The keys to mobility

from Healthy Living October 2013

Q&A

Central Mobility and Rehab Equipment will go above and beyond to get you moving!

Pierre Amadis lives with spina biﬁda and cannot walk. For him, an ultra-lightweight manual wheelchair is enabling and mobilizing, much like a bicycle or vehicle is to an able-bodied person.

Having a functional, reliable manual wheelchair is paramount for Pierre to maintain quality of life. That is why he has purchased two ultra-lightweight manual wheelchairs at Central Mobility and Rehab Equipment in the past 10 years. Not only is he buying a quality product, he also knows he’ll receive superb follow-up care whenever it needs periodic maintenance work.

Although the 32-year-old lives in Lake Panasoffkee, he has no qualms about making the drive to Tavares. Sure, there are durable medical equipment companies closer to his home, but he enjoys the superior service and attention at Central Mobility. He is particularly impressed with owner Mike Toro, who opened the company in 2003.

“Mike is a personable, genuine guy who truly cares about his clients,” Pierre says. “The reason I’ve been a client of Central Mobility for a decade is because I’m impressed with the staff’s attention to detail and willingness to make sure my manual wheelchair is in tip-top condition. They have always worked with me on a one-on-one basis and treated me as if I was a member of their family. I cannot say enough good things about the company, and I would highly recommend them to anyone who needs durable medical equipment.”

Tackling complex cases

For the past decade, Central Mobility has made an equally positive impression on countless other clients. While the company has grown considerably and now features a 5,500-square-foot showroom, Mike and his team have never wavered in their philosophy of maintaining excellent customer service and going above and beyond for each client.

Central Mobility has become a one-stop shop for durable medical equipment that ranges from wheelchairs and walkers to canes and bathroom safety equipment. However, in recent years, the company has made an increasingly large impact in the ﬁeld of complex rehab. Complex rehab technology meets the medical and functional needs of people with severe disabilities such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, and severe spinal cord or brain injuries.

Mike hired two full-time certiﬁed assistive technology professionals (ATP), David Bedard and Andrew Crooks, who have extensive knowledge with assistive technologies like powered wheelchairs and touchless bathing systems. When facilities such as Lucerne Rehabilitation Hospital or Hallifax Health — both in Orlando — call Central Mobility needing equipment for an individual patient, David and Andrew work with that patient’s team of physicians, physical therapist, and occupational therapist to determine what equipment will help said patient become as functional as possible.

“When we receive a call from an inpatient rehabilitation facility, we visit the client and the team of therapists at the hospital or rehabilitation center,” Mike says. “We tell them what we can offer but leave it up to the family to tell us what to ultimately do. We recommend they research and educate themselves before making a ﬁnal decision. We are not pushy at all. This is an important decision for the client, as well as the family. We encourage them to take their time so they can make the best decision possible. The ultimate goal is to provide them with complex rehabilitation technology that will help them be as independent as possible in every environment they encounter.”

Make no mistake, being involved in complex rehab technology can be extremely stressful. It’s one thing to assist a patient with a sprained ankle, yet quite another to meet the needs and demands of patients with challenging medical caseloads. In addition, trying to satisfy difﬁcult-toplease family members can be equally taxing.

The reason Mike and his team have been successful is because they have an unwavering passion to help these patients. For them, few things in life are as rewarding as making a difference in the lives of people with severe disabilities.

“You have to have passion for this job,” David says. “Mike and I always say you don’t pick this career; it picks you. You are either 100 percent in or you cannot do this job efﬁciently.”

David often ﬁnds himself driving as far away as Daytona Beach or Jacksonville to deliver, service, or repair equipment for clients.

“One time, I did a custommolded body contour for a boy with cerebral palsy,” David says. “The body contour is made with molded foam and ﬁts on the seat of a wheelchair. This helps with body posture support and provides relief to sensitive areas of the body. The boy’s mom was so happy that she sent us a wonderful home-cooked meal. Instances like that remind us why we do this job. Oftentimes, people will write letters or send postcards to us. Without question, the sun shines on us.”

Both Mike and David are also passionate when it comes to educating the community about assistive mobile technology. They donate their time by providing lectures to hospitals, physical therapists, and support groups.

“The reason we give back is because of our passion for this industry,” Mike says. “I am amazed by the number of people out there who have a disease or injury that affects their mobility. We expect our clients to help us help them. If they do that, then we are the right company for them. Work with us and trust us and you will see our relationship ﬂourish. Our goal here is to have patients for life.”

Come visit Central Mobility

Central Mobility combines the latest equipment advances with years of experience and a burning desire to improve lives. Realizing that not everyone has the same mobility limitations, they treat each client as a unique individual.

With a wide range of equipment, the company can service everyone from pediatrics to geriatrics The company’s beautiful 5,500-square-foot showroom features support cushions, C-PAP sleep aids, crutches, toilet seat rails, foam bed pads, patient gowns, PRIDE lift chairs, PRIDE Scooters, diabetic socks, foot orthotics, canes, handheld shower sprays, stockings, and much more. The facility also has a repair shop, a waiting room, a conference room to meet with clients, and a warehouse to stock new equipment.