And that speaks of another need whose time is wa-a-a-ay overdue: Power Wheelchair Industry Standards
There's only one reason none exist yet: profits. At 11:24 AM 10/16/2009, [email protected] wrote: >Common parts are not common. Manufactures recommend or require that all parts >must be ordered from the serial number of the chair as design changes during >any given year may change. If a provider orders stock and it sits on the >shelf for too long, it becomes wasteful and poor capital use. Look around at >the various electric wheelchairs the are near to you and your friends. Do you >all have the same size batteries? How about wheels and controllers. When you >see "stock" on the shelf, is usually a wrong order that can't be returned for >credit. I agree the techs require more training as equipment changes each >year. Certification and annual testing is expensive and the price is added to >the cost of repairs. Some people wait until the very very very last minute to >have service and repairs on their equipment. Some do not have back up >equipment for those emergencies. >Its also important to know what you have and how it works. Keep in mind that >the rules of insurance, be it government or private dictate the rules of >repairs. The service tech is merely following those rules in doing their jobs. >Keep in mind, this won't solve any problems but it does explain some of them. >Best Wishes > >In a message dated 10/16/2009 10:00:42 A.M. Central Daylight Time, >[email protected] writes: > >When it comes to wheelchair repairs your trip to Hell is just starting. > >They will never let me just tell them what the problem is, even if itâs just >a flat tire (now I only use flat-free tires). > >I either have to go in or have them pick up my chair. If my chair is at all >usable I go in, otherwise they keep it for 4-8 weeks as they get insurance ok, >order parts, etc. > >We need some kind of patient rights bill for wheelchair repair shops. > >Have common parts in stock. > >Get insurance okâs via phone right away. > >Have loner chairs available. > >WORK WEEKENDS. > > > >Greg > > > >---------- >After many months of the recline not working on the chair, I finally found >someone who could at least come look at it. He spoke Spanish & a few words of >English. Had to have an interpreter. When i called the shop I told them what >the flashing lights were saying controller error. He & his wife came. >Stayed about an hour & all he could say was the circuit breaker wasn't >worrying. When you request someone who can work on the computer, seems to me >they should have sent one. > > > >How do you specify the problems & make sure that the correct repairman comes >to take of all the problem? > > > >
