It is a harsh reality that veterans in the United States confront enduring physical
and emotional challenges stemming from their military service.
Effective healthcare solutions, especially in pain management,
physical therapy, and rehabilitation, are crucial for their
recovery. Meeting these needs is essential to honoring their
service and offering them the necessary support for overall health
and a fulfilling post-service experience.
BROOKFIELD, Conn., Aug. 5, 2024
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- United
States veterans exemplify unparalleled honor and sacrifice,
having dedicated their lives to serving and protecting the nation,
often enduring significant physical and emotional hardships in the
process. Approximately 4.7 million veterans in the United States have a service-connected
disability, highlighting the critical need for effective
rehabilitation to support their health and well-being. (1)
"Prioritizing the care of military veterans and their physical
injuries is essential to ensure their quality of life, as it honors
their service and sacrifices" states Steve Siegel, President
of ROMTech. He explains that the company is on a mission to
guarantee that every veteran in the country has access to the
proven benefits of physical rehabilitation from the comfort of
their homes.
Returning from deployment, many wounded veterans face a
challenging journey towards recovery and reintegration, with
rehabilitation being pivotal in supporting them as they regain
functionality, adjust to new challenges, and ultimately enhance
their quality of life. Physical therapy for veterans facing
surgeries such as hip or knee replacements, and Cardiac
Rehabilitation for those dealing with heart disease plays a crucial
role in veteran care, but accessibility to this kind of treatment
may be limited due to several factors.
Understanding the Impact of Physical Injuries on Veterans'
Lives
Physical injuries significantly impact veterans in numerous ways,
affecting their physical health, mental well-being, and overall
quality of life. Examples on how these injuries affect veterans
include but are not limited to: (2)
Physical Health:
- Chronic Pain: Many veterans suffer from chronic pain due to
injuries sustained during service. In fact, chronic pain is more
prevalent and of greater intensity in Veterans than in the general
population. This can lead to long-term disability and a decreased
ability to perform daily activities. (3)
- Mobility Issues: Amputations, spinal cord injuries, and
degenerative musculoskeletal diseases, including Osteoarthritis,
can severely limit mobility, making it challenging for veterans to
move freely and maintain independence.
- Secondary Health Problems: Physical injuries can lead to other
health issues, such as cardiovascular problems, obesity, and
diabetes, due to reduced physical activity and the stress of
managing chronic pain.
- Opioid Use: Managing Chronic Pain or postoperative pain while
limiting the risk of opioid usage is an important factor to
consider. Use of opioids, either by themselves or in combination
with other drugs, is a major driver of the drug overdose crisis in
the United States. (4)
Social and Economic Impact:
- Employment Challenges: Physical disabilities can limit job
opportunities and make it difficult for veterans to find and
maintain employment, leading to financial instability.
- Social Isolation: Mobility issues and health struggles can lead
to social isolation, as veterans may find it difficult to engage in
social activities or maintain relationships.
Effective rehabilitation and comprehensive support systems are
essential to help veterans manage these effects and improve their
quality of life.
Empowering Veterans Through In-Home Rehabilitation
Proven rehabilitation procedures and physical therapy are crucial
in veteran's recovery, aiding in recovery from physical injuries
such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries,
amputations, and orthopedic issues by improving mobility, strength,
and functionality. They are significant for pain management,
offering non-pharmacological methods to manage chronic pain, reduce
reliance on pain medications, and enhance quality of life.
Additionally, they help prevent secondary conditions by promoting
regular physical activity, preventing complications like muscle
atrophy, joint stiffness, and cardiovascular issues. (5)
"Disruptive technologies offer promising solutions to the
complex challenges faced by veterans with physical injuries and
heart disease," explains Siegel. "By enhancing rehabilitation
outcomes and fostering remote patient-provider communication, these
innovations empower veterans to regain physical function, manage
chronic pain, and restore their sense of well-being, ultimately
improving their quality of life."
Challenges Facing VA Healthcare in Serving Injured Veterans
Despite the mission and dedication of the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) to provide healthcare, it faces numerous challenges in
delivering adequate care to injured veterans. Veterans often have
complex health needs, including multiple physical issues, which
require comprehensive and coordinated care. The high demand for VA
healthcare services can sometimes exceed available resources, which
may lead to longer wait times. (6) Additionally, administrative
backlogs can occasionally delay access to benefits.
