Electric Wheelchair

[aiker31]

I am just wondering if any of you has a formal assessment tool that you use to allow a resident to use an electric wheelchair inside the facility. I never had a resident use one since I started working in LTC. And if you can also provide me a sample policy for electric wheelchair I will appreciate it!

Thank you.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I think out therapy department has an assessment. Check with yours.

[Karou]

I don't have a sample policy because I no longer work there, but we did have a policy in LTC that PT/OT assess the patients use of the chair to determine if they could operate it safely or not. We actually had to revoke one residents right to an electric WC because he was such a bad driver he had harmed another resident.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

We actually had to revoke one residents right to an electric WC because he was such a bad driver he had harmed another resident.

Oh and how they hurt when your foot is run over by one. Not pts fault, but mine when trying to move it! Those things are hard to operate if you don't know what you're doing!! [emoji23]

[amoLucia]

Word of advice - you do need to be careful about your P&P re electric whch use. Where I've been, it was Therapy who assessed and wrote recommendations for it use. And we care planned it. Surveyors seemed to zoom in on pts with elec whchs like magnets.

Safety of OTHER residents seemed to be the biggest issue.

And please be careful - to restrict a pt's use of an elec whch can be construed as form of restraint. If you think about it - you've interfered with a pt's ability to move about independently by restricting whch use. And while this may be stretching the point, it is a concern. Any and all safety issues or bad judgement issues need to monitored, esp if continued use of the whch is questioned.

[aiker31]

Thanks everyone for all your input. I have not made a P and P yet. I am very well concern with the safety of this patient and of course that rest of my residents, so I am very careful in making the decision. I involved my rehab director in this matter, at this time we are only focusing on the resident's capability to transfer from bed to regular w/c. He has bilateral AKA, and apparently he was using his e/wc at his previous SNF without any concern. If any of you have a P and P for electric wheelchair pls send me a copy.

Thank you everyone

[ttt4271]

I have one but I think I don't post enough to send private messages-if you can message me with your email I'll send it to you.