Washington-based Manufacturer Boasts Record Sales

Representatives of Kennewick, Wash-based TiLite, a company that designs, manufactures, and markets a broad line of custom-fitted manual wheelchairs, recently announced it achieved record sales in 2006, experiencing 11% year-over-year annual sales growth. It also was reported that TiLite exceeded its international sales targets for 2006.

According to David S. Lippes, TiLite's chairman and CEO, "We grew our business 11%, which is an excellent result given the challenging reimbursement climate for manual wheelchairs. We attribute our success to the fact that the health care community recognizes that our custom-fitted wheelchairs provide superior mobility and improved long-term health outcomes for manual wheelchair users.

"In early 2006, we expanded our full line of titanium wheelchairs with the launch of the TiLite TX, the most technologically advanced titanium folding chair on the road today. Right away this wheelchair was a hit—significantly outselling its predecessor (the TiLite XC). Then, later in the year, we launched our first aluminum wheelchair—the TiLite Aero Z. The new Aero Z has met with rave reviews from wheelchair users and health care professionals," concludes Lippes.

Marty Ball, TiLite's vice president of sales, adds, "Expanding into aluminum frame products is consistent with TiLite's founding principle—to provide the best possible manual mobility to the largest number of wheelchair users. While aluminum frame chairs cannot achieve all the health benefits of titanium frame chairs, they can be sold at a price point that is more consistent with the current reimbursement climate, thereby enabling a much greater number of wheelchair users to experience the superior performance, customization, and style that everyone has come to expect from TiLite."

Ball states that he and his colleagues are looking forward to 2007, as "TiLite will continue to strive to make its products available to a wider range of wheelchair users with varied reimbursement. With this goal in mind, TiLite plans to significantly expand its aluminum-frame ‘Aero' line in 2007. By expanding our Aero line, we will be offering a greater number of models at a lower price point than titanium chairs, thereby making the TiLite experience more widely available to wheelchair users. And, of course, there will be exciting, new, state-of-the-art titanium chairs as well." For more information, go to www.tilite.com.

Software Company Enjoys 4th Year as Biz-Award Winner

Rehab Documentation Company LLC (ReDoc), Nashville, Tenn, a provider of computerized documentation for physical, occupational, and speech therapists, has been named to two of the most coveted business lists in the city—the Music City Future 50 and the Healthcare 100. This is the fourth consecutive year that ReDoc made the Music City Future 50, an award presented by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce to highlight the area's fastest-growing small businesses. The Healthcare 100 is compiled by the Nashville Business Journal to recognize the health care leaders in the city, a national center of health care business and development.

"We are honored to receive these distinctions from the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and Nashville Business Journal," says Gerry Stone, PT, MEd, GCS, founder and CEO of ReDoc. "The city is a hotbed of growth, particularly among health care businesses. So to be recognized as one of the best in the business is, indeed, an honor and is entirely due to the expertise and skill of the professionals who work at ReDoc. Founded in 1995, ReDoc develops and distributes software that helps physical, occupational, and speech therapists improve their efficiency by streamlining their administrative functions, including scheduling, billing, and coding. The company's medical records system is currently used in more than 1,200 privately owned and hospital-based outpatient rehabilitation clinics."

ReDoc's software has been endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Mobility Companies Sign Multiyear Agreement

The A.R.T. Group and Kids UP Inc have entered into a multiyear distribution agreement. Beginning in the first quarter of 2007, the A.R.T. Group will market and sell KIDS ROCK and BINGO pediatric mobility systems as part of its Kid Kart product line.

KIDS ROCK mobility system models feature an innovative active seating system (patent pending) that moves with the child. Combining Kids UP's active seating system with the A.R.T. Group's line of secondary positioning products is an integrated solution that addresses the need for both movement and proper positioning among a large population of end users.

KIDS UP Inc was established in May 2005. Company president Wayne Hanson, an industry veteran since 1990, has developed numerous mobility products for children. In 2003, Hanson cofounded Reach Out and Care (ROC) Wheels, a nonprofit organization that provides mobility for children and adults in developing countries. KIDS ROCK products will continue to be manufactured at the Belgrade, Mont, facility.

The A.R.T. Group was launched in September 2004 as a division of Sunrise Medical. The company manufactures and distributes an extensive line of assistive and rehabilitation technology under Adaptive Equipment Systems, Kid Kart, RehabiliTech, ShurShape, and Whitmyer Biomechanix brand names. The division headquarters are located in Baltimore, with additional facilities in Kansas City, Kan, San Francisco, Seattle, and Tallahassee, Fla.

For more information, go to www.artgrouprehab.com or www.kidsupco.com.

Consolidation Will Close US Operations

Invacare Corporation, Elyria, Ohio, a global manufacturer and distributor of innovative home and long-term care medical products that promote recovery and active lifestyles, will consolidate its custom manual product offering into one business by closing the Kuschall portion of its North American business. Kuschall operations in Europe will continue unaffected.

According to Brian Ellacott, group vice president, Helixx Group, "The success of the Invacare ProSPIN X4 and Crossfire T6 custom manual wheelchairs allows Invacare to reduce the complexity of its custom manual wheelchair line by taking a formulary product approach in North America.

Megan Hall

"Both the ProSPIN X4 and Crossfire T6 are manufactured in the United States, so customers will benefit from shorter lead times. That makes these products more cost-effective for North American customers, which gives them a competitive advantage in this new reimbursement environment," he concludes.

Kuschall parts will continue to be available by calling customer service at (800) 331-8551. The specialized custom manual wheelchairs will continue to be available through Kuschall Europe. In addition, Invacare is exploring distribution through specialty distributors in North America.

The Helixx Group is an umbrella organization for Invacare's specialty rehabilitation product lines and brands, including Freedom Designs, Altimate Medical, Küschall North America, Motion Concepts, and PinDot. Kuschall, a wholly owned subsidiary of Invacare and a member of the Helixx Group, provides state-of-the-art lightweight and ultralightweight wheelchairs in the European marketplace. For more information, go to www.invacare.com.

PT Group Appoints Seattle Director

Therapeutic Associates Inc, Seattle, has named Megan Hall, DPT, director of its Seattle Physical Therapy. Hall is

a 2002 graduate of Northwestern University, where she earned both her master's degree and doctorate in physical therapy. Hall has built her practice around orthopedic treatment but is qualified to work with patients seeking treatment for a variety of conditions.

"I love working with orthopedic patients and knew with options like neurological rehabilitation, women's health, pediatrics, and geriatrics, life as a PT would never get boring," says Hall, who is a triathlete and marathon runner. "To take on my additional leadership responsibilities is an added attraction."

Seattle Physical Therapy, a Therapeutic Associates Clinic, is located in downtown Seattle. Therapeutic Associates Inc, a PT-owned and directed company, has been helping patients through-out the Northwest for more than 50 years. For more information, go to www.therapeuticassociates.com.