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Lynn Gonzales
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The SCOOTER Store
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The SCOOTER Store Completes First Phase of ACHC Accreditation Process
Mobility industry leader hopes other providers will follow suit
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, August 29, 2003—The SCOOTER Store, the nation's leading supplier of power wheelchairs and scooters, has submitted all necessary information to meet the initial requirements for survey by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC). The survey is the first major step to accreditation.
"For more than 12 years, The SCOOTER Store has provided quality products, excellent service and exceptional follow-up," said Margaret McGuckin, executive vice president of marketing. "Internally, we have always adhered to the same demands as those required for ACHC accreditation. Maintaining rigorous standards is and has been inherent in each function within The SCOOTER Store."
McGuckin explained that obtaining accreditation by ACHC reflects the company's longstanding belief that consumers would be better served if all suppliers upheld the same principles as The SCOOTER Store. She added that accreditation by ACHC would supplement The SCOOTER Store's other ongoing efforts to raise standards in the industry.
"We are committed to driving the industry to more stringent professional and ethical business practices to ensure all customers receive the high quality of service and products they expect and deserve," she said.
Company President and CEO Doug Harrison emphasized The SCOOTER Store's commitment to its customers. "Accreditation is important because it represents independent verification that our customers are receiving the highest level of service when they entrust their mobility needs to The SCOOTER Store," he said. "At The SCOOTER Store, always doing the right things isn't just a slogan; it is the principle guiding our personal and professional actions. We believe seeking accreditation is the right thing to do for The SCOOTER Store, and encourage other DME providers to do the same."
Tom Cesar, President and CEO of ACHC, stressed that accreditation standards are based on the consensus of professionals regarding those elements that should exist in a DME supplier organization that has "gone the extra mile" to assure quality.
"Accreditation is a means of measuring the organizational management, internal practices and service outcomes of providers while offering a true consumer Bill of Rights," Cesar said. "Most durable medical equipment suppliers are good and deserve your trust. However, organizations that apply for accreditation, like The SCOOTER Store, are the most serious about maintaining the highest quality service and products."
About The SCOOTER Store
Since 1991, The SCOOTER Store has helped provide freedom and independence to more than 350,000 people with limited mobility. The SCOOTER Store offers a full line of durable medical equipment, including power wheelchairs and scooters, lifts, ramps and accessories in all 48 contiguous states plus Puerto Rico. The SCOOTER Store has worked with more than 110,000 physicians, providing expertise and quality service to their patients, and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.
