3 minute read
WEESIE'S WORLD
EDUCATION AND THE COMPLEX REHAB TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIER
Written by: WEESIE WALKER, ATP/SMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NRRTS
Working in the field of assistive technology has been rewarding in so many ways. From the first experience of seeing a child be able move about independently in his environment, I was hooked!
When I began this odyssey, RESNA and NRRTS did not exist. Some of my education came from the clinicians I worked with and the manufacturers who brought in pizza while they demonstrated the equipment.
The best education came from the clients I served. They gave me the real scoop on how the technology fit their lifestyle. It was too heavy! It was not comfortable! Transfers were difficult. Many times, we would need to modify, change or start over. Did we always get it right? NO! There was always something to learn to improve service for the next person.
As seating and mobility began to gain more attention, there were opportunities to get education specific to appropriate positioning. Clinicians were presenting courses on postural support. The first Medtrade in Atlanta offered a whole day with Adrienne Bergen teaching how to measure, how to support and how to build a system out of tri wall (fancy name for cardboard). Being part of this was empowering. I met other people with a common passion. There was no name for what we did, but that didn’t matter. We gathered in groups sharing experiences, good and bad. It was a happening!
The first Seating Symposium in Memphis was even more remarkable in all it offered. As I look back, I can see how this formed my path to today. Bergen’s course was on my list. She told us about a meeting to learn about the formation of an organization for suppliers. Count me in! I met Simon Margolis and listened to him talk about the need to recognize people who specialized in seating and mobility. There was nothing to identify the person who was continually bettering themselves by learning more. (This all took place before the internet, online education and social media existed).That was the beginning of the National Registry of Rehab Technology Suppliers — NRRTS.
I had found “my people!” We have this common thread for the need to learn and expand on what makes the best standard of practice.To be considered a professional, you must have a Code of Ethics. To provide the best outcome, you must look at your client’s needs as the top priority.
Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) suppliers face unrealistic unding and coding. There is never enough time to stay caught up with the reams of documentation. The CRT supplier is often the scapegoat for a flawed medical system that creates obstacles to the appropriate technology.
I learned that having a passion for providing seating and mobility kept me going when things got tough. Knowing that “my people”were always just a phone call away to listen and understand. Knowing that I could make a difference in someone’s life mattered so much.And that made me happy.
CONTACT THE AUTHOR Weesie may be reached at WWALKER@NRRTS.ORG
Weesie Walker, ATP/SMS, is the executive director of NRRTS. She has more than 25 years of experience as a CRT supplier. She has served on the NRRTS Board of Directors, the GAMES Board of Directors and the Professional Standards Board of RESNA. Throughout her career, she has worked to advocate for professional suppliers and the consumers they serve. She has presented at the Canadian Seating Symposium, RESNA Conference, AOTA Conference, Medtrade, ISS and the NSM Symposium. Walker is a NRRTS Fellow.
