ATG News

[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.

 

[Portland, Oregon and Prince of Wales, Alaska, August 17, 2011] — One might think that when you live in Alaska you would accept complex rehabilitation equipment services on different terms. A Prince of Wales, Alaska man who suffers from ALS and his wife recently learned otherwise.

Prince of Wales Island is a 40-minute flight from Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska. The man received a Q6 Edge wheelchair from ATG in March 2011. Prior to that, he had been using a chair from ALSA’s loan closet. He had an Augmentative Communication device from Dynavox but no way to mount it to his chair. When he received his new chair, his disease had progressed to the point that he could no longer access the joystick or control seating functions.

Through phone calls and text messages, ATG Rehab learned from the man’s wife the challenges he was facing to maintain independence. ATG’s equipment specialists assembled the necessary wheelchair components at their Milwaukee, Oregon office and arranged for delivery to the remote island. ATG Rehab ATP Derek Kruse was the right person to make the trek to Prince of Wales Island. Kruse left Portland, Oregon on a 5:30 a.m. Island Air flight on August 5 and arrived in Craig, Alaska around 10:30 a.m. with all the equipment he needed for the client. The agent at Island air shuttled Kruse to the man’s home, where he proceeded to make the necessary adjustments and additions to his wheelchair.

Kruse’s plan was to switch out the chair’s power elevating leg rest, install specialty controls, make adjustments, and mount a bracket for the client’s communication device. Once completed, Kruse educated the client on the new ways to use his chair. The client was ecstatic with how the upgrades and training improved his mobility and his ability to communicate. Eight hours later, satisfied that the client had all the appropriate equipment and the means to use it effectively, Kruse caught the first of three planes he needed to arrive back in Portland around midnight.

About ATG Rehab
ATG Rehab is one of North America’s leading rehab equipment providers of wheelchairs and mobility equipment with U.S. locations coast to coast. Established in 1999, the ATG Rehab family of companies is privately held with over 41 locations servicing 24 states and is accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation. ATG Rehab is known for customized customer care with a trained, knowledgeable staff that delivers localized focus and outstanding service.

The company’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 aides, rental equipment and portable ramps.

ATG Rehab has 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 or visit ATG Rehab on Facebook.

Rocky Hill, Conn., June 30, 2011 – ATG Rehab, a leading rehab equipment provider of wheelchairs and mobility equipment, today announced that it has acquired Baltimore, Md.-based Chesapeake Rehab Equipment, Inc. (CRE), a provider of assistive technology equipment and services with 13 branches in six Mid-Atlantic states. This move marks the largest acquisition in ATG Rehab’s history, as well as the largest ever in the complex rehabilitation industry.

Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs) in each of Chesapeake’s current offices will continue working at those locations and caring for customers within ATG Rehab’s new Mid-Atlantic region, which serves more than 35 hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.

“Our agreement with Chesapeake extends ATG’s reach, allowing us to deliver services in a new area of the country,” said ATG Rehab President and CEO Paul Bergantino. “Chesapeake’s long-standing reputation of excellence and strong community presence in the provision of mobility and adaptive seating equipment — under the careful watch of some of the best ATPs in the industry — is a tremendous and exciting addition to the ATG team.“

“We’ve been talking for many years about putting the two organizations together. The time is now right for us to do so,” said Chesapeake Rehab President and Founder Gary Gilberti, who will become president of ATG Rehab’s new Mid-Atlantic region. “After a decade-long courtship, this is a great marriage of two organizations that, as one, will be able to provide an improved level of service and realize operational economies-of-scale. It’s a true ‘one plus one equals three’ opportunity.”

ATG Rehab will establish offices in the cities and states served by Chesapeake — Baltimore, Cumberland and Salisbury, Md.; Newark, Del.; Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, Pa.; Charlotte, Raleigh, Fayetteville and Wilmington, N.C.; Murrell’s Inlet, S.C.; and Roanoke and Richmond, Va. The acquisition will add approximately 170 staff members, 29 of which are highly trained ATPs, to the ATG Rehab team. These professionals will be able to draw upon the expertise of ATPs in ATG’s coast-to-coast offices, from Seattle to Atlanta and San Diego to Boston, to enhance how they provide equipment and support to local customers.

“Clinicians and clients in the area will see the same familiar faces and experienced team of ATPs they have come to trust and rely upon, but those ATPs will now be equipped with the most advanced technology in the industry, accelerating their delivery of complex rehab equipment,” said David Law, ATG’s vice president of operations.

Rocky Hill, Conn., June 9, 2011] – ATG Rehab has acquired the mobility and complex rehab division of Rapid City, S.D.-based WestMed Rehab, which serves more than 800 clients per year through the region’s hospitals, rehab clinics and long term care facilities.

“WestMed Rehab’s founders — Tim Pederson, Deb Holso and John Nesland – had a vision to offer superior care by highly trained and credentialed assistive technology professionals in South Dakota’s Black Hills area,” said ATG Rehab CEO Paul Bergantino. “WestMed’s dedication to clients and their support of this region is in keeping with ATG’s operating philosophy within our 28 offices across 20 states.”