"From our experience working with veterans, one thing that is
very evident is that many of them don't live around the metropolis
or near big cities. And they struggle with mobility issues, so
getting to the facilities to see their physicians is a huge issue
in many cases", Siegel stresses. According to the VAs Office of
Rural Health (ORH), 4.7 million Veterans live in rural areas, and
more than 2.8 million of those Veterans rely on the VA for their
health care. (7)
These challenges illustrate the multifaceted issues the VA faces
in providing adequate care to injured veterans, along with those
needing access to cardiac rehabilitation, highlighting the need for
ongoing reforms and adopting emerging technology and alternatives
to traditional care.
ROMTech's PortableConnect Revolutionizes Home Rehabilitation
ROMTech's flagship product, the PortableConnect, is an
American-made rehabilitation system delivered to the veteran's home
and controlled by their clinician that combines telemedicine with
physical therapy to provide patients with a convenient and
effective means of recovering from Orthopedic and Cardiovascular
surgeries, and other injuries at home. (8) This device allows
patients to perform prescribed activities, track their progress,
and communicate with healthcare providers remotely, improving
overall recovery outcomes and patient satisfaction. It is the
subject of peer-reviewed studies and has been proven effective in
rehabilitating over 75,000 patients nationwide.
Recent studies have found that rehabilitation using a
home-based, clinician-controlled device after total knee
arthroplasty significantly improves knee movement, reduces pain,
and enhances knee function compared to traditional physical
therapy. (9)
"The PortableConnect is revolutionizing physical therapy care
for veterans by bringing therapy directly to their homes," explains
Siegel. "This innovative device eliminates the need for travel,
ensuring veterans, especially those in remote areas, receive
high-quality care. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, the
PortableConnect supports the recovery process, allowing veterans to
perform their therapy conveniently."
This disruptive technology provides timely access to physical
therapy equipment, supporting patients with healthier recovery
options that often reduce reliance on medication. ROMTech has
already facilitated rapid recoveries for more than 150 veterans
using this breakthrough technology, and it is increasingly being
utilized by many VA facilities across the US.
Robbie Fitzgerald, a veteran of
both the Army and Air Force, explains how the PortableConnect has
changed his life. Injured in 1989, he faced long-term knee issues,
culminating in bilateral knee replacements. ROMTech's device played
a pivotal role in his recovery, offering a pain-free, efficient,
and narcotic-free rehabilitation experience.
"The first day using it I did 5 therapy sessions on the device
and felt great. My pain was gone, and I was able to stop taking
narcotics entirely, and I haven't taken any since," Robbie
emphasized. "If I had to choose just one thing to use for recovery
after surgery, I would choose the ROMTech PortableConnect over
anything else, including traditional in-person physical therapy. It
made the most impact in my post-surgery therapy."
Patients using ROMTech's PortableConnect required fewer
prescription painkillers compared to their counterparts using
traditional methods. (10) This decreased reliance on narcotics can
contribute to lower addiction rates in the future.
Today, Robbie now enjoys hiking without pain, a testament to the
effectiveness of the ROMTech PortableConnect. His experience
underscores the device's potential to revolutionize post-operative
rehabilitation, offering a faster, pain-free recovery and improved
outcomes for knee replacement.
Cardiac Rehab Technology: Transforming Recovery
In addition to physical rehabilitation, ROMTech's innovative
solutions extend to cardiac rehabilitation, offering comprehensive
support to veterans recovering from heart-related conditions.
"I am doing much better thanks to ROMTech. I'd give 10 out of 10
stars for overall satisfaction with my Cardiac Rehab program. The
therapy was a valuable resource, and I really enjoyed the program.
I've lost weight since completing the program and I am feeling
fantastic," shares a cardiac patient.
