Spotlight on rehabilitation

Purchasing equipment for a comprehensive rehabilitation program is "patient driven." That means that the equipment needed will be inextricably intertwined with evaluation and restoration of patient function, both medically and psychologically. In addition to being concerned about the traditional managerial functions, that is equipment costs, usefulness, and maintenance, institutional liability, finance, and reimbursement guidelines, Materiel and Purchasing Directors must be knowledgeable about patient safety, rehabilitation QA, and the general impact of QA on direct patient care. As such, Materiel and Purchasing Directors become integral members of the therapeutic interdisciplinary patient care team.