28 Years of Mobile Assistive Technology Clinics at Gillette

Children’s Specialty Healthcare

David C. Wilkie

Manager, Assistive Technology/Mobile Outreach Clinics

Minnesota Hospital for Indigent Crippled & Deformed Children

Gillette State Hospital for Crippled Children

Gillette Children’s Hospital1897 - 1976

1985Windom -

Why not come to

us?• Windom (165 miles)

• St. Paul

Cycle with sidecar becomes first outreach vehicle

1985• Seating & Adaptive

Equipment• Orthotics and

Prosthetics• Windom• Director’s Desk for

work bench

1986

• Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center

• Northern Wisconsin Center Chippewa Falls, Wis.

• Seating, Adaptive Equipment and Orthotics

Typical problems in the early 80’s

First Van 1986

SCH connection -1987• Services for Children

with Handicaps (now MCSHN) - kids

• July = Seating & Orthotics for Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center

• November = Seating & Orthotics for RTC & SCH

1989

• STAR grant adds “assistive technology” services to unserved and underserved rural areas of the State

• STAR funds “AT” Clinics - far corners of the State

1990

•

• St. Paul• Chippewa Falls, WI

• Fergus Falls

Windom

• St. Peter

• Moose Lake

• • Austin (110)

Owatonna (70)

• Thief River Falls (300)

Worthington •

Services expand in 1990

• Ford Step Van from Friends of Gillette

• AAC, Computer Demonstration Equipment

• MCSHN, RTC continue• Trade ramp for lift• Patti joins Gillette

•

New truck has power lift - what a relief!

Set up at Mankato clinic• Regional Treatment Center-

PT/OT Gym• Library (only once)• Church - Chapel, Classrooms,

Gym• Hospital - Clinic & Conference

Rooms• Schools - Conference Room,

Gym, Stage Warm up Room • Performing Arts Make up Room• American Legion/ VFW - Bingo

Hall

Chuck Schemitsch modifies a brace at Mankato clinic

1991-1993

•

• St. Paul• Chippewa Falls, WI

•

Windom

• St. Peter

• Moose Lake

• • Austin

Owatonna

• Thief River Falls

Worthington •

Fergus Falls •Brainerd (135)• (75) St. Cloud

• Duluth (150)

• International Falls (290)

•Mankato (90)• (180) Marshall

•Hibbing (190)

Snow! October 31, 1991

• First clinic cancellation on November 1st - to St. Cloud (75 miles)

• The snow lasted through May that winter.

1995

•

• St. Paul• Chippewa Falls, WI

•

Windom

• St. Peter

• Moose Lake

• • Austin

Owatonna

• Thief River Falls

Worthington •

Fergus Falls • Brainerd

• St. Cloud

• Duluth

• Eveleth• Red Lake

• Alexandria

• Grand Rapids(180)

• Marshall • Mankato

• Roseau (350)

• Monticello

• International Falls

1995

• Arts for All at clinics in Brainerd & Owatonna

• Consultant to find minorities in greater Minnesota

• Diversity Training• SureFit Patent• Translate Brochures• Translate Fliers

Development of Community Action Networks

1996

12

3 4

56

7

1998-2001

• United Way of Steele Co. funds Owatonna clinics

• Mankato United Way funds clinics in Mankato

• United Way of Mower County funds clinics in Austin

• United Way of Kandiyohi funds clinics in Willmar

• All Regional Treatment Center funding ends

• Willmar Planning Committee begins work to bring clinics to Willmar

• Rice Health Foundation funds Willmar clinics

• STAR funds ATNs, ATNs fund clinics

• Dr. Murphy joins Gillette and supports outreach clinics

1999

• CMN Sponsors New Business Class Freightliner Truck - Diesel engine and air-ride suspension :)

2000The Elephants are Coming in Mankato!

2002

• Gillette receives contract from MCSHN to coordinate their PMR/Assistive Technology Clinics

2003 - 2004

• WAISE Foundation funds Freightliner crew cab truck

• Work Benches• Tools• Demo Equipment

– AAC

– Computer Access

– EADLs

Telemedicine evaluation clinic added in 2004

• Seating evaluations with the staff of Rice Memorial Hospital

• PT, Vendor, Client, Family in Willmar

• Seating Specialist in New Brighton

• Saves evaluation time on the road

CurrentSpecialty

Medical and Assistive

TechnologySites

• St. Paul

•

• Albert Lea

Owatonna

• Baxter/Brainerd

• Aurora

• Duluth

• Alexandria

• Grand Rapids

• Marshall • Mankato/St. Peter

• Roseau

• Willmar

• Bemidji

•

• International Falls

• Crookston

Detroit Lakes

HistoricalSites

•

• St. Paul• Chippewa Falls, WI

•

Windom

•

• Moose Lake

• • Austin

Owatonna

• Thief River Falls

Worthington •

Fergus Falls • Baxter/Brainerd

• St. Cloud

• Duluth

• Eveleth, Hibbing, & Virginia• Red Lake

• Alexandria

• Grand Rapids

• Marshall • Mankato

• Roseau

• Willmar

• Cloquet

• Bemidji

• Detroit Lakes• Park Rapids

• LaCresent & Winona

• RochesterNew Ulm•

• Red Wing

•

• International Falls

•

• Crookston

• Monticello

• Ah-gwah-ching

St. Peter• Fairbault

• Aurora

Albert Lea •

2005

Miles Saved2000 = 254,7002004 = 273,9602008 = 882,8402012 = 963,860

2013

Number of Services 1985 - 2012

0500

100015002000

2500300035004000

45005000

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

2006

2009

2012

641 664 629797

942 883

10981030960

1215

1480

28 49232

523 559 593722

630537 559 625 575

675 700

925

1415

1653

1964

158415681615

21132000

2201

2416

2626

30693253

0

250

500

750

1000

1250

1500

1750

2000

2250

2500

2750

3000

3250

3500

1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012

Physician & NP

AT Services

AT Services 1985-2012, Physician & NP Services 2002-2012

Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare

• Gillette Sign?

• Gillette Symbols - bird, tree, flower, etc?