LOCK HAVEN — Every 11 seconds, an elderly person visits the emergency room due to a fall, and every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from fall-related injuries, according to the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

Local licensed physical therapist Karen Johnson believes she may have a solution to this crisis — but she needs the public’s help. Johnson is competing in the Entrepreneur of Impact contest, where she is vying for a $25,000 grand prize, an advertorial in Forbes and a one-on-one mentoring session with Daymond John, one of the Sharks on Shark Tank. The catch? She needs votes from the public to secure the top spot.

With more than 35 years of experience in physical therapy, Johnson — the founder of Fresh Start Wellness Association, LLC, a woman-owned company dedicated to health and wellness — has developed 3B-FIT, a lightweight, portable leg press machine designed for individuals with mobility issues she says will be a better way to improve leg strength and reduce the risk of falls.

The National Council on Aging says that one in four adults fall each year and that $50 billion is spent annually treating older adults for the effects of those falls, 75% of which is paid for by Medicare and Medicaid. In 2020, Johnson said, Medicare and Medicaid paid over $67 billion in costs related to falls.

Having spent 24 years of her career as an in-home nurse caring for homebound patients, Johnson was intimately aware that many elderly adults struggle to maneuver themselves onto traditional strength equipment, yet rely on it to regain mobility.

“That’s why I invented 3B-FIT,” Johnson said. The three Bs in 3B-FIT stands for “Better strength, Better balance, Better walk,” which she believes are key components to maintaining mobility and independence. Her device, weighing just 14.9 pounds and equipped with wheels for easy transport, can be used while seated in a chair or lying down, making it more accessible for those with limited range of motion. Made of metal to be easily disinfectable, she plans to sell the devices to hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living and home health agencies.

“I found my patients were struggling to get up off their chairs,” explained Johnson. “So, I said to myself, there has to be a better way that we can strengthen our legs.”

Studies over the past 50 years have consistently shown that strength training improves muscle mass, improves balance, increases circulation, improves heart health, promotes flexibility, strengthens bones and improves mental health, and recently, a study by Harvard researchers determined that strong legs and core muscles are key to keeping people upright, making it imperative to find a way to help those who struggle with mobility strengthen these muscles.

“If I can strengthen people’s legs, I can get them home sooner,” she said.

And getting patients home sooner is key to improving their material situation and keeping costs down for both hospitals and insurance.

Insurance companies set caps on how long they will cover a patient’s treatment, and if hospitals exceed that period, they must absorb the costs. It is therefore in the hospital’s best interest to discharge patients quickly, said Johnson.

If patients can’t return home promptly, they often end up at facilities like Lock Haven Rehabilitation & Senior Living or other nursing homes with Medicare A beds. In the first 21 days of their stay, insurance providers typically reimburse 100 percent of the cost, so “it behooves me as a therapist to strengthen these people and get them home so that we maximize our reimbursement,” Johnson explained.

For every day a patient spends bedridden, they should expect to spend at least three days gradually returning to their normal activity level to fully recover from the effects of inactivity on the body. With only 21 days to make a recovery, this often isn’t enough, forcing patients to pay hefty copays or be sent to long-term care facilities.

To be covered by Medicare, Johnson needs to demonstrate to the Medicare Review Board that her device can improve strength and reduce fall risk. The two key criteria include the National Council on Aging’s guideline that anyone taking four or more medications is automatically considered a fall risk, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, where standing, walking 10 feet, turning and returning in less than 13.5 seconds is considered a healthy score.

“My long-term goal is to get in front of the Medicare Review Board to have them assist with payments for patients at home,” said Johnson. “I have a prototype, and it’s been tested, and it showed that everyone over a four week period (had) improved leg strength and their TUG (Timed Up and Go Test) scores were reduced by seconds.”

The Entrepreneur of Impact contest, created by Daymond John in partnership with Colossal, is a nationally renowned fundraiser that helps inspire people to advocate for themselves and those in need. The money raised will go to GENYOUth, a 501c3 national nonprofit dedicated to helping schoolchildren thrive by living a well nourished and physically active lifestyle — a catalyst for youth health and wellness. Since its founding, GENYOUth has supported over 77,000 schools to equip them with resources to ensure millions of children have equitable access to nutrition and physical activity.

Johnson’s device, which promotes healthy living and mobility, aligns with the goals of the fundraiser by supporting individuals in maintaining their independence and overall well-being.

“Everybody wants that independence and they don’t want to give it up, but they struggle at home to maintain it,” said Johnson, who notices people facing challenges everywhere, even at the grocery store. She adds that those struggling in daily life are at risk of injury or illness, which could lead to losing mobility or hospitalization. She hopes to eventually manufacture more cost-effective versions of her device to support those in these situations, helping them maintain their independence.

Contestants in the Entrepreneur of Impact contest advance by encouraging friends, family and supporters to vote daily for the start-up they most believe in. The first vote each day is free, but additional votes can be purchased for $1 each.

In the first week, those with the most votes in the top 20 of their group were chosen to stay. The following weeks, the top 15 and top 10 were selected based on the same criteria. Currently, Johnson is ranked number three in the top 10 in her cohort.

“Next week, if I don’t make it to number one in my group, I’m done,” Johnson explained.

On Feb. 27, the top candidate from each of the 64 categories will advance to the quarterfinals, and so on, until the overall contest winner is selected on April 24.

Karen says if she wins, the prize money will go toward refining her current prototype, paying for the patent, registering with the FDA and purchasing liability insurance.

“I’m vying for that top prize. I can see it. It’s within my reach,” she said.

“I feel like I can make an impact, not only preventing falls — and the pain and suffering from the falls — (I can) help (patients) with their co-pays because after the 21 days, if they’re still here, there’s a hefty co-pay for the patients,” said Johnson. “And not only that, look at what Medicare and Medicaid paid into the cost. I can save them if I can get these people stronger, and if they’re stronger we’re not going to see as many people falling.”

Lacy Agnoni, UPMC Social Service Coordinator, is a big believer in Johnson and her invention.

“Karen’s device would stop people from having to stay forever in a long term care facility,” she stressed. “It’ll get them back home.”

Since 2015, Johnson has traveled across the country, refining prototypes and conducting research to bring her idea to life.

She has worked with The Penn State Learning Factory, MAKO Design + Invent in Texas, Actuated Medical in Bellefonte, the PSU IP Law Clinic and Bucknell’s Small Business Development Center to develop, refine and patent her device.

But the journey hasn’t been without obstacles. Patenting issues, the loss of a business partner and astronomical costs have all stood in Johnson’s way. Still, as she tells her patients, “You’ve just got to keep getting up.”

“Regardless of what happens, I’m going to continue,” she said, but she shared that if she wins, “I would be so grateful because I know that I can make a difference — that I am going to make an impact on society.”

To vote for 3B-FITT and Karen Johnson, visit https://entrepreneurofimpact.org/2025/karen-johnson. To vote, you must have a Facebook account.