ATG News

ROCKY HILL, Conn. and ST. LOUIS, Jan. 7, 2013 — ATG Rehab (ATG) and United Seating & Mobility (USM) announced today a merger of equals. The combination brings together two of the country’s top complex mobility companies to better serve customers and help navigate an evolving healthcare marketplace.

Paul Bergantino, President and CEO of ATG, will continue in that role for the combined company. Bob Gouy, President and CEO of USM, will assume the role of Executive Chairman. ATG and USM will continue to operate under their own names for the time being, but a new name for the combined entity will be announced over the next couple of months.

This merger of equals creates a company with the resources to innovate and adapt in a challenging healthcare environment. ATG and USM bring complementary expertise, talent and systems that will enable the combined company to deliver better services, maintain a wider network and generate greater value to customers and other stakeholders. From enhancing consumer services to creating value-added products for payers, the company will leverage their combined differences and best practices to provide an offering unmatched in the industry.

“The combination of ATG and USM creates a company with the resources to invest in protecting and improving consumer access to complex mobility and the other technologies they require,” said Bob Gouy, Executive Chairman. “I could not be more excited about this merger and the value and opportunity it creates for the customers we serve and our collective teams.”

“This is truly exciting news,” said Paul Bergantino, President and CEO. “We saw the opportunity to build on the strengths of two great organizations which include the top ATPs, support teams and management in the industry. Our combined company will remain true to our mission of ‘staying local as we grow’, providing our customers with proper fit, fast delivery, outstanding communication and responsive repair turnaround times. Additionally, our company will be on the cutting-edge of providing innovative solutions that meet the specialized medical equipment needs of children and adults in communities across the country.”

About ATG Rehab ATG Rehab is a provider of wheelchairs and other complex mobility equipment with locations coast to coast. Established in 1999, ATG Rehab has expanded to 63 offices servicing 30 states and is committed to serving the local needs of clients and clinicians in each community. ATG Rehab is accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation. For more information, please visit www.atgrehab.com.

About USM United Seating & Mobility is based in St. Louis, MO and maintains 64 field offices across 26 states. USM’s staff of certified rehab technology professionals and trained technicians is dedicated to providing customers with mobility needs with the best pathways to more satisfying lives using the broadest possible range of products. USM is accredited nationally by ACHC. USM’s National Customer Care Center can be reached at 800.500.9150 or online at www.UnitedSeating.com.

ATG and USM are both known for expert customer care with trained, knowledgeable ATPs and staff who deliver outstanding service. The companies’ product lines primarily consist of power and manual wheelchairs, adaptive seating and positioning systems, specialty bathing aids, rental equipment and other ancillary complex mobility items.

Rocky Hill, CT and Apex, NC, December 31, 2012 — ATG Rehab, a leading provider of seating and mobility equipment, is expanding its services in the states of North Carolina and Virginia.

The company has purchased the complex rehab technology business segment of Carolina Mobility & Seating, Inc., a large, regional provider based outside of Raleigh, in Apex, North Carolina. In addition to their strong presence in the Raleigh and Greensboro markets, this expands ATG’s services in the Hampton & Norfolk regions of Virginia. Carolina Mobility & Seating has specialized in custom designed seating and mobility equipment for nearly 14 years. With a strong focus on customer service and specializing in pediatrics, the ATP’s and support staff has forged a strong reputation for compassionate care and equipment expertise with clients and clinicians.

Carolina Mobility & Seating’s locations in Apex, Asheville and Greensboro, NC, and Chesapeake, VA will become new locations for ATG Rehab, while its Wilmington, NC location will merge with ATG’s existing Wilmington location in early 2013. Carolina Mobility & Seating brings 18 Assistive Technology Professional’s (ATPs) to the ATG Rehab team – bringing ATG’s total number of ATPs to 25 in North Carolina and Virginia.

“ATG Rehab’s purchase of Carolina Seating & Mobility adds tremendous depth to our North Carolina and eastern Virginia operations, while strengthening our services throughout the state.” said ATG Rehab’s Division President, Gary Gilberti. “We’re delighted to welcome the Carolina Seating & Mobility team to the ATG family and look forward to offering their customers and clinicians the technological advancements we offer in expedited transactional processing and enhanced communication.”

