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Andy Searls delivers crutches and knee braces to the Shaw Cancer Center in Edwards. Searls volunteers at the medical equipment library at the Shaw Cancer Center. The library lends patients wheelchairs, crutches and other equipment for those who cannot afford to buy their own.
EDWARDS - Eagle County now has a new kind of library. Instead of books, this library loans crutches, walkers and wheelchairs.
The idea for the new library came from a couple of local women with ties to Vail Valley Medical Center. Andy Searls is a member of the hospital's volunteer corps. Kathy Myers is a volunteer for the local hospice program, which helps terminally ill patients die comfortably at home.
The hospice for a few years had been loaning patients medical equipment including walkers, wheelchairs and such. When Vail Valley Medical Center took over hospice service, though, the equipment loans stopped because of concerns about possible lawsuits if the equipment failed and a patient was hurt.
"We thought there must be another way to do this," Searls said.
So she and Myers got in touch with Tsu Wolin Brown, the case worker for the local chapter of the Salvation Army. Brown checked with the Denver office, cleared the idea with the local board and its attorney, and agreed.
While the hospital won't run the program, it is helping. It has provided equipment storage space in the Shaw Cancer Center in Edwards.
The idea for the new library came from a couple of local women with ties to Vail Valley Medical Center. Andy Searls is a member of the hospital's volunteer corps. Kathy Myers is a volunteer for the local hospice program, which helps terminally ill patients die comfortably at home.
The hospice for a few years had been loaning patients medical equipment including walkers, wheelchairs and such. When Vail Valley Medical Center took over hospice service, though, the equipment loans stopped because of concerns about possible lawsuits if the equipment failed and a patient was hurt.
"We thought there must be another way to do this," Searls said.
So she and Myers got in touch with Tsu Wolin Brown, the case worker for the local chapter of the Salvation Army. Brown checked with the Denver office, cleared the idea with the local board and its attorney, and agreed.
While the hospital won't run the program, it is helping. It has provided equipment storage space in the Shaw Cancer Center in Edwards.
There's not a huge supply of equipment at the moment. There are some crutches, a few toilet risers - plastic inserts that effectively raise the height of a toilet to make it easier to use - a wheelchair, an electric scooter and a handful other stuff.
All the equipment is "durable" in medical parlance, meaning it can be used by several patients.
Most of what's in stock was donated, some by people who had heard about the loan program, and some from Vi Brown of the Vail Valley Community Rummage Sale.
People can borrow the items for as long as they want. Donations are welcome, but the equipment is available for free.
Given the cost of equipment - simple shower chairs start at $150, and even the cheapest wheelchair is $200 if bought on-line - and the fact that insurance or Medicare sometimes won't pay for it, having a cache available is important to a lot of patients.
"The need is there, and it's growing," said Lynn Hoehn, a social worker for Vail Valley Home Health and Hospice. "It's nice there's an agency that's providing the service."
But the Salvation Army could use some help.
All the equipment is "durable" in medical parlance, meaning it can be used by several patients.
Most of what's in stock was donated, some by people who had heard about the loan program, and some from Vi Brown of the Vail Valley Community Rummage Sale.
People can borrow the items for as long as they want. Donations are welcome, but the equipment is available for free.
Given the cost of equipment - simple shower chairs start at $150, and even the cheapest wheelchair is $200 if bought on-line - and the fact that insurance or Medicare sometimes won't pay for it, having a cache available is important to a lot of patients.
"The need is there, and it's growing," said Lynn Hoehn, a social worker for Vail Valley Home Health and Hospice. "It's nice there's an agency that's providing the service."
But the Salvation Army could use some help.
"We need maybe three volunteers," Searls said. "It's not a difficult job, and we'd help set it up. Tsu has just been inundated with everything going on with Hurricane Katrina and Rita."
While the local lending service is just getting started, Searls sees a day when the storage room in Edwards is part of a bigger picture.
"Our ultimate goal is working with the people in Summit County," she said. "Ideally it would be wonderful if it was statewide."
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Walkers 'R' us
Volunteers are needed to help run the lending program, which has a space at the Shaw Cancer Center in Edwards. To learn more, call Tsu Wolin Brown, 926-3704.
While the local lending service is just getting started, Searls sees a day when the storage room in Edwards is part of a bigger picture.
"Our ultimate goal is working with the people in Summit County," she said. "Ideally it would be wonderful if it was statewide."
==============
Walkers 'R' us
Volunteers are needed to help run the lending program, which has a space at the Shaw Cancer Center in Edwards. To learn more, call Tsu Wolin Brown, 926-3704.
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Staff Writer Scott N. Miller can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 613, or smiller@vaildaily.com.
Vail Daily, Vail Colorado
Staff Writer Scott N. Miller can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 613, or smiller@vaildaily.com.
Vail Daily, Vail Colorado
