- Improvements in Home Automation. Zack says we're seeing a trend towards improved home automation, including the use of voice recognition to control electronic devices in the home. Bluetooth technology enables patients to interact with computer systems, power chairs, mobile phones, land lines, light switches and air conditioning thermostats. Being able to control temperature in the home is especially important when dialysis or wound care equipment is running -- it produces extra heat. In addition, voice recognition and other technologies help patients move beds up and down and allow video conferencing to monitor the front door -- so patients can see who is at the front door without getting out of bed.
- Products are becoming more portable. More portable devices means reduced transportation and delivery costs. For example, Zack has noticed a trend towards having patients fill their own oxygen tanks.
- Devices are getting smaller, cost less. Zack sees devices getting smaller and easier to use. He points out that wound vacs are now as small as a Sony Walkman radio device. Smaller devices provide the patient increased mobility and make it easier for patients to use devices in the home. Because the devices are shrinking in size, costs are decreasing as well.
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- Refresh your safe driving program. If you don't have one, create one now!
- Institute a "no texting or cell phone use while driving" policy.
- Educate your employees about your safe driving practices. Include every delivery truck driver, salesperson, any employee who drives a company car, or any employee who drives their personal car on company business.
- Practice and enforce your safe driving policies.
- Download DriveSafe.ly NOW! It's Free. This mobile application reads text messages and emails aloud in real time and can automatically respond without drivers touching their mobile phones.
- In 2008, there were a total of 34,017 crashes with 37,261 fatalities
- In 2008, 5,870 people (16% of total fatalities) were killed in crashes involving driver distraction
- Drivers distracted at the time of fatal crashes has increased from 8 percent in 2004 to 11 percent in 2008
- The under-20 age group had the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes (16%); the next highest proportion of distracted drivers was the 20- to 29-year old age group (12%)
- Motorcyclists and drivers of light trucks had the highest percentage of distracted drivers at the time of fatal crashes (12%)
- An estimated 21% of 1,630,000 injury crashes were reported to have involved distracted driving
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Life is fine and then something happens and it's not. Here at Total Medical Solutions, we deal with people who have experienced life-changing injuries every day. Our staff is continually inspired by the strength and grace evidenced by the people who we serve. We meet a lot of everyday heroes who pick themselves up and put their lives back together in the face of overwhelming odds.
This is the story of one such person - Chrissy - she is not one of our patients - but her story of recovery is incredible on several levels - for the medical technology involved; for the reminder that dedicated health care professionals have the power to make a huge difference in a patient's quality of life; and for the grace and attitude of the woman who suffered a devastating, life-changing injury and did not let it defeat her.
View the remarkable story of Chrissy. It is truly amazing. She lost her face when she was shot at close range with a shotgun. She was only 16 years old. See Rebuilding Chrissy's Face
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Zack Craft, vice president of rehabilitation technology and complex care for Total Medical Solutions, encourages a standing feature integrated into a wheelchair base whenever possible for injured workers confined to a wheelchair. While these types of wheelchairs are more expensive on the front end, they provide for greatly improved mobility and enhanced wellness of the patient. Thus, they provide for much better outcomes over the life of the claim.
Wheelchair Standing Defined.
Wheelchairs with built in standing features allow the patient to obtain a standing position without transferring from the wheelchair. Such wheelchairs incorporate a mechanical or electromechanical system manipulated with levers or controls that move the seat from horizontal to a vertical or anteriorly sloping position while maintaining verticality of the legrests and backrest, thus extending the hips and knee joints. A full vertical standing position is achieved directly from sitting, or through gradual angle changes from a laying position, or a combination of either of these positions. Most wheelchair standers allow for full or partial extension of the hip and knee joints, and full upright or partially tilted positions.
Benefits of standing include:
- Improved functional reach to enable participation in ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
- Enhanced independence and productivity
- Vital organ capacity is greatly improved
- Reduced occurrence of urinary tract infections
- Bone mineral density loss reduced or eliminated
- Improved circulation; reduced swelling in extremeties
- Reduced abnormal muscle tone and spasticity
- Occurrence of pressure sores reduced
- Diminished occurrence of skeletal deformities
- Enhanced physiological well being
Additional benefits of standing wheelchairs include: reduced fatigue, ability for some male patients to use public urinals, a reduction in the need for attendant care, reduced transfers and reduced home modifications.
One of the chairs Zack recommends to patients is the Permobil C500 VS.
For more information on standing wheelchairs, or other assitive technology devices, please contact Total Medical Solutions.








