Mobility Report

Doug and Susanna Harrison understood from the beginning that employees with a strong interest in the long-term health of their company would be motivated to protect the interests of their customers. For this reason every employee at The SCOOTER Store is an owner and every employee at The SCOOTER Store is treated as an equal. The respect and care offered to each employee of The SCOOTER Store family is returned with great commitment and enthusiasm to our customers, the very foundation of our growth and success.

Studies of Medicare data show that individuals who meet the qualification criteria and receive a power wheelchair require $10,400 less in Medicare reimbursements annually. A power mobility product provides a meaningful and safe alternative to the burdensome expense of nursing care and assisted living. Power wheelchairs can prevent unnecessary falls and emergency room visits for Americans struggling to preserve their independence by moving around their homes without needed assistance. And, it is much more cost effective to adapt a wheelchair than to adapt a home. These cost savings translate into a more efficient and focused use of our country’s Medicare resources for the elderly. Click on the link below to read further.

http://www.pmcoalition.org/pubpolicy/net_benefits_to_medicare_summary.pdf

Welcome to Mobility Report. This forum is intended to inform, educate, and provide an engaging context for members of Congress, policymakers, advocacy groups and the media about the latest developments in the Medicare power mobility benefit. I am committed to helping you understand how our most frail population suffers from debilitating diseases affecting their mobility. Power mobility helps seniors and others living with disabilities regain their freedom and dignity, allowing them to live at home independently. I promise to keep you up to speed on relevant regulations, economic and case studies, trends, expert opinions, and public pronouncements. I may even have a few special guests along the way. One thing is for sure: I pledge to make the information as useful to you as possible. I hope you enjoy and participate!

The Story of The SCOOTER Store

I want to give you some background on The SCOOTER Store. My first few posts will tell you why I think this company and its mission are worthy of your attention.

Always Do the Right Thing

In 1991, Doug Harrison and his wife Susanna founded The SCOOTER Store based on this mission—to provide freedom and independence for people with limited mobility.

From the very beginning, the Harrisons’ guiding principle has been "Always Do The Right Thing". Doug and Susanna resolved to make integrity and compassion the foundation of their young company. Each day, employees of The SCOOTER Store are reminded to exercise these values through their words and actions with each other, customers, government agencies, third party payers, competitors and shareholders. This requirement has served the company well and helped manage The SCOOTER Store’s fast growth and great success. Today, The SCOOTER Store employs over 1,000 employees, is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. and has been trusted by over 100,000 physicians and has stores and representatives covering 47 states.

Fifteen years after founding the company, Doug and Susanna are delighted to have helped almost 300,000 seniors and others living with disabilities stay where they belong - living in their own homes, leading productive and independent lives.

Just a Few Inches Can Change a Life

Prior to the mid-90’s, power wheelchairs were large, bulky and could not even go through a standard home doorway. In 1997, changes in technology allowed manufacturers to narrow the wheelbase of a power wheelchair to 23 inches. And what a difference a few inches has made in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans! Let’s think about this for a second. A power wheelchair is 23-27″ wide. When you add 1-1/2″ on both sides of the chair to allow for finger and knuckle clearance, plus an inch or two to allow for basic maneuvering, the clear opening width totals 32″.

Did you know that a standard doorframe in a home is 32 inches wide? For many older Americans, the doorways inside their homes become barricades they cannot cross without assistance. And for most, a nursing home used to be their only alternative.

The narrower base of The SCOOTER Store’s power chairs allows persons with limited mobility renewed access to their own homes; frees them from the expense of premature nursing care; and brings them back to self sufficiency. Many of The SCOOTER Store’s satisfied customers are amazed to discover they have been living only a few inches from greater mobility, freedom and independence.

How Does 360 Degrees Complete the Picture?

Once a power wheelchair enters a room (particularly a bathroom), there is the challenge of turning the chair around within a confined space. For years, wheelchair users were only able to enter and exit rooms with a large enough radius to turn the chair around. Now, with the push of a button, the power wheelchair can turn inside a radius of 360 degrees, allowing for quick and easy exit from standard sized bathrooms, kitchens and closets.