There are times in Alicia Truebenbach’s life when she might feel a little low, weighed down by situation or circumstance.
But rather than letting herself go there, she remembers life is indeed all about perspective. And, all things considered, things are pretty good in her world.
“When things seem challenging in my own life, I am humbled by how amazingly strong and resilient the people I meet are,” she said. “Therapists, clients, caregivers, I get to meet a lot of incredible people, and I find myself very grateful when I’m driving home at the end of a day.”
Truebenbach has more than 30 years invested in the complex-rehab industry. She is an assistive technology professional and seating mobility specialist for Numotion, the nation’s largest and leading provider of products and services for people dealing with mobility limitations.
The company has more than 150 locations across the country and has a mission of “Improving the lives of people with disabilities by enabling them to actively participate in everyday life.”
That’s a purpose Truebenbach can get behind. After all, it didn’t take long for her to discover just how much she enjoys working with and helping others.
“I remember my first job out of college, my initial thought was this would be short term, one year,” she recalled. “But I just immediately took to it, and it has become one of the most fulfilling careers anyone could have.”
She took the ATP exam in 1997, and her career has been a steady trajectory of excellence ever since. She has worked in the industry long enough to have seen it from multiple angles, giving her a deep sense of appreciation for so many coworkers along the way.
“It has been quite an interesting journey to see how much things have changed and, of course, with all the challenges with insurance and reimbursement and all of that,” she said. “We have made some amazing gains as an industry and as a profession, and I have a lot of respect for everyone who fought so hard through the years to further the industry.”
It’s been a great ride – so far.
“It has been fun, challenging and frustrating at times, journey,” she said. “But in the end, it has been worth it to see the results and to have so many people who have pushed and pushed for those victories and how much they mean.
“There have been a lot of people whose lives I’ve touched, and a lot of people who have touched mine. I think that speaks volumes for this industry and how rewarding it can be.”
For Truebenbach, it must be a labor of love. A typical day has her logging lots of miles in her company van, loaded with necessary supplies and equipment to get the job done. Usually, she will see three to five clients per day, and her stops include hospitals, clinics, rehab centers, schools and assisted living centers.
“No two days are the same, and I think that is part of the allure of the job,” she said. “My days are always different, and I get to see a lot, some good and some bad. I get a glimpse of other people’s world as far as their home and their life.
“I think that is part of what has allowed me over the 31 years to really appreciate other cultures and to appreciate people as far as being more open to the path they are on. Sometimes, I will go into a place where they don’t speak our language, so they have young children interpreting for them, and that just amazes me.”
Truebenbach ’s territory is the Minneapolis metropolitan area, and because she spends so much of each day on the road, she must be as efficient as possible with her time.
“I have an amazing support staff, and I couldn’t do what I do without each and every one of them,” she said. “They allow me to get it all done. I may be the one doing the visit, but they are the ones who push on the paperwork as far as ordering and scheduling.”
Working so closely with clients has also given her a clear vantage point of how easy it is to take things for granted.
“There is this whole challenge of it being so clear in our heads that this equipment is a need and not a want,” she said. “Like coverage of bath equipment, which has been a hot topic lately, is not covered and somehow it is OK for people to pay cash for equipment they need to live.”
Truebenbach worries that such a basic need may get lost in the shuffle of larger more complicated equipment needs.
“Anybody who needs complex rehab probably needs some equipment in their bathroom,” she said. “So many people are paying cash for that equipment, and they are making decisions and sacrifices based on their own financial situations. I feel like sometimes they are getting squeezed from all sides.”
Numotion does everything it can to ease the impact on clients. Truebenbach said the company works hard to support customers as well as what is important to them.
“Our company balances all of the needs with always trying to do the right thing,” she said. “That can be a challenge because it involves the business side and the personal side, but we want to always try to stay on the side of doing what’s right.”
Truebenbach wants to continue having a positive impact not only on people but on the industry in general. She has served on boards and led teams of people through the years, but for now, she feels like she is in the perfect place doing just what she was meant to do.
“I really enjoy being an ATP/SMS, CRTS®,” she said. “Over the short term, hopefully I can ride this wave and stay healthy enough to keep doing it. I see myself being in this industry, no matter how long I am here. I’m just not sure what that looks like. I feel like it’s in my blood and ingrained in the way I think and the way I do things.”
Part of the appeal is the corporate culture of Numotion, which challenges its people to always do their best work and provides them with the resources to do so.
“The company genuinely cares about people from the top down, and there is always a push to do the right thing, no matter what,” she said. “Yes, we are a business and we need to meet our budget, but there is support for your doing the right thing, and in corporate America today that can be tough.
“I really appreciate that support. It’s awesome. They stick to their mission statement. They provide you with the support you need. They understand it takes a team to be successful from start to finish. Like I said, I couldn’t do this alone, and I am glad I don’t have to.”
One other thing Truebenbach is certain about is the industry’s need for a new generation of people to continue the good work. “This is an amazing career,” she said.
“This is a career that checks the boxes for so many different skills and interests, whether that’s mechanical or the people side. Every day is different. You’re not necessarily behind a desk, and you are going to meet some amazing people. You also get instant gratification from changing someone’s life, and I don’t know many other careers that will give you all of that.
Alicia may be reached at alicia.truebenbach@numotion.com. Alicia Truebenbach, ATP/SMS, CRTS® works for Numotion and is based in Minnesota. She has been an iNRRTS Registrant since April 1995.