About ATG Rehab
ATG Rehab is North America’s leading rehab equipment provider of seating and mobility equipment, with locations coast to coast. Established in 1999, ATG Rehab has expanded to 64 offices servicing 30 states and remains committed to serving the local needs of clients and clinicians in each community. ATG Rehab is accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation and is known for providing expert customer care with trained, knowledgeable staff delivering outstanding service.

ATG Rehab’s mobility and seating solutions include power wheelchairs, manual and lightweight wheelchairs, adaptive seating, standing and positioning frames, specialty ambulatory and toileting aids, specialty bathing aids, rental equipment and portable ramps.

ATG Rehab contracts with hundreds of local and national health insurance companies including the largest managed care providers. The company is also a principal participant in a nationwide provider network to ensure access to payers. ATG Rehab and its national network go the extra mile to provide case management, continuing education on seating and mobility, a custom fabrication shop, certified repair technicians, a dedicated network of healthcare providers and reimbursement support and expertise.

Aline Guerrero, 13, of San Jose received a new motorized wheelchair on Christmas, after her old one was burned in a November school bus fire. Marianne Favro reports.

View more videos at: http://nbcbayarea.com.

Rocky Hill, CT and Oklahoma City, Okla., December 3, 2012 — ATG Rehab, a leading provider of seating and mobility equipment, is expanding its services in Oklahoma.

The company has purchased the complex rehab technology business segment of Medical Specialty Supply of Oklahoma, an Oklahoma City-based provider of specialized and custom designed power and manual wheelchairs and seating equipment, among other items. Medical Specialty Supply has been serving customers in Oklahoma City and the surrounding markets for nearly 10-years, forging a strong reputation for service and expertise with clients and clinicians.

Plans are currently underway to relocate and expand ATG Rehab’s office in Oklahoma City, OK to a much larger, 5,000+ sq ft facility in the Oklahoma City region that will maintain and control all operations for the state in the next few months.

“ATG Rehab’s purchase of Medical Specialty Supply adds tremendous depth to our Oklahoma City operation while strengthening our services in Tulsa, Lawton, and other parts of the state.” said ATG Rehab’s Mountain Region President, Michele Longo. “We’re delighted to welcome the entire Medical Specialty team to the ATG family and look forward to offering their customers and clinicians the technological advancements we offer in expedited transactional processing and enhanced communication.”

About ATG Rehab
ATG Rehab is North America’s leading rehab equipment provider of seating and mobility equipment, with locations coast to coast. Established in 1999, ATG Rehab has expanded to 61 offices servicing 30 states and remains committed to serving the local needs of clients and clinicians in each community. ATG Rehab is accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation and is known for providing expert customer care with trained, knowledgeable staff delivering outstanding service.

ATG Rehab’s mobility and seating solutions include power wheelchairs, manual and lightweight wheelchairs, adaptive seating, standing and positioning frames, specialty ambulatory and toileting aids, specialty bathing aids, rental equipment and portable ramps.

ATG Rehab contracts with hundreds of local and national health insurance companies including the largest managed care providers. The company is also a principal participant in a nationwide provider network to ensure access to payers. ATG Rehab and its national network go the extra mile to provide case management, continuing education on seating and mobility, a custom fabrication shop, certified repair technicians, a dedicated network of healthcare providers and reimbursement support and expertise.

In addition to the cast from Push Girls, ATG’s very own Vern Nielsen, ATP from Fresno, CA, was among the many exhibitors at the “Patient Reunion & Community Health Fair” at the rehabilitation hospital’s annual event. ATG is one of only two Complex Rehabilitation Technology providers that attend the event that offers information and resources to clients and families. There were over 60-booths offering a wide variety of resources and information, including; Home Care, VNA, Vehicle Conversions, Home Modifications, and the Fresno State Physical Therapy and Nursing programs, to name just a few. As a part of the annual event’s Reunion-theme, the staff invites all the past patients and their family members and dispenses awards for the Most Inspirational & Hardest Working patients.

