FRANKLIN, Tenn.--National Seating & Mobility announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Chicopee, Mass.-based Burke Medical Equipment.

The deal creates the largest seating and mobility provider in New England, according to an NSM press release. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We're very excited about being part of NSM," said Fran Burke, Burke Medical founder and CEO. "NSM is a very future-facing company and brings a lot of professionalism and resources. With NSM, we'll have the advantage of their information technology, their management and their financial strength. We much prefer being part of NSM than competing against them. With everything going on in the rehab industry today, the timing of this move couldn't be better for our clients and RTSs."

Mike Ballard, founder and CEO of NSM, stated, "What interested us about Burke Medical was the dedication to quality and client care throughout their company. I'm especially happy to be adding Fran to our management. Fran and I share a vision of the future of rehab, and as partners we can certainly create a stronger impact." Burke is a 25-year veteran of the rehab industry and a board member of the New England Medical Equipment Dealers' Association.

Burke Medical's COO Matthew Burke recently left the organization to form a software firm serving the rehab and oxygen fields. Upon his departure, he also resigned as chairman of AAHomecare's Rehab and Assistive Technology Council. (For more, visit the April 18 HomeCare Monday by clicking here.)

Burke Medical Equipment, founded in 1989, operates out of a new, 13,000-square-foot facility in Chicopee, as well as offices in Lawrence and Raynham, Mass. The only national company dedicated exclusively to specialized seating and mobility, NSM operates across the U.S. through 50 facilities and two administrative and operational support offices.