Invacare Rehab Van Rolls Again in 2010

ELYRIA, Ohio — Invacare Corp. is shifting into high gear
this year with its Rehab Van, currently traversing the roadways of
America. Outfitted with 25 mobility products ranging from power and
manual wheelchairs to handcycles and seating and positioning
equipment, the van will cover the United States by year’s end,
stopping at medical centers, Veterans Administration and rehab
hospitals and other venues.

“This is the second year for the rehab van to be in the field,
and we have received tremendous response in our first year and thus
far in 2010,” according to Julie Jackson, Invacare’s director of
rehab product management, adding that the van “allows us to reach
providers and clinicians on the front lines of our business.”

The van features 400 cubic feet of exhibition space on a rolling
platform. Jackson said the company’s territory business managers
work with local rehab providers and referral centers to pinpoint
large spaces such as parking lots or indoor areas in which to stage
the products. But the van isn’t just meant for health
professionals.

“[We] want to be sure to meet consumers who would like the
opportunity to see the latest products,” Jackson said.

Rolled out in 2009, by August of last year the van had stopped
in more than 75 venues; so far in 2010, nearly 50 sites have
already been booked. This week, for example, the van is making
stops in Tennessee, Asheville, N.C., and Greenville, S.C.

The van, which allows hands-on product demonstrations and test
drives, is part of a strategy that also includes a rehab-specific
Web site complete with video demos, both devised to make it easier
to see and learn about the manufacturer’s newest introductions.
Invacare is also offering a variety of CEU-certified rehab
education courses through its CARES-Rehabilitation Technology
program.

Check the complete 2010 van schedule on Invacare’s rehab
Web site.