Process

Whether you’re ordering new equipment or getting a repair, understanding the nuances of the process can be helpful. Ask your ATP to explain the timeline or provide documentation that helps you better understand next steps. While you don’t need to be an expert on every detail, being familiar with the process can be helpful. 

Have more questions about NSM and mobility solutions? Check out these FAQs. 

The post How to Prepare for Your Mobility Equipment Assessment appeared first on NSM — National Seating & Mobility.

Most of the time, catastrophic equipment failures don’t just happen. There are usually signs your CRT equipment needs attention and recognizing them means you can get the appropriate service needed before significant damage is done. Let’s consider a few of the top signs your CRT equipment might be ready for a tune-up. 

1. It hasn’t been serviced in a while.

If it’s been more than a year since you had your CRT equipment evaluated, there’s a good chance it needs some attention. The level of wear and tear depends on your lifestyle, but daily use can result in loose bolts, casters that need to be cleaned and other adjustments that need to be made to your wheelchair on a regular basis.

2. Your chair is suddenly hard to maneuver.

Whether you use a manual or power chair, if it suddenly becomes difficult to push or maneuver, it’s time to set up an appointment with your equipment supplier to have it checked out. Resistance, stiffness or jerky motions in power or manual wheelchairs can all suggest issues that need to be taken care of sooner rather than later.

3. Your chair starts making a new or unusual noise.

Noticing a squeak, rattle, grinding, or clicking noise? These sounds could indicate loose components, dirty casters, or worn-out parts that need repair. A registered technician can diagnose the problem and recommend needed maintenance to keep your chair in working order.

4. Your chair’s battery isn’t holding its charge as long.

If you use a power chair and start to notice decreased battery life, it’s time for an evaluation. Over time, batteries lose their ability to hold a full charge, so this could indicate normal wear and tear, but could also point to a faulty charger, inadequate charging habits, electrical issues or other factors that affect battery life. Talking with a technician about your lifestyle and needs can help highlight specific causes and allows the technician to test the battery and electrical system to ensure everything works properly.

5. You notice visible wear and tear or feel extreme discomfort.

Because you use your CRT equipment on a daily basis, wear and tear is normal, but you need to keep an eye out for worn or deflated tires, dirty or worn casters or any changes to your equipment that cause discomfort or instability. If you notice loose bolts, squeaky wheels, or worn-out casters, contact your CRT provider and they can evaluate your chair to determine if anything needs to be replaced or repaired.

You’re the first to notice changes in your CRT equipment. If you detect any of these issues, set up an appointment with your wheelchair provider.

If you already work with National Seating & Mobility (NSM) or are looking for a new CRT provider, contact your local NSM branch to set up an appointment to evaluate your equipment. In some cases, a remote evaluation may be possible to help diagnose the problem. 

Click here to schedule an appointment with your local NSM Branch!

Take Action

Contact lawmakers to discuss the importance of preventive maintenance for CRT users. Simply share your story! 

Looking for a few small maintenance tasks you can perform to help extend the life of your chair? Read this article. 

While research has shown that preventive maintenance can play a vital role in preventing catastrophic failures, most insurance providers do not currently cover it. NSM and other industry advocates are supporting research and proposing legislation to make the case for preventive maintenance coverage, and several states are considering legislation that would provide coverage for preventive maintenance.

Follow advocacy organizations like NCART, iNRRTS, AAHomecare and other advocates to stay up-to-date about ongoing efforts and learn what is happening in your state.

The post 5 Signs Your Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) Equipment Might Need a Tune Up appeared first on NSM — National Seating & Mobility.