The hospital invited the cast of Push Girls from the reality show on Sundance Channel. They spoke to all the SCI patients at a dinner the night before and attended the health fair where they signed autographs and spoke about their injuries and how to cope with the challenges of having a sudden disability. The hospital estimated over a thousand people attended, despite the 100+ degree day in the Central Valley.

From left to right; Duane Goodwin, Tiphany Adams, Auti Angel, and Brent Treichel, OT
Vern Nielsen, ATP, finds some shade at the ATG Rehab booth

Rocky Hill, CT and McAllen, Texas, November 1, 2012 — ATG Rehabhas purchased the assets of Marshall Mobility Plus, a supplier of wheelchairs and related equipment that works with 30 clinical facilities and over 300 clients across Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.

The acquisition adds to ATG Rehab’s South Central Region Marshall Mobility Plus’ central office in McAllen, Texas with coverage for major cities in the valley: Harlingen, Brownsville, South Padre Island, Laredo and Corpus Christi.

As new ATG Rehab employees, Marshall Mobility’s two Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs), two rehab technicians (both who are preparing for their ATP credentials) and seven support staff members will work closely with ATG’s existing Texas service team to meet the seating and mobility needs of new clients who live in the state’s southern tier.

“ATG Rehab is excited to further expand our business in the great state of Texas, offering our technologically advanced systems, faster delivery times, and superior communication tools to the clients and clinicians of this region.” said Region President James Hartman. “With the addition of Marshall Mobility Plus in South Texas, ATG Rehab now offers 18 RESNA credentialed ATPs in nine service areas throughout the state who focus on localized service and great clinical outcomes.”

About ATG Rehab
ATG Rehab is North America’s leading rehab equipment provider of wheelchairs and mobility equipment with locations coast to coast. Established in 1999, ATG Rehab has expanded to over 55 offices servicing 30 states and remains committed to serving the local needs of clients and clinicians in each community. ATG Rehab is accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation and is known for providing expert customer care with trained, knowledgeable staff delivering outstanding service.

ATG Rehab’s mobility and seating solutions include power wheelchairs, manual and lightweight wheelchairs, adaptive seating, standing and positioning frames, specialty ambulatory and toileting aids, specialty bathing aids, rental equipment and portable ramps.

ATG Rehab contracts with over 100 local and national health insurance companies including the largest managed care providers. The company is also a principal participant in a nationwide provider network to ensure access to payers. ATG Rehab and its national network go the extra mile to provide case management, continuing education on seating and mobility, a custom fabrication shop, certified repair technicians, a dedicated network of healthcare providers and reimbursement support and expertise.

For more information visit atgrehab.com

Walsenburg, CO – NRRTS, the National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers announced today that Keith Jolicouer and Toby Bergantino have joined the NRRTS Board of Directors – Jolicouer as Review Board Chair for DMAC C and Bergantino as an at-large Board member.

Bergantino has been a NRRTS Registrant since 1994 and an ATP/CRTS since 1997. He grew up in this industry and has been involved with DME and rehab equipment since 1975. He has worked in the past on boards or committees for the Connecticut Multiple Sclerosis Southwest Chapter, Connecticut Spinal Cord Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Sail Connecticut Access Program and Rotary International. He has had the opportunity to brainstorm many ideas regarding clients’ needs with other ATPs within the ATG Rehab organization and realizes there are many ways he can do the same within NRRTS. “It will be an honor”, said Bergantino, “to serve NRRTS because it’s the one strong rehab organization.”

