NRRTS. What's that?
"I'll tell you one thing, they are so pro these kids! We interact all the time," says Michele Audet, MMSc, PT, ATP at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. At the Seating and Mobility Clinic, she works with rehab technology suppliers from all over the state of Georgia. "We have it good here."
NRRTS? What is this - alphabet soup? What are the initials about anyway?
The National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers will be celebrating 15 years of commitment to raising the standards of the seating and mobility industry.
NRRTS has gained the respect of funding sources and clinicians: The experience and knowledge of NRRTS Registrants assures quality and cost-effective equipment, individualized for the end user.
A Rehabilitation Technology Supplier (RTS) provides enabling technology in the areas of wheeled mobility, seating and alternative positioning, ambulation assistance, environmental control and activities of daily living. RTS is a description, not a title. Anyone employed by a supplier of durable medical equipment who meets the above criteria can use those initials as a description only. But only an RRTS has registered with NRRTS.
To register, an RTS must have a minimum of one year of experience working with a Durable Medical Equipment (DME) employer, have accumulated 15 hours of continuing education credits related to this field, and have submitted an application with a fee.
With the application, the RTS must have confidentially submitted three referrals from professionals: physical therapist, occupational therapist, or M.D., who have worked with the RTS and client as part of a team to assess and evaluate the client, determining the most appropriate assistive technology.
Once accepted by NRRTS, the registrant must continue to earn 15 continuing education credits, CEC’s, annually and submit an annual renewal application with a fee to maintain registration.
When you meet an RRTS™ you're meeting someone dedicated to his/her profession: an RRTS™ is an individual who meets the criteria for registration, goes through the application process and has been recommended for registration with NRRTS.
NRRTS is fifteen years old. Back in 1992, they had 200 registrants, and the number has been steadily growing. Now, the on-line NRRTS directory has a listing of over 800 qualified local suppliers - check out www.nrrts.org to find the one closest to you. Is your wheelchair provider registered or certified?
Wait - that's CERTIFIED. CRTS®, Certified Rehabilitation Technology Supplier®, sets the standards for seating and positioning. When you meet a CRTS® you know this individual has decided to become an expert in their profession.
Well, how do you get certified? The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America takes care of that. Say... RESNA.
RESNA has developed a professional training and certification program. Here are a few more initials you can look for. (Who said alphabet soup? Well, this is some good soup we're talking here: ATS/ATP are RESNA credentials for Assistive Technology Supplier and Assistive Technology Practitioner. RET is Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist, another RESNA credential. You have to receive your ATP prior to obtaining your RET.)
Learn more about RESNA from their website www.resna.org. (Rifton will be exhibiting at the annual RESNA conference - see you in Phoenix AZ, June 15-19, 2007!)
But what about CRTS®? CRTS® is an RRTS™ who has been registered with NRRTS for 2 years and passed the RESNA ATS exam. To maintain this certification, the registrant must obtain 1 CEU (continuing education units) per year.
NRRTS recognizes that in the profession of providing appropriate wheelchairs, seating, positioning and other equipment for those with unique disabilities, here's what's important: Not what is done, but WHY it's done. NRRTS believes that CRTS® is a stronger credential than ATS. This is because it combines a learned knowledge base (ATS) with experience and education (NRRTS Registration).
Families and support providers of children with disabilities already know that therapists understand their child's physical abilities and challenges.
Families should also know that a certified rehabilitation technology supplier knows the equipment. This means knowing how the equipment can best meet the needs of the child and the goals of the child and therapist. In many cases, the knowledge of a CRTS assists the therapist in making equipment recommendations for the family from among the options available.
Contents of this article were reviewed and approved by Judy Vance, NRRTS Director. Learn more about NRRTS from their website www.nrrts.org.
