BCHS receives gift of standup wheelchair
A standing wheelchair sounds like an oxymoron, a combination of contradictory words. But, for a person confined to a wheelchair, the opposite is true.
A standing wheelchair is a device that allows people confined to a sitting position, to be mechanically elevated to their feet while still being supported. This assistive technology is relatively new to the industry, but through a gift from the Ruth Trubey family, the hospital now has one to help staff more easily create a positive standing therapy for patients who are otherwise confined to a traditional wheelchair.
Ruth Trubey, a life-long resident of Battle Creek was confined to a wheelchair due to complications from osteoporosis. In March 2004 her son Ken purchased a standing wheelchair for her. The chair gave her a more 'normal' perspective on the world in spite of her handicap. According to her son, she loved that chair and often spoke about how she wished others might have the same opportunities it provided her. When she died, her son decided to honor his mother by donating the chair to Battle Creek Health System's outpatient rehabilitation services department.
The Standing Wheelchair Company, the organization that build the wheelchair for the Trubeys, modified the chair to accommodate a variety of BCHS wheelchair patients.
Representatives from the Standing Wheelchair Company were on-hand recently to train the BCHS therapy staff on the specialized wheelchair's use. (L-R) Konstantinos Sevastopoulos, PTA at BCHS; Raymond Maczik, vice president of The Standing Company; and Kenneth Trubey put the standing wheelchair through its paces.
The BCHS rehab department develops and delivers individual rehabilitation programs to meet patients' personal and medical needs--helping the patients regain and maximize their individual levels of independence. The staff works with the patient to establish rehabilitation goals, address current needs, and plan for the future.
Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic health system in the U.S. with 12 hospitals, 9 nursing homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Battle Creek Health System as a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm). HealthGrades is a leading health care information company that provides objective 'report card' ratings nationwide. BCHS provides excellent health care for the community and promotes wellness for the whole person with access and compassion for all. For the latest medical information, visit the BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.
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