New research: Wheelchair service delivery process in need of reform

By HME News Staff
Updated 9:04 AM CST, Mon January 27, 2025
YARMOUTH, Maine – Stakeholders don’t think the wheelchair service delivery process is performing well, citing negative views on funding, procurement, maintenance and repairs, according to the results of a survey from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University. Only 18% of the 1,052 stakeholders who responded to a cross-sectional, observational, online questionnaire reported they felt positively about the process, a research article on the survey states. “Funding and procurement was viewed in the least positive light, with 5% positive responses,” it states. “Follow-up, maintenance, and repair was the second least positive component, with 9% positive responses. Fitting, training, and delivery was viewed most positively with over 42% positive responses.” Of the stakeholders who responded, 41% were clinicians, 30% suppliers, 24% consumers/caregivers, 3% manufacturers and 2% payers. Researchers say the results should be used to identify strategic areas to reform practice, policy, device and service delivery. “Considerable reform will be necessary to achieve consistently acceptable outcomes for those who rely on wheelchairs to fully participate in society,” the article states.
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