Lorenzo Romero

Rehab Management recently interviewed Lorenzo Romero, president of Stealth Products Inc, Burnet, Texas.

Please tell us about your company.

Stealth Products is a medical device company that designs and manufactures components and accessories for both manual and power wheelchairs. We specialize in a wide variety of adaptive products from mobility bases and head positioning systems to complete seating and positioning kits for wheelchair-bound users. When Stealth was founded back in 1999, we felt that products lacked the consumer's touch. The name Stealth says it all—as we prefer you to see the client instead of our product. We produce products with the objective of enhancing the client's comfort and quality of life, while increasing ease of use by the caregiver or parent.

What are the three best products offered by your company?

This is a difficult assignment due to our many signature products; however, I will pay tribute to three that have received much praise in the industry. The Ultra Series Headrest—for its versatility, comfort, and fit, and for diverse clinical use. The i2i Headrest—for its exceptional usage when all other head systems have failed. And the Stealth Seating Systems—as a one-stop shop for our customers. The introduction of our seating systems was fueled by customer confidence as they have become familiar with our high-quality products. This will allow us to use our creative power to introduce innovative seating components.

Tell us about Stealth's latest technologies and releases.

Regarded as a leader in the industry as a head and neck positioning manufacturer, we felt obliged to launch our seating system at this year's Medtrade exhibition. With our new seating line, we expect to offer an exciting variety of new and premium technologically advanced components that will assist in accomplishing optimal positioning. I am a believer in the advancement of our own products, as we have also introduced the fourth generation TWB Lateral hardware. We have reduced the overall width to allow armrest supports to swing away without interference while maintaining its well-renowned solid support.

How have recent coding and industry changes affected Stealth Products?

The continued introduction of quality and durable products is a must to gain and keep a competitive edge. We are currently researching new technologies that will allow us to maintain this at a fair market price. We are proud to state that the majority of products sold are manufactured in-house, which has allowed us to maintain our overall cost down and quality up. However, the stricter coding changes are pressing on us to become creative to provide the same quality equipment to meet the reduced reimbursement pricing. We support and appreciate the efforts of NCART and other manufacturers that understand that we need to unite to make people aware that these items are not luxury items—they are daily living items.

How do you see your market evolving in the next few years?

Stealth will stay on course and not let funding affect quality as we hope the industry will do the same. Every year there are new materials and technology advancements that we will research to offer more options to users in an industry that can not afford to be dictated to by our health care system.

Where do you see Stealth Products in the future?

We see ourselves deep-rooted with the end user and will strive to embark on a more profound presence in this industry as we lean on our basic principles: unparalleled customer/consumer support, high-quality equipment, and innovative designs with a hands-on mentality. We have worked hard to make Stealth a household name, and [we] truly care about our clients. I have had the pleasure of both seeing and hearing numerous customers, caregivers, and parents regarding our products facilitating a positive change in the end user's everyday life.

—Rogena Schuyler Silverman