PALO ALTO, Calif., July 21, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On
July 19, 2021, VA Palo Alto Health
Care System (VAPAHCS) participated in the Operation Mobility Tour
with an event featuring the receipt of a new iBOTĀ® Personal
Mobility Device (PMD) as part of a national donation of 25 devices
to VA Spinal Cord Injury/Disability (SCI/D) Centers around the
country.
"This device is a life-changer making the connection between
technology and human capability. I am excited to see a
collaboration between VA and industry that innovates and supports
the joys of life we sometimes take for granted," said Lisa Howard, VAPAHCS Director and one of the
keynote speakers for the event.
The iBOT PMD is a robotic, multi-modal mobility product that
provides people with disabilities, including disabled Veterans,
with new levels of freedom and independence. It has four driving
modes that allow the user to climb curbs, negotiate terrain
including sand, snow, and hiking trails, move and interact at
eye-level, and even climb stairs. The iBOT PMD also has a remote
mode that facilitates loading it into a motor vehicle.
The iBOT PMD donation is the first engagement coming out of the
VA New England Center for Innovation Excellence (NECIE), benefiting
Veterans by providing life enhancing technology solutions for those
who are experiencing chronic and/or complex illness and injury.
The NECIE is one of the VHA Innovation Ecosystem's National
Centers for Innovation to Impact (NCi2I). VAPAHCS is home to the
National Center for Collaborative Healthcare Innovation (NCCHI),
the first innovation center created under the NCi2I VA that which
leads partnerships to solve the greatest health care challenges
facing Veterans. Located in Silicon Valley, NCCHI collaborates
broadly with industry partners, other government agencies,
academia, and throughout VA to create far reaching positive impact
for our Veterans with cutting-edge technologies.
Visit the Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders Center website to learn
more about the program and innovations used to better the life our
nation's Veterans.
Media Contact
VA Palo Alto Public Affairs, VA Palo Alto Health Care System,
650-858-3925, vapaloaltopublicaffairs@va.gov
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SOURCE VA Palo Alto Health Care System