Program evaluation and healthcare process improvement focused on complex wheelchair procurement.

The operations of a specialty wheelchair (WC) seating center can influence the evaluation to delivery timeframe in days for a complex rehab technology (CRT) WC. Operations at one facility improved due to departmental process improvement (PI) project with evaluation of the delivery workflow and implementation of changes. A retrospective chart audit gathered baseline data on the evaluation to delivery timeframe in days of a CRT WC for 50 individuals prior to PI changes.

Patient experiences receiving rehabilitation care telehealth: Identifying opportunities for remote care.

Use of telehealth has grown substantially in recent times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote care services may greatly benefit patients with disabilities; chronic conditions; and neurological, musculoskeletal, and pain disorders, thereby allowing continuity of rehabilitation care, reducing barriers such as transportation, and minimizing COVID-19 exposure. In March 2020, our rehabilitation hospital, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, launched a HIPAA-compliant telemedicine program for outpatient and day rehabilitation clinics and telerehabilitation therapy programs.

Inpatient rehabilitation wheelchair management quality improvement project: Implications for patients with spinal cord injury.

Evaluate hospital fleet wheelchair (WC) requests submitted by physical therapists (PT) for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) to trial and use during inpatient rehabilitation. Quality improvement project secondary analysis of delivery process and WC trials. Urban inpatient rehabilitation hospital.