As we have discussed, I graduated with a B.S. in Physical Therapy from the University of Kansas in 1982. I spent 18 years practicing Physical Therapy in many different settings, including acute care, rehabilitation, sports medicine and home health. In 2000, I stepped away from Physical Therapy (while maintaining my PT license) to pursue a business opportunity in product development. I am the founder and owner of Paceline Products, Inc. My company has grown from a start up to a highly successful manufacturer of skin care products for athletes and also a bicycle products distribution company. Paceline Products, Inc. was recognized with the 25 under 25 award by the Kansas City Small Business Journal in 2009. Since then we have continued to grow steadily. In my job, I am constantly developing our own new products, and I am constantly approached by new product developers to evaluate their new products in consideration for distribution to bicycle specialty and sporting good dealers who are our customers. Our customers include companies like REI, Amazon, Performance Bike, Scheels Sporting Goods, and hundreds of others. It is my job and expertise to identify good ideas and good products, and to assess their functionality and their potential for sales.

The MOCA system impresses me with the originality and complexity of design, but the simplicity of function. It is my strong opinion, that the MOCA system has tremendous potential to make an evolutionary change in how temporarily and permanently disabled individuals can be assisted in movement. I believe it has tremendous potential to reduce health care costs, to reduce potential injury to health care workers and patients, to speed recovery and to increase independence of permanently disabled individuals. With acute patients, I believe it can aid health care workers to more safely and efficiently mobilize and rehabilitate patients. For patients with a long course of rehabilitation, it should be able to speed that recovery, and allow patients more safe independent mobility earlier in their recovery. For permanently disabled patients, I believe it has the potential to allow many patients who are permanently dependent, to have a significant increase in their independence in mobility and Activities of Daily Living.

Aiding the mobility of disabled individuals has always been a tremendous challenge in acute, rehabilitative and long term care settings. The equipment that has been developed to aid in moving patients in and out of beds, wheelchairs, treatment tables, hydrotherapy pools, toilets, showers, etc., is very costly, is cumbersome to use, is severely limited in its maneuverability and function, and is difficult for even a trained professional to use. Beds, walls, doorways and furniture all severely hamper the use of this equipment. Many times the mobile and stationary hoist durable medical equipment, as well as ceiling track hoist equipment is too costly and cumbersome to be utilized. Many non-highly trained staff can’t use it well, and highly trained staff find it too slow and cumbersome to use on a constant basis. It also predisposes the patient to dependence instead of independence. With further development of the MOCA mechanism, including the development of remote control potential of the MOCA system for lifting and movement, I believe the potential for increased independence and potentially improved ability for upright activities is impressive.”

Steven Mathews – Physical Therapist – President – Paceline Products

This system could have applications in health care institutions, rehabilitation centers, and especially in patient homes to improve independence and mobility and decrease the physical stresses and strains on health care workers and family care givers.”

Thomas Schaecher – Liscensed Physical Therapist

As a practicing cardiologist, I support innovative technologies that can improve efficiencies and have a keen interest in working with Mr. Burke on this project.”

Alan Zajarias, MD – Assistant Professor of Medicine Washington University School of Medicine

The independence that can be gained from such a system would improve the lives of people with all types of disabilities in ways able bodied people cannot begin to imagine; increase self-sufficiency, pride, self-esteem, self-worth are real benefits that are impossible to truly measure. I am equally encouraged by the potential cost savings to people who fight for every bit of funding they can in order to pay for someone else to take care of them. This often means sacrifices in other areas of their daily lives. The investment in this equipment could have very tangible cost benefits for people who already have limited resources.

I am very excited about the potential of this type of equipment and the possibilities it could hold for people with disabilities. Triality would certainly be interested in being a pilot for your project should you need one. Thank you for the work you do and your desire to improve the lives of people with different abilities.”

Wendy Witcig – Executive Director, Triality