“WestMed Rehab and ATG Rehab’s priorities are very well aligned,” said Pederson, who now leads The National Orthotics & Prosthetics Network at The MED Group, a Managed Health Care Associates, Inc. (MHA) company. “Under ATG’s leadership, Western South Dakota’s complex rehab and mobility customers will continue to be served by a company that adheres to high industry standards, advocates for its customers and gives back to its communities.”

ATG Rehab’s Rapid City office will be located at 1018 Jackson Blvd. Suite B, Rapid City, S.D., 57701. The office will be part of the Mountain Region for ATG Rehab under the leadership of Michele Longo, ME, ATP – ATG Regional President. Mobility and complex rehab clients will continue to receive support from Assistive Technology Professionals (ATP) Tony Holso and Joe Luciano and technician Kary Fahrner.

“We are thrilled to have the South Dakota team join ATG Rehab. It is a natural fit and we look forward to serving our new South Dakota clients” said ATG Rehab Mountain Region President Michele Longo.

About ATG Rehab
ATG Rehab is one of North America’s leading rehab equipment providers of wheelchairs and mobility equipment with U.S. locations coast to coast. Established in 1999, ATG Rehab is privately held with over 28 locations servicing 20 states and is accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation. ATG Rehab is known for customized customer care with a trained, knowledgeable staff that delivers localized focus and outstanding service.

The company’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 aides, rental equipment and portable ramps.

ATG Rehab has 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.

About WestMed Rehab
WestMed Rehab is a locally owned and operated comprehensive home medical equipment provider based in Rapid City, South Dakota. The company began by providing Complex Rehab Mobility and Seating in 1998. In 2000 the company added Home Respiratory Care, and Prosthetics and Orthotics were added in 2001. WestMed Rehab will continue to provide Home Respiratory Care, Prosthetics and Orthotics, and Home Medical Equipment at its location at 318 Mt. Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD 57701.

For more information visit atgrehab.com or visit ATG Rehab on Facebook.

ATG Rehab attended the Abilities Expo in Anaheim, CA, and Edison, NJ and found big audiences and attendance at both events. The Abilities Expo is an annual series of expositions that offer a host of information and services for individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The expos are offered in a number of different regions around the country, but the two events serving Los Angeles and New York City (Anaheim & Edison) have anchored the annual agenda, historically turning in the greatest number of attendees.

Unlike any other opportunity for individuals with disabilities and their families, the Abilities Expo offers education and lectures from industry leaders and exhibits from nearly every major manufacturer and local service providers. This unique experience allows the attendees to try products and ask questions, as well as learn about local services that would not be found anywhere else. Following the show in Anaheim, Regional President, Eamonn Casey said, “We had a tremendous amount of activity and traffic in our booth over the 3 days and I think we need to really consider getting a larger space next year!” The ATG team in Edison experienced the same thing with large crowds, lots of customer interaction and a terrific overall experience. Hosted and staffed by the Hatfield, PA office, General Manager, Crystal Lee said, “This event in Edison just keeps getting better and our team finds a tremendous amount of value in meeting with customers and clinician’s from around the region.”

Great job and a big thanks to both of these teams for hosting our ATG Rehab booth and welcoming customers.

To learn more about the Abilities Expo, click here:
www.abilitiesexpo.com

With big smiles, ATP’s Rob Wells and Kurt Boyer welcome guests in Edison.

The National ALS Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, was held recently and ATG Rehab was excited to participate and support the ALS Association’s Conference lectures and exhibits. Eamonn Casey, Regional President of the Southwest and Cody Verrett, VP of Sales & Marketing attended the invitaion-only event to support ALSA. They had hundreds of families and PALS, as well as local chapter’s leadership make the annual trek into DC for this important event which takes the message straight to Capitol Hill. Utilizing technology to its full potential, ALSA not only had hundreds in DC, they brought together thousands of people from around the nation through its virtual Advocacy Day.

ALSA is reporting the 2011 Advocacy Day to be one of the most successful in the event’s history. Just shy of 50 Members of Congress signed onto the ALSA Registry Dear Colleague letter urging the Appropriations Committee to provide $10M for the National ALS Registry in 2012. In Addition, 65 Members signed onto the letter supporting $15M in funding for the ALS Research Program at the Department of Defense.

To learn more about the ALS Association and your local chapter, click here:
www.alsa.org

To see complete photo’s from the event, click on this link and enter the password:
http://scottfoto.zenfolio.com/f60445946
Password is: Gehrig (case sensitive)

Cody Verrett & Eamonn Casey welcome guests at the ATG Rehab sponsored lecture.

A Provider’s Perspective

A Discussion with Mike Mowry, ATG Rehab

Feb 01, 2011
Mike Mowry, ATP, has been with ATG Rehab for more than seven years. A graduate from Quinnipiac University with a degree in health science and gerontology, he provides seating & mobility services to the Connecticut and New York areas.

