Are Wheelchair Services Up to Snuff? Stakeholders Weigh In

Think of the wheelchair service delivery process (SDP) as a giant machine with lots of moving parts. With so many pieces, it's easy for things to go wrong. Stakeholders in the United States were asked about how well this machine is working. The results? Not so great. A survey showed that most people involved — like clinicians, suppliers, and caregivers — don't think the system is doing its job well. The worst parts?Getting funding and buying supplies, and fixing and maintaining the wheelchairs. Only a tiny fraction of respondents thought these areas were doing well. On the flip side, getting the right fit, training users, and delivering the wheelchairs were seen as the best parts of the system. So, what does this mean? It's time to focus on fixing these problem areas to make life better for people who rely on wheelchairs.