Jolicouer started his career in 1990 working for a large O&P/DME company in Flint, Mich. After a few years working as a delivery, warehouse and orthotics tech, he found himself applying his skills toward becoming an RTS and has done so since 1993. Jolicouer says that as with many in this industry, his career as a seating specialist found him as opposed to he finding it. He has been an ATP/CRTS with United Seating & Mobility in Springfield, Mo. since 2003. “Although what we do as rehab technology specialists can be challenging at times, it also can be rewarding,” said Jolicouer, “I am proud to be part of industry that, given the many obstacles, still prevails to help those who deal with many challenges of their own”,

The remainder of the NRRTS Board includes: Michele Gunn – President; Mike Osborn – President-elect; Gerry Dickerson, Vice-president; Leslie Rigg – Secretary; Elaine Stewart – Treasurer; Carey Britton – Review Chair DMAC A; Mike Nadeau – Review Chair DMAC B; Katie Roberts – Review Chair DMAC D; Mike Barner – At-large Director; Thana France – At-large Director; and Michelle McMahon – At-large Director.

Sayreville, N.J., August 1, 2012 —ATG Rehab, has purchased the complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) business segment of Sayreville, N.J. – based Allcare Medical. Allcare will continue to offer durable medical equipment (DME), clinical respiratory support services (CRSS), orthotics and prosthetics.

To better serve clients in New Jersey and Philadelphia, ATG will establish a new location in central New Jersey, dedicated to complex rehab equipment and services, that will give the company greater proximity to these markets. ATG and Allcare will co-market their respective services to ensure that CRT, DME, CRSS and related needs are met for clients in these regions.

“Allcare has uniquely positioned itself to offer both CRT and DME services in its market. With the sale of our CRT business, Allcare will now be able to focus on growing its core products and services, while offering our CRT clients the opportunity to work with an industry leader in ATG Rehab,” said Allcare President Richard Lerner. “Allcare and ATG Rehab will support each other’s area of specialty as we continue to expand our respective markets.”

“Allcare Medical is an established and respected CRT provider in the region that has great relationships with clients at facilities such as Kessler Rehabilitation, Children’s Specialized Hospital, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital and others,” said ATG Rehab Division President Frank Biondello. “We look forward to building upon Allcare’s 30 years’ of dedication and expertise by expanding its customer base from Northern New Jersey to greater Philadelphia.”

About ATG Rehab
ATG Rehab is North America’s leading rehab equipment provider of wheelchairs and mobility equipment with locations coast to coast. Established in 1999, ATG Rehab has expanded to over 55 offices servicing 30 states and remains committed to serving the local needs of clients and clinicians in each community. ATG Rehab is accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation and is known for providing expert customer care with trained, knowledgeable staff delivering outstanding service.

ATG Rehab’s mobility and seating solutions include power wheelchairs, manual and lightweight wheelchairs, adaptive seating, standing and positioning frames, specialty ambulatory and toileting aids, specialty bathing aids, rental equipment and portable ramps.

ATG Rehab contracts with over 100 local and national health insurance companies including the largest managed care providers. The company is also a principal participant in a nationwide provider network to ensure access to payers. ATG Rehab and its national network go the extra mile to provide case management, continuing education on seating and mobility, a custom fabrication shop, certified repair technicians, a dedicated network of healthcare providers and reimbursement support and expertise.

For more information visit atgrehab.com

[Rocky Hill, CT., April 2, 2012]- ATG Rehab, has acquired Louisiana-based Custom Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries, Custom Healthcare and Gulf Coast Rehab Equipment, which provide complex rehabilitation equipment, including: customized power and manual mobility solutions, seating and positioning systems and repair services for individuals with disabilities.

ATG Rehab’s acquisition adds 13 offices in six states collectively serving more than 6,500 clients annually at 50 major hospitals and rehabilitation facilities in the Gulf Coast region.

Managers and Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs) from Gulf Coast Rehab and Custom Healthcare will continue to provide local support and services to clients from offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport and Thibodaux, Louisiana, as well as Beaumont, Lubbock and Houston, Texas.

The acquisition follows ATG Rehab’s 2011 purchase of Baltimore-based Chesapeake Rehab Equipment, which has 13 offices in six Mid-Atlantic states, and its recent acquisition of the complex rehabilitation technology division of Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Medical Equipment. ATG’s acquisition of Gulf Coast Rehab and Custom Healthcare allows the company to now serve all of the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico and expands its footprint to 30 states across the country.

