MIDDLETOWN, NY and LIVINGSTON, Scotland, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ - Touch Bionics, developer of the world’s first commercially available bionic hand, continues to strengthen its presence in the United States with the addition of John Carpenter as a Regional Manager. With this appointment, Touch Bionics now has a dedicated regional manager for each major U.S. region.
Carpenter is responsible for the central region of the U.S., which includes Minnesota, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Montana, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. He joins Bill Graham, Regional Manager for the east region of the U.S., Tim Stevens, Regional Manager for the west region, and Field Support Representative Derek Domenici. These regional representatives work with Touch Bionics’ primary Customer Care team based in Middletown, NY.
The expansion of the U.S. sales team follows the launch of two programs intended to provide additional support to the growing number of U.S. clinics that are now offering Touch Bionics’ i-LIMB Hand and LIVINGSKIN prostheses to their patients.
The first of these programs, officially launched this month, is the Reimbursement Assistance & Clinical Evaluation (RACE) Team, designed to assist O&P facilities with their reimbursement efforts on the i-LIMB Hand and LIVINGSKIN products. The other is the Partner Program, for accredited i-LIMB Hand practitioners, to allow Touch Bionics to integrate more closely with its customers on commercial, clinical and product-development goals.
“John has proven himself an invaluable asset to Touch Bionics over the past year while working for us,” said Mark Ford, Director of North American Sales and Marketing. “I am delighted to welcome him on board in this key role. With the launch of the RACE and Partner programs and the growth of our sales team, we have made a strong commitment to the U.S. market that we will continue to build on.”
A congenital amputee and small-business owner from Michigan, Carpenter used a myoelectric hand for 20 years. When he discovered the i-LIMB Hand, he was so impressed by the form and functionality it provided that he decided to become involved with the product.
“This is a fantastic device that can significantly enhance quality of life for upper-extremity amputees regardless of prior experience with other prosthetic devices,” Carpenter said. “I look forward to contributing to Touch Bionics’ growth and success in the U.S. market.”
About the RACE Team
Since the commercial launch of the i-LIMB Hand, Touch Bionics has assembled a wealth of information and understanding on obtaining reimbursement approvals, and the creation of the RACE Team demonstrates the company’s willingness to share this knowledge with its clinical customers and partners.
The RACE Team’s services to practitioners include a complete packet of up-to-date reimbursement information regarding the i-LIMB Hand and LIVINGSKIN. The RACE Team also provides detailed presentation materials, a customized patient-evaluation process over the telephone, and billing support.
About the Partner Program
For accredited i-LIMB Hand practitioners, the Partner Program includes lead generation and development, and a structured program for closer collaboration with clinics of all sizes to support patients with the latest in upper-limb technology. It features a complete service for practitioners to set up, promote and stage patient-focused events at their facilities. Partners also receive active support from Touch Bionics’ clinical advocates, themselves upper-limb amputees, in interfacing with new patients and users.
About Touch Bionics
Touch Bionics is a leading developer of advanced upper-limb prosthetics. In 2007, Touch Bionics brought to market the i-LIMB Hand, a first-to-market prosthetic device with five individually powered digits. The company continues to develop leading-edge technologies for the treatment of patients with upper-limb deficiencies. Through its LIVINGSKIN product line, it provides custom passive prostheses and aesthetic restoration products such as high-definition cosmeses for the i-LIMB Hand that simulate the user’s own skin. For more information, visit www.touchbionics.com
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CONTACT: Touch Bionics media contact: Leo Valiquette, inmedia Public
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Sullivan, inmedia Public Relations Inc., (US & Canada): +1 613 686 5657,
(UK): +44 (0) 141 404 6478, dsullivan@inmedia.com
