Hello Mary Alice: The DME rep (who is RESNA certified) showed me literature on both rehab and no-rehab lightweight and ultra lightweight chairs.
The problem with going to an ultra lightweight chair is the COST! The patient must pay cash for whatever she gets. To date, the client has NO skin breakdown, but her sister states that she does have red areas after prolonged sitting. I have repeatedly stressed the need for pressure relief, both while sitting and lying in the bed. Cushions will add another several hundred dollars to the chair, so it is going to be a struggle finding balance between cost and skin protection. Here are some w/c models we discussed; 1. Invacare Patriot (non-rehab) 2. Quicke GTX 3. Invacare ProSPINx4 4. Invacare MVP 5. Invacare Xtra 6. Quicke rigid frame models Thanks for the Wheels for the World suggestion. Never heard of them!! Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Alice Cafiero <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] On-line Collobration[6/5 Update] MAC> Ron, MAC> Try contacting Wheels for the World which is Joni Erickson Tada's MAC> organization that refurbishes donated chairs and usually takes them MAC> overseas. It would be interesting to see if they would donate a chair MAC> locally for someone that needs one. the chair you can get as a loaner MAC> from a DME is probably classified as lightweight but most likely MAC> isn't a true rehab chair. In insurance lingo, lightweight is anything MAC> under 50-60 pounds. For a patient with SCI, you typically want MAC> something in the ultra lightweight category which is under 30 pounds, MAC> with something under 24 pounds being the best! MAC> If you want names of specific chairs to look for, let me know. Has MAC> your client ever had any skin issues, even just redness in sacral or MAC> ischial areas? Any circulation problems at all? Any problems with MAC> edema after sitting for a while? All of those are important to know MAC> when thinking about seating if you get a choice of cushions. MAC> Mary Alice MAC> On Jun 5, 2007, at 5:08 PM, Ron Carson wrote: >> The patient and I have concluded that she will not be able to >> transfer >> without the use of a board. Perhaps at some point in the distant >> future, >> but for the moment, a transfer board is our only option. >> >> I stopped by a local DME to discuss light-weight wheelchairs. They >> have >> a couple 'loaners' that I can take to the patients house. This >> will be >> invaluable for both the patient and myself. I have some concerns >> about >> the patient's trunk strength and her ability to transfer to a w/c >> using >> a slide board. >> >> It is VERY difficult figuring out the best time to fit her for >> a new >> manual chair. She really wants a chair, which is an >> important >> consideration, but she will probably locate in the future so >> there are >> some concerns about environmental fit. Of course, I don't think a >> manual >> chair is going to fit into her current bedroom doorway. So >> much to >> consider!! >> >> Back to the slide board. I do not think it is possible to slide >> board >> transfer onto a tub bench. Does anyone have a different >> opinion and >> suggestions? I think the hard plastic board will slide on the >> bench. It >> may be possible to place a piece of dycem under the board to >> reduce >> slipping. What do you think? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Ron >> >> >> -- >> Options? >> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com >> >> Archive? >> www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >> >> ********************************************************************** >> **************** >> Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science >> for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. >> www.otdegree.com/otn >> ********************************************************************** >> **************** -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] ************************************************************************************** Enroll in Boston University's post-professional Master of Science for OTs Online. Gain the skills and credentials to propel your career. www.otdegree.com/otn **************************************************************************************
