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CAVEAT EMPTOR |
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| Both consumers and funding agents should take note. In this age of competitive bidding anyone can deliver a cheaper, faster product by simply undercutting his or her competitors. I’ve even seen quotes prepared via a home visit by one vendor only to be under priced by another vendor who has never met or spoken to the consumer. This is a method of cost containment that is solely at the consumer’s expense because the only skill demonstrated by the winning vendor is his or her ability to trim pricing. However, lets be clear, in custom seating it takes a highly skilled and incisive group of people to deliver a viable and successful outcome. When a consumer is evaluated for their seating and mobility needs the entire process typically begins through the observation that either: the current equipment is not fulfilling a particular purpose, the equipment has simply aged and can no longer be serviced or (in the case of a newly acquired disability) the consumer now requires specific Rehab equipment to achieve mobility. There are thousands of dealerships and pharmacies throughout the country from whom a wheelchair can be purchased. However, if your needs fall under the category of Custom Rehab Equipment then those choices become very narrowed. You must have a Rehab Equipment Specialist and a medical specialist (therapist), with custom seating/mobility experience, involved in that process. Being skilled enough to fill out an order form and sell equipment just isn’t enough these days. Successful, complex seating/mobility designs are about much more than just creating a list of technical specifications and then assembling a group of components. In fact, it is more about the process by which decisions are made regarding what features should or should not be on that list. It’s also about their interrelationship not only to each other and the consumer but also to the consumer’s living and functional lifestyle. Qualified custom seating and mobility specialists possess a great deal of knowledge and experience on a number of specialized technical, mechanical, disability and customer service disciplines and are supported by a team of experienced staff members. The supplier you choose will be making equipment purchasing decisions that the consumer will have to live with for as many as three to five years into the future. These are decisions that should not be taken lightly or without the input of a therapist who will identify the therapeutic benefits and realistic goals for using such equipment and then verify the satisfactory delivery of the finished project. When selecting this highly specialized type of equipment the consumer must also be given an opportunity to take an active roll in the process, either directly or through the first hand experiences of their family members or caretakers. No other person knows the living and lifestyle intricacies better than those closest to the everyday interactions using the equipment and negotiating the residence. From the pool of information gathered, a skilled seating/mobility specialist will be able to filter through and properly identify all project-impacting elements and then combine those choices with the specific postural, functional and care-taking requirements identified by the medical specialist. This is a collective effort in which all parties share a portion
of responsibility, even the funding agent. Everyone should recognize
that cutting corners and pursuing a cheaper price is in no ones
best interest when it comes to custom rehab equipment. Designing
a custom seating and mobility system requires skill, coordination,
thoughtful planning and hours of customer service both before and
after the sale. To bid lean is to deliver lean, so it is very doubtful
that any of these consumer-centric benefits will be tallied into
any competitive bid or price-trimming process.
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