Port Washington, NY – April 27, 2018

Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare announced that Karen Lerner, Regional VP of Pressure Prevention, will give a presentation titled “Support Surfaces: They’re Not Just for Pressure Injuries” at the 33rd Canadian Seating and Mobility Symposium in Toronto, Ontario on May 2 at 10:45 a.m.

Lerner, RN, MSN, ATP and CWS, will discuss the ethical responsibilities and challenges of controlling pain, treating pressure injuries and the related roles and functions of support surfaces. Gaining an understanding of how and why support surfaces can help effectively manage pain is directly correlated to maintaining client and caregiver satisfaction.

“Pressure injuries are painful, cause suffering and complicate the care and quality of life for the hospice patient,” Lerner said. “Although wound care can be both healing and palliative, if the patient’s wishes and best interests are not taken into consideration, the quality of their end of life could be impaired.”

Support surfaces are most commonly used to help treat pressure injuries, yet studies and research indicate that these surfaces can also provide numerous benefits for those with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, osteoporosis, cancers and other conditions.

“Optimal sleep surfaces can also help common conditions like listlessness, withdrawal, disorientation, depressive moods, ‘sun downing’ and poor concentration,” she said. “An optimal sleep support surface can improve entire pathologies and reduce daytime sleepiness while optimizing care giving.”

However, because the medically indigent population of patients who lack sufficient healthcare insurance and material resources is growing, financial matters become integrally intertwined with support surface considerations and clinical decision making. This means that clinicians may be forced to bend billing or reimbursement rules, lower standards or not suggest clinically relevant support surfaces. According to Lerner, this could affect the quality of care a patient may be capable of receiving due to the lack of needed medical equipment.

The symposium, held on May 1‐ 2 at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto Airport and Conference Centre, is an annual event that provides excellent educational opportunities for those who work in the assistive technology field. The program includes education, exhibitor and business workshops, a new product showcase and networking opportunities.

To learn more about Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare and our line of support surfaces, visit www.drivemedical.com.

About Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare

Headquartered in Port Washington, New York, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare manufactures a complete line of medical products, including mobility, sleep, respiratory, long‐term and personal care, pressure prevention and electrotherapy devices. Currently, the Company has corporate offices, manufacturing facilities and distribution facilities located throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and Asia. The Company markets its products to customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.drivemedical.com.

Contact

Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare
Stephanie K. Murray
Marketing Communications Manager
Email: SMurray@DriveMedical.com
Tel: (814) 443‐7658