AIROS Medical is preparing for a major weekend in the lymphedema industry, as two critical events are taking place in different parts of the country.
We are excited to be sending advisors and team members to both St. Louis and Philadelphia for a lymphedema summit and an industry conference, respectively. Here is an overview of both events and AIROS’ participation in both.
National Lymphedema Network (NLN) Conference
This year’s NLN conference, “Lymphological Investigations & Exploration,” will take place at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia, PA from October 4-8. The NLN’s annual conference brings together many of the top lymphedema therapists in the United States and includes clinicians from other countries. AIROS has exhibited at this conference since the company launched U.S. sales in 2018.
We will be exhibiting in Booth #3. Our entire product line will be on display – including the recently launched AIROS 6P Sequential Compression Device and 6-chamber pants-like truncal garments. This device and garment system treats lower body swelling in the abdomen, pelvic region, and legs, and was first shown to the public at last month’s American Vein & Lymphatic Society’s UIP 2023 conference in Miami.
Hundreds of lymphedema therapists will be able to test our various device models and garments, including the Arm Plus garment utilized by breast cancer patients who have developed lymphedema in the upper body area. Adie MacKenzie, one of our clinical advisors and a breast cancer survivor, as well as our clinical advisor Kelly Sturm, will also be in attendance in our booth to speak with peers and colleagues.
We will also be giving a presentation about how to bill for pneumatic compression devices. The session, entitled, “A Comprehensive Overview of Documentation Requirements for Efficient Pneumatic Compression Device Billing,” will provide a thorough overview of what doctor notes, paperwork, measurements, and clinical diagnoses are required by Medicare and commercial insurance. Despite pneumatic compression devices being reimbursed by Medicare and private insurance companies for decades, there is still some confusion among doctors and clinicians about what is needed to provide a prescription and ensure that the equipment is paid for so that patients aren’t stuck with massive balances. This presentation aims to provide accurate direction on this front for the lymphedema therapists who advise physicians every day.
AIROS will also be hosting a casual, social bowling event on Saturday night at Lucky Strike in Philadelphia. We thought our colleagues and the therapists attending would enjoy some relaxation and fun after days of clinical sessions! Here is a link to register for the conference. If you are coming to Philadelphia, please stop by our booth – and sign up to bowl with us!
American Cancer Society Lymphedema Summit
The American Cancer Society (ACS) – in conjunction with the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) – is hosting a Lymphedema Summit a the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO from October 6-7. The event, “Forward Momentum: Future Steps in Lymphedema Management,” is the first of its kind with the ACS and the lymphedema community coming together in over two decades.
AIROS is a premier and long-time sponsor of LANA, and works with the organization and its lymphedema therapist members to share educational information about lymphedema management.
According to the ACS, the1998 Lymphedema Summit identified issues in the delivery of care for patients with the diagnosis of lymphedema. Since then, significant progress has been made in both reducing the risk of developing lymphedema and managing lymphedema. Today, the lymphedema community is acutely aware of the impact of secondary lymphedema, not only on patients with breast cancer, but on patients receiving treatments for head and neck cancer, genital cancers, and others. Outside factors such as demands for work productivity, insurance reimbursement restrictions, and general lack of awareness by the medical field have left patients underserved, affecting all aspects of their lives.
In preparation for this year’s Summit, topic teams have been conducting literature reviews, scoping reviews, and/or systematic reviews, to provide research papers that will be presented at the Summit and published following the Summit. Physicians, clinicians, training program directors, support group leaders, and patient advocates, will also be present to represent the key stakeholders and healthcare professionals experienced in the management of lymphedema.
The purpose of the Summit is to bring these key stakeholders together to reach consensus and create actionable steps to move the field of lymphology forward. The proceedings of the summit will be accessible virtually to professionals in the field and will be published.
AIROS Medical will be represented by Andrea Cooper, MOT, OTR/L,CLT-LANA, an oncology rehabilitation clinician from Nashville, Tennessee. Andrea has witnessed our devices and garments treating patients, and will be garnering as much clinical information as possible during these critical sessions designed to help everyone involved with lymphedema treatment and management.
Here is a link to the invitation-only event’s sessions, topics, and panelists. We will be sure to provide a follow-up blog outlining the information learned at the Summit.