“Custom Healthcare and Gulf Coast Rehab’s operating philosophy parallels that of ATG Rehab, which makes this transition seamless for the clients, clinicians and complex rehab facilities we serve in the Gulf Coast region,” said James Hartman, Vice President of Business Development at Custom Holdings, LLC. “Both companies uphold the highest standards of practice in rehabilitation technology to improve our clients’ quality of life and level of independence.”

Clients of ATG Rehab’s offices in the Gulf Coast region will benefit from new resources that expedite the equipment selection and delivery process, while ensuring continuous support and communication to both the individual and the clinical rehabilitation team.

“The complex rehab business has and always will be about local services that respect the distinct needs of clients and healthcare facilities in each city and town,” said ATG Rehab President and CEO, Paul Bergantino. “Through strong regional leadership, ATG Rehab’s vast service area offers the best of both worlds. We’re combining the efficiencies of a large company with personalized attention from seasoned, local Assistive Technology Professionals who truly understand the communities they serve.”

About ATG Rehab
ATG Rehab is North America’s leading rehab equipment provider of wheelchairs and mobility equipment with locations coast to coast. Established in 1999, ATG Rehab has expanded to over 53 offices servicing 30 states and remains committed to serving the local needs of clients and clinicians in each community. ATG Rehab is accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation and is known for providing expert customer care with trained, knowledgeable staff delivering outstanding service.

ATG Rehab’s mobility and seating solutions include power wheelchairs, manual and lightweight wheelchairs, adaptive seating, standing and positioning frames, specialty ambulatory and toileting aids, specialty bathing aids, rental equipment and portable ramps.

ATG Rehab contracts with over 100 local and national health insurance companies including the largest managed care providers. The company is also a principal participant in a nationwide provider network to ensure access to payers. ATG Rehab and its national network go the extra mile to provide case management, continuing education on seating and mobility, a custom fabrication shop, certified repair technicians, a dedicated network of healthcare providers and reimbursement support and expertise.

For more information visit atgrehab.com

[Hartford, Conn., September 12, 2011] — Three-year-old Edil Garcia Rivera lives in Puerto Rico. He suffers from a seizure disorder called hypotonia and has cognitive disabilities. Edil cannot walk and he’s had to be carried around by his mother his entire life.

Edil’s seven-year-old sister, Daniellyz, who lives with her grandparents Jorge Rodriguez and Guadalupe Velazquez in Hartford, Conn., brought her brother’s plight to the attention of her after-school mentors at the city’s Charter Oak Cultural Center, who discussed Edil’s needs with U.S. Congressman John Larson (D-Connecticut). Larson put the Center in touch with Rocky Hill, Conn.-based ATG Rehab, a national supplier of complex rehabilitation and mobility equipment.

ATG custom-built and donated to Edil a Quickie Iris tilt-in-space manual wheelchair and presented it to his family at a recent gathering at the center. In its design phase, the team at ATG worked closely with Edil’s physician in Puerto Rico to create a chair that would meet his needs as he grew. The chair’s custom tailored seating system will provide him with appropriate positioning and support. When utilized with the tilt feature of the Iris, Edil’s family are now able to reposition him throughout the day for different activities and better postural control. In addition to the wheelchair, ATG also donated a specialized bath chair to the family to further aid in their care for Edil.

“This wheelchair means a lot for my grandson and for us. We didn’t expect something so special and we really appreciate it,” said Rodriguez. JetBlue Airlines donated a flight to Puerto Rico to Velasquez, who delivered the wheelchair to her grandchild.

ATG Rehab President and CEO Paul Bergantino presents a customized wheelchair to the grandparents of Edil Garcia Rivera. Edil’s grandmother, Guadalupe Velasquez, delivered the chair to her grandson in Puerto Rico, courtesy of JetBlue.

Congressman John Larson and ATG Rehab President and CEO Paul Bergantino, accompanied by staff members of Hartford’s Charter Oak Cultural Center, listen to Charter Oak Cultural Center Executive Director Donna Berman and view photos of Edil Garcia Rivera, recipient of a custom wheelchair from ATG Rehab.