Broda prioritizes education

ST. LOUIS – Brenda Mahon, OTD, OTR, the clinical education manager for Broda, plans to host clinical chats almost every month in 2023 to educate more clinicians about seating and mobility. 

Mahon, who joined the company in July of 2022, planned to co-host the chat in January with Anna Sokol, RN, MN, BScN, BScKin, a clinical education specialist with Motion Concepts in Canada, to talk about how to select a cushion.  

“As an OT for 25 years, one of the biggest things I’ve noticed is the lack of knowledge in the skilled nursing setting for seating and mobility,” Mahon said. “They have one or two go-to people who are strong in it, or they don’t have anyone at all, and they rely on vendors, or they just do the best they can. There’s a gap in education.” 

Mahon plans to host the chats every month, except August and December, when people are often on vacation. Other planned topics include how to select the right leg rests and how to get administrative buy-in on equipment. 

The chats, which are scheduled during the lunch hour, feature a presentation by Mahon, but the real focus is on the attendees, she says. 

“We want to make it convenient for them to jump on and ask questions or share a certain case with us,” she said.  

Mahon is also working on developing two courses for continuing education units on “wheelchair wellness” and wheelchair transportation safety. The chats combined with the CEU courses will also help to “build the case for the right equipment,” says Nick Hoffmeyer, vice president of marketing for Broda. 

“On the acute care side, there’s all this evidence-based medicine,” he said. “On the equipment side, the non-sexy side, there isn’t. We see part of Brenda’s role as participating in and advancing that.”