ROMTherapy™ tracks vitals while patients exercise at home,
offering on-screen, face-to-face evaluation and monitoring with
highly trained Cardiac Rehab Specialists. Studies show that
individuals who attend 36 sessions have a 47% lower risk of death
and a 31% lower risk of heart attack than those who attend only one
session. (11)
ROMTech and Lovell Government Services Partner to Transform
Veteran Healthcare
In a transformative move to enhance federal healthcare, Lovell
Government Services and ROMTech have partnered to provide
innovative solutions to systems like the Veterans Health
Administration, the Military Health System, and the Indian Health
Service. As ROMTech's Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
vendor, Lovell will facilitate access to these customers through
federal contracting systems.
"ROMTech's PortableConnect aims to modernize medical
rehabilitation, providing aid at some critical points in the VA
system to generate more success in treating our veterans," said
Siegel. This partnership ensures veterans receive effective,
convenient, and timely care, improving their recovery outcomes and
overall well-being. Providing advanced at-home therapy options,
ROMTech is enhancing accessibility and quality of care for veterans
nationwide with the PortableConnect.
About ROMTech:
Combining innovation with cutting-edge telemedicine technology,
ROMTech® (ROM Technologies Inc.) achieves unparalleled patient
outcomes. Based in Brookfield,
Connecticut, and founded in 2013, ROMTech® delivers enhanced
diagnostics and quicker postoperative recovery at a decreased cost,
remotely connecting clinicians and patients across the country.
Their patented and groundbreaking rehabilitation technology is
designed to serve a variety of indications and improve patient
outcomes, cutting the cost of care, and overhauling the way
postoperative orthopedic & cardiac rehabilitation are
delivered. Named one of the top 25 companies in Connecticut, the company's inclusion serves as
a springboard for further advancements and cements its role as an
innovator in the healthcare technology sector. It paves the way for
continued growth, partnerships, and transformative developments
that have established them as developers of The Modern Technology
of Medical Rehabilitation®. For more information visit
https://romtech.com/.
References
1. "Interagency Task Force on Military and Veterans Mental Health"
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 1 Sept.
2017,
mentalhealth.va.gov/about/data-reporting/itf-data.asp.
2. Walker, Lauren E, et al. "Longitudinal Mental Health Outcomes of
Combat-Injured Service Members." Brain and Behavior, U.S. National
Library of Medicine, 11 May 2021,
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8119815/.
3. "VA Research on Pain Management." U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs, Sept. 2020.
4. "Drug Overdose Death Rates." National Institute on Drug Abuse,
National Institutes of Health, 14 May
2024,
nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates.
5. Munda, Tanushree. "Military Physical Therapy: Everything You
Need to Know." Mantra Care, 31 Jan.
2023,
mantracare.org/physiotherapy/pt/military-physical-therapy/.
6. Rasmussen, Petra, and Carrie M Farmer. "The Promise and
Challenges of VA Community Care: Veterans' Issues in Focus." Rand
Health Quarterly, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 16 June 2023,
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10273892/.
7. "Rural Health." research.va.gov, U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs, 2019, research.va.gov/topics/rural_health.cfm.
8. "Romtech and the PortableConnect Help Patients with Advanced
Telemedicine Technology." GlobeNewswire News Room, ROMTech,
1 Nov. 2021,
globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/11/01/2324653/0/en/ROMTech-And-The-PortableConnect-Help-Patients-With-Advanced-Telemedicine-Technology.html.
9. Summers, Spencer H., et al. "A Home-Based,
Remote-Clinician-Controlled, Physical Therapy Device Leads to
Superior Outcomes When Compared to Standard Physical Therapy for
Rehabilitation after Total Knee Arthroplasty." The Journal of
Arthroplasty, Oct. 2022,
doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2022.10.009.
10. "Romtech and Lovell Announce Partnership to Increase Access to
the Portableconnect® At-Home Rehab System for VA, DOD." WATE 6 On
Your Side, 26 Mar. 2024,
wate.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/698582702/romtech-and-lovell-announce-partnership-to-increase-access-to-the-portableconnect-at-home-rehab-system-for-va-dod/.
11. "Cardiac Rehabilitation at a Glance." Millionhearts.hhs.gov,
Million Hearts®, 22 Apr. 2020,
millionhearts.hhs.gov/data-reports/factsheets/cardiac.html.
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