Before joining ATG Rehab in 2003, Mowry worked in the private sector as an administrator providing services to adults and children with special needs. With ATG, he has worked with a diverse group of consumers, including seniors. But most of his clients now are children and young people with diagnoses ranging from cerebral palsy to muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy…

Rest of Article from Mobility Management…

Investment to enhance company’s national expansion; benefits customers, clinicians and payers

Paul Bergantino succeeds Tim Burfield as CEO; Burfield remains company chairman

Rocky Hill, CT – January 14, 2011 - ATG Rehab, a subsidiary of Assistive Technology Group, Inc., today announced a majority investment by Audax Private Equity, a Boston-based investor in middle market companies with a reputation for spurring growth and creating value. Based in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, ATG Rehab is a national supplier of complex rehab equipment and assistive technologies with 26 offices servicing 19 states.

The company founders, Chuck Wallace, Mike Freedman, Tim Burfield and Bryan Cressey, will remain significant minority investors. Paul Bergantino, who has served as the company’s president for the past five years, will succeed Tim Burfield as CEO and lead the existing management team. Burfield will continue as chairman and be involved in the company’s strategic development.

“We are excited to be investing in an industry leader that holds key process and strategic advantages in an industry poised for continued growth,” said Audax Group Co-CEO Geoffrey S. Rehnert.

“Over the past eleven years, ATG Rehab has become the leading provider of complex rehab equipment thanks to the dedication of our associates and their focus on the needs of our customers,” said Burfield. “We welcome Audax Group’s commitment to our company and the industry. Paul’s promotion to CEO marks the culmination of a five-year succession plan and is a tribute to his outstanding leadership and contribution to our company.  We, along with ATG’s shareholders and management, are excited to be co-investors with Audax Group and look forward to the continued success of ATG Rehab.”

“Audax Group shares ATG Rehab’s vision of transforming the complex rehab industry. Our plan is to continue to lead consolidation efforts within the industry, expanding both our physical presence and focus on providing excellent service and support to our customers,” said Bergantino.

ATG Rehab will continue to be headquartered in Connecticut at its present location at 100 Corporate Place in Rocky Hill. Expanding its presence in the southeastern and northwestern regions of the U.S., the company recently added offices in Oklahoma City, Chattanooga, Tenn.; and in Lynnwood and Tacoma, Wash.

About ATG Rehab

ATG Rehab is one of North America’s leading rehab equipment providers of wheelchairs and mobility equipment with U.S. locations coast to coast. Established in 1999, the ATG Rehab family of companies is privately held with over 26 locations servicing 19 states and is accredited by the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation. ATG Rehab is known for customized customer care with a trained, knowledgeable staff that delivers localized focus and outstanding service.

The company’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 aides, rental equipment and portable ramps.

ATG Rehab has 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 IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cody Verrett, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, 443.829.5789; CVerrett@atgrehab.com

Jenny Smith, Pita Group, 860.293.0157 ext. 15; jenny@thepitagroup.com

The Wheel World Project – An experiment in personal video archiving.  A glimpse into the heart of common desire, shared by those of different ability.  Almost one year ago, a group of extraordinary people came together to share what life is like living it from a wheelchair.  The intention of the video is to illuminate the profound relatedness between all human beings regardless of how mobility is achieved.  The profound relatedness that viewers will experience while watching the video, will open up new lines of communication and comfort between all people.  The Wheel  World Project is a vehicle for changing hearts and minds one voice at a time.  Funds raised by The Wheel World Project will go towards providing wheelchairs for those in need.

The Wheel World Project held it’s premier event on November 13 in Denver Colorado. The project had 46 volunteers and many were ATG Rehab staff giving back to the community that we have the privilege of serving.

Attended by over 240 guests the project is a community event to celebrate the extraordinary in a video presentation. During the event there was live music, nine carnival booths including an iPad booth.  Manual and power chairs for foot-bound people to test their skills maneuvering through an obstacle course and also playing basketball. There was an amazing mural art project plus twenty resource tables.

Two presentations were given, the first a keynote by TWWP video start, Tim Steinbrink followed later in the day by Miss Wheelchair Colorado, Zara Vargues. To get a sense of the fun and learning that was had by all click on the YouTube video and watch the fun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgyvFx0UZnM

This group of distinguished clinician’s included, Dr. Barb Crane, University of Hartford; Lisa Ann Troy, New England Pediatric Care; Val Taff, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Hartford; Gretchen Relva, Hosptital for Special Care; Michelle Kerr, Spaulding Rehabilitation; Caitlin DePalma, Naugatuck Schools; Deb Musumeci, Ability Beyond Disability; Dave Neises, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Theresa Berner, Dodd Hall OSU; Tara Riehm, Lutheran Hospital; and Nancy Shuster, Aces.

In the short evening session, we had a terrific exchange of ideas and input with these individuals and value their attendance and thoughtful feedback.  We found that many of the services and programs we already have in place have made a big impact, but we also learned there are some key additional ways we can further advance our services to clinician’s and customers.

From Left to Right; Gretchen Relva, Tara Riehm, Val Taff, Caitlin DePalma, Theresa Berner, Barb Crane, Lisa Ann Troy, David Neises, Michelle Kerr and Deb Musumeci (not pictured Nancy Shuster)