The need for this assistive technology is bore from years of government research that demonstrated that of the one million lower extremity joint replacements (LEJRs) performed each year, over 200,000 patients resided in rural areas and over half of the total number of LEJRs performed has surgeries performed at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The cost of these procedures for hospitalization alone cost the government over $9M per year and are expected to grow over 60% over the next decade. Meanwhile, the number of physical therapists needed to meet the rehab process requirements is set to increase by only 60% in this time frame; leaving a sizeable gap in the rehabilitation services needed to ensure proper recovery and that the Medicaid/Medicare funds were justifiable.

Rural patients (especially older adults) are at higher risk for an ineffective recovery from these surgeries due to lack of access to rehabilitation facilities, transportation, compliance enforcement, and inability to follow complex post-op rehabilitation instructions.
CreateAbility Concepts, Inc. was chosen by the USDA to receive a grant for the development of Mobility Coach, an assistive technology that will improve rural patient-provider interaction by post-surgery progress, monitoring physical therapy, and determining next steps to achieve the best possible outcomes for these rural patients. Patients will be armed with a device, software, appropriate monitors, and step-by-step visual demos that will:

• Provide daily exercise instruction to the patient
• Measure, record and report patient compliance data and pain medication usage
• Empower the patient to prescribe and push new exercises on prescribed basis
• Facilitate interactions between the patient and the PT in the form of Q & A’s as video     consultations

Phase One demonstrated the feasibility and utility of a prototype wearable sensor. Phase two milestones are currently under way and consist of the development of final requirements, enhance the Mobility Coach prototype design, perform extended field evaluations, and finally, develop the final software.

According to Steve Sutter, the principle investigator on the project, “Physical Therapists and Orthopedic Surgeons tell us repeatedly, that exercise post replacement is crucial to achieving the desired goal of pain free mobility and return to functionality. Mobility Coach measures the patient’s range-of-motion and number of reps completed. Results are presented to the patient, and the cloud for remote monitoring.”

Demonstration units will be shipping later this summer.

Mobility Coach, when launched, will be used by clinicians, physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons as an invaluable tool that will save time and money through faster recovery and reduction of expensive interventions. Mobility Coach will provide them with a high-level dashboard that will display the progress (or lack thereof) of all active patients, allow them to match methods to each patient individually, monitor and analyze predictive analysis, and initiate/answer questions in video visit sessions.

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About CreateAbility, Inc.

CreateAbility strives to improve the dignity, security, and quality of life for people who are trying to maintain varying degrees of independence, but who need assistive technologies. Our mission is to create innovative products that help them flourish beyond their current capability. Our interactive health and safety monitoring software solutions help caregivers deliver an affordable blend of care, 24/7 that nurtures independence.

We serve caregivers, agencies, and organizations devoted to helping older adults, people with intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health issues.

About the USDA

The USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.

We have a vision to provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; to promote agriculture production that better nourishes Americans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve our Nation’s natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands.

Our strategic goals serve as a roadmap for the Department to help ensure we achieve our mission and implement our vision.

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For more information on this press release, please contact:

Kerri A. Pinger

Market & Sales Support Administrator

CreateAbility, Inc.

kerri@createabilityinc.com

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