Barclay ShepardBarclay ShepardVirginia Assistive Technology System Virginia Assistive Technology System

(VATS)(VATS)

AT Reuse: Partnership and Funding Opportunities:

Healthcare, Aging, Veterans and VR!

Funding Tight: Partnerships Key

• Find common elements in missions

• Where are there potential opportunities?

• Can you get a foot in the door?

• In Virginia, DME Medical Model Aligns with:– Healthcare– Aging– Veterans– VR

Funding and Partnership Opportunities: Healthcare

• High volume of uninsured, underinsured

• Acute care – not receiving equipment

• Result: Increased ER visits; hospitalizations

• F.R.E.E. Outcome Surveys – With Equipment

Economic Impact Economic Impact When individuals don’t have appropriate When individuals don’t have appropriate equipment and at risk fall, the resulting costs equipment and at risk fall, the resulting costs are numerous and dramatic:are numerous and dramatic:

•Increased hospital staysIncreased hospital stays•More emergency room visitsMore emergency room visits•More doctor’s office visitsMore doctor’s office visits•More or longer stays: Rehab/SNFMore or longer stays: Rehab/SNF•Lost wages of individuals who cannot return to workLost wages of individuals who cannot return to work•Lost wages of family members forced to leave jobs to Lost wages of family members forced to leave jobs to become caregiversbecome caregivers

Source: The FREE Foundation

Healthcare Continued

• Partnership Opportunities:– Volunteers– Space– Equipment/Parts

• Funding Opportunities:– Makes business sense – Community/Healthcare Foundations– Monroe E. Trout Premier Cares Award (2013) “Innovative programs help medically underserved”

Demonstrated: Health Improvement Outcomes / Replication with positive results

Veterans

• VA Hospitals: Central Point for HC

• Less concerned with reuse for Veterans

• Foot In Door!

• Surplus of DME-What to do? (Reuse)

• AT Program Surplus (Open Ended Loan)– Adaptive computer equipment– IPods

Aging• Mission: Foster independence and well being…• AAAs• Title V: Work• F.R.E.E.’s Outcomes Data Demonstrates Need• Various Commissions and Boards• Partnership Opportunities:

– Marketing Reuse Program– Donations– Space– Connect with Underserved areas

VR: Making It Rain!

Partnership and Funding Happenings!

2011PIOC Survey of VR Agencies:What amount of funds did your agency spend in FY 2011 on AT devices & DME?

• Under $100,000 8.7%

• $100,000 - $499,000 17.4%

• $499,000 - $999,000 26.1%

• $1,000,000- $1,999,000 21.7%

• Over $2,000,000 26.1%

Do you believe your agency would conserve case service funds if it had a well-crafted system in place to reclaim, safely reutilize, and reassign AT and DME that clients no longer needed?

• 82.6% said “Yes”

Does your agency currently reclaim, reuse, reassign AT/DME?

• 78.3% said “Yes”

What are the barriers to reclaiming, reutilizing and reassigning AT/DME?

– Lack of storage; No consistent system; Clients lost to follow-up

Virginia VR & Reuse

Preliminary funding through ARRA Pilot; Continued funding through VR

Problem: Informal relationships between VR and Reuse Programs – 1 or 2 individuals; Poorly accessed; No provider of “Back-Up DME”

• Market & educate VR staff about the benefits of reuse.

• VR Participants access to “back-up” DME to support employment goals.

• Formalize the process of VR Clients or their families donating gently used AT/DME to reuse programs

VR / Reuse Results!• VATS & FREE Foundation presented to RD, VR field

office , Rehab Technology Service meetings statewide

• (391) VR Participants served by Reuse Programs since January 20102010= 142011= 202012= 402013= 352014= 1502015= 132 (Through 1st Three Qtrs.)

• Cost Savings to VR Participants = Over $120K • Increased donations from VR Participants!

VRCSI Virginia: VR Closure Scene Investigation

Reuse Solutions Revealed and Closed!

Ode to Joy: “The case of the missing toilet”

• Solution: VR program OTs & Rehab Engineers access Reuse program for temporary equipment while bathroom being re-modeled.

The Sack Files:“Want the Job…Look the Part!”

• VR Purchased scooter for Participant while in College

• Scooter was functional but “ratty looking”

• Accessed VRN for a newer / more professional looking scooter for interview

• Client got the job!

• Solution: VR program Counselors access

Reuse program for back-up DME!

The Persaud Effect:“DME…or not to DME?”

• Individual with MH/SA

• Change in condition (cancer)

• Services Interrupted (SI)

• Family needs WC for medical appointments

• Taken out of SI moving forward

– to working toward Vocational Goals

• Good Re-gifting!

Solution: VR Counselors access the Reuse program to help a Client get equipment not in the Employment Plan!

Scherer’s Rally: “Sturgis Munchies”

Solution: Made a cart for selling candy that attached to the front of the consumers power wheelchair

Left Coast Custom…

Solution: Custom bathroom equipment not covered by insurance…

Buzzell fo’ Shizzel:Quest for a 26!

Solution: Custom library cart for a VR Client!

“Golden Acres”AgrAbility Success!

Solution: Engineers use reused sling to allow more personal face-to-face interaction with customers!

Golden Acres Continued!

Solution: Engineers use motors from reused scooters to design a custom tractor lift!

Sonja’s Journey:“If I Only had a…Part!”

Solution: Rehab Engineers access the Reuse program for specialized parts to refurbish Client equipment!

Other VR/ Reuse Examples…We Need Back-Up!

• Power Chairs for back-up at work or home

• Wheelchairs, bathroom safety equipment, and ambulatory assistive devices to use for assessments or waiting for equipment to be delivered.

• State Rehab Center needing AT for instruction (Voc Eval and Nurse’s Aide)

Virginia Reuse Network Locations