Anodyne Announces New CEO

ANODYNE MEDICAL DEVICE INC, Los Angeles, a designer and manufacturer of specialty support surfaces and patient positioning devices serving the acute care, home care, and long-term care medical markets, has appointed Abbey Daniels as the company's chief executive officer. Daniels most recently served as chief operating officer for Anodyne, and will fill the CEO role held by company founder Mark Bidner. Bidner will remain active within the company, and will retain his role as chairman of the board of directors.

According to Bidner, "Abbey has done an extraordinary job since she joined Anodyne at inception almost two and a half years ago. She has played a crucial role in executing the strategic growth plan developed by Anodyne's board of directors, and they join me in unanimously endorsing her new role."

Bidner adds that since Daniels joined the company, Anodyne has not only become the market share leader but has also experienced annual double-digit growth.

A native of Virginia, Daniels, who currently resides in Coral Springs, Fla, joined Anodyne Medical Device in February 2006 as its first COO. Prior to that, she was CEO of Florida-based SenTech Medical Systems. Daniels has an extensive background in the medical device arena having held sales, marketing, and business development positions with the medical division of Warner Lambert, Nichols Institute, and Coulter Electronics (now Beckman Coulter).

Meuser Departs Pride

PRIDE MOBILITY PRODUCTS CORP, Exeter, Pa, has revealed that, after a career spanning 20 years, Dan Meuser, president of Pride USA, is departing the company to pursue a full-time career in public service.

"I have always had a strong interest in government affairs on the federal, state, and local level. My recent venture into politics, combined with my leadership of Pride Mobility's government-affairs initiatives, solidified my desire to pursue community- and government-related endeavors full time," says Meuser. "I am grateful to be in a position to pursue my ambitions, and look forward to continuing my active involvement with initiatives that ideally, will benefit the residents in our local communities and beyond."

Scott Meuser, chairman and chief executive officer at Pride Mobility Products (and brother of Dan Meuser), commented on Meuser's decision. "During Dan's 20 years of senior leadership, Pride Mobility grew from approximately $2 million in sales to more than $400 million and became the leader in the global market for mobility products.

"Equally as important is the significant leadership role Dan played with respect to the legislative issues that confront our industry and the beneficiaries in need of mobility products. Dan's advocacy efforts are enviable and we, along with the entire Pride family of employees, look forward to the positive contributions Dan will undoubtedly make in the community."

Dan Meuser will maintain his shareholder position with Pride Mobility and will continue to hold a seat on the company's board of directors.

MedRisk Announces Appointment

MEDRISK INC, King of Prussia, Pa, has named David W. Clifton, Jr, PT, as director of clinical services. Clifton will oversee and coordinate all clinical internal and external peer review activities, as well as assist in product and network development.

Most recently, Clifton served as a utilization review consultant on physical therapy cases for Independence Blue Cross. His 28-year career includes numerous leadership positions with rehabilitation and occupational medicine companies and managed care firms.

In addition, Clifton developed the nation's first peer and utilization review organization devoted to physical therapy and rehabilitation, and is author of the textbook Physical Rehabilitation's Role in Disability Management. He is actively involved in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), has served as a faculty member for APTA's Quality and Risk Management program and as vice chairman for its Foundation for Research, and has worked on numerous groups and committees within the organization.

A resident of Media, Pa, Clifton holds a BA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pa, and received postgraduate physical therapy training and education from the University of Pennsylvania.

APTA Appoints VP Finance/CFO

ROB BATARLA, CPA, has been named vice president finance/ chief financial officer (CFO) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

In his new position, Batarla will be responsible for APTA's financial planning and reporting. Prior to joining APTA, Batarla was CFO for the National Recreation and Park Association, Ashburn, Va, a position he held since 2005.

According to APTA CEO John D. Barnes, "Rob has the experience and passion for associations and finance to bring APTA closer to our Vision2020. With his association experience, certified public accountant licensure, community involvement, and managerial expertise, we were confident he was the ideal addition to the APTA team."

Batarla holds a BA in business administration from the College of William and Mary, and an MBA specific to nonprofit and engineering management from Old Dominion University. Since 2006, he has been an adjunct professor of accounting at American University. He resides in Falls Church, Va.

Stroke Wellness Program Helps Survivors Maintain Quality of Life

The Tallahassee Memorial Rehabilitation Center, Tallahassee, Fla, offers a Stroke Wellness Program—at no cost—to support and encourage postrehabilitation stroke survivors as an extension of the recovery process.

"Through the generous support of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, we developed the Stroke Wellness Program to offer stroke survivors an avenue to continue in their progression of recovery—even after all traditional therapy has been completed," says Sheree Porter, MS, CCC-SLP, rehabilitation program manager at the Tallahassee Memorial Rehabilitation Center. "The common link in our participants includes positive attitudes, belief in their abilities to progress, and commitment to lead active lifestyles."

Each of the program's participants has some residual deficits resulting from their strokes, including physical, communicative, and/or cognitive impairments. All of the participants have graduated from formalized programs and do not receive physical, occupational, or speech therapy outside of the Stroke Wellness Program.

Participants are invited to attend weekly exercise and communication sessions led by physical, occupational, and speech therapists who volunteer their time. Participants are provided with individualized exercise programs and cognitive exercises or "homework" to assist communication skills.

"The participants have reported marked improvement in their individual sense of well-being since the program started a few months ago," says Porter. "We hope to grow the program to continue to meet the needs and demands of the community for stroke survivors."

For more information on the Tallahassee Memorial Rehabilitation Center Stroke Wellness Program, contact Sheree Porter at (850) 431-1199, or .

The Roho Group Launches e-Learning Program

The ROHO Group, Belleville, Ill, recently announced the launch of the ROHO Institute for Continuing Education and Research eLearning program. The program offers continuing education units (CEUs) to users who register through The ROHO Group Web site (www.therohogroup.com).

"Previously the ROHO Institute offered traditional on-site CEU programs only. With the addition of on-line CEU programs, we now can offer a wider range of courses and immediate service for our clients," says Darren Hammond, director of the ROHO Institute for Continuing Education and Research. "Clients will no longer have to wait for a program to come to their area; they can complete their continuing education requirements on their time, even in their pajamas if they like."

ROHO Institute CEU programs are reviewed and approved by VGM Education, an authorized provider of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training, or IACET. For more information regarding the ROHO Institute online CEU programs, visit www.therohogroup.com and click ROHO Institute.