Banner Rehabilitation Hospitals create a virtual loan closet
02/01/2022
Dr. Heidi Jannenga (middle),
Co-Founder and Chief Clinical
Officer of WebPT and Founder of
the Rizing Tide Foundation makes a
visit to the Banner Rehabilitation
Center Phoenix.
Transitioning a loved one home from a rehabilitation facility can be challenging. During this period, they will most likely need assistive medical equipment to properly recover and return to their daily routine, yet many of these items are not covered by insurance.
More than half of patients being discharged from Banner Rehabilitation Hospitals are covered by Medicare and live on a fixed income, making it difficult to afford the equipment necessary to support their safe recovery at home.
Thanks to a charitable gift to the Banner Health Foundation from WebPT and Rizing Tide Foundations, Banner Rehab Hospitals in Maricopa County will now offer a virtual loan closet, providing patients in need with rehabilitation equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers for temporary use during their recovery at home.
"Not having the necessary assistive equipment can be both dangerous and set a patient back significantly on their road to recovery, says Thomas Rufrano, CEO of Banner Rehabilitation Hospital Phoenix. “Establishing the Banner Rehab Loan Closet Fund enables us to provide essential support and compassionate care for our vulnerable patients.”
Rizing Tide was founded by Dr. Heidi Jannenga, physical therapist and co-founder of WebPT, to help build a more diverse and inclusive physical therapy industry. The Foundation partners with PT and PTA students, PT residents, and industry leaders to advance diversity and inclusiveness in the physical therapy workforce and inspire better—and more accessible—patient care.
“The WebPT and Rizing Tide Foundations, respectively, are proud to partner with Banner Health to help provide patients and caregivers in need with the equipment necessary to support their full and safe recovery at home,” says Dr. Heidi Jannenga, Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer of WebPT and Founder of the Rizing Tide Foundation. “As a physical therapist and founder of both the WebPT and Rizing Tide Foundations, our missions align with the Banner Rehab Loan Closet as we strive to empower therapists to achieve greatness in practice and to provide all patients access to affordable and equitable healthcare.”
Learn how you can support this work by getting in touch with a member of our team by calling 602.747.4483 or emailing foundationinfo@bannerhealth.com.