Page 13 - Mobility Management, October/November 2019

In addition, further advancement in electronics come into play, get 10,000 steps in, but then there are days when you walk 10-plus
as Group 2 was designed for basic sit-and-drive (non-expandable
electronics) by the end user, where Group 3 chairs start to evolve and allow for things like specialty controls and attendant controls (expandable electronics).”
Julie Piriano, PT, ATP/SMS, VP of Clinical Education and Rehab Industry Affairs & Compliance Officer for Pride Mobility Products Corp., pointed out that the differences between Group 2 and Group 3 correlate with the differing needs of their consumers. For example, she referred to the 3-mph top speed of a Group 2 chair compared to a Group 3 chair’s 4.5-mph top speed.
“Minimum top-end speed is important as it is used in bouts,” Piriano explained. “[So] 3 mph is roughly the average walking speed of adults, while 4.5 mph is a brisk walk, much like ambula- tory individuals use when crossing the street. It is not needed all the time, but when it is needed, it is essential to have.”
She also compared battery range: “For an individual that will use their chair continuously, the range or distance per charge is extremely important, especially if they are traversing a multitude of terrains, are closer to the top end of the chair’s weight capacity, must cover long distances, or a combination of all three, which draws a lot more power from the batteries. For anyone that wears an activity tracker, you know that there are days when you barely
miles because of the activities you are engaged in. Wheelchair users need the same capability.”
Group 2 chairs “are fine chairs for certain people; they’re not fine chairs for CRT people,” Stephenson said. “They’re very limited. You can put tilt on a Group 2 base, but it’s essentially a K0823 with a tilt. It doesn’t have the positioning accessories avail- able and the different accommodations for seating. It’s limited in that regard. Powered seating added to a Group 2 [chair] uses up some of the battery range. When you put a powered seating system on [a Group 2 chair] and you’re spending the whole day in it, your 7 miles [of range] is probably down to 4.”
CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS & QUALIFICATIONS
Medicare’s qualifying criteria for Group 2 and Group 3 power chairs include diagnostic information, Stephenson said: “Medicare has one of the biggest differentials between Group 2 and Group 3, based on your medical condition and what is causing your mobility limitation. If your mobility limitation is due to a neuro- logical condition, a myopathy or a congenital/skeletal deformity, you should be a Group 3 patient because these are the condition classes that they have identified as needing Group 3.”
But don’t misread that a neurological condition, myopathy or
Hear Robert’s story and discover QUICKIE 2 at... www.SunriseMedical.com/MYQ2
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