eprintid: 15637
rev_number: 25
userid: 1343
importid: 788
dir: disk0/00/01/56/37
datestamp: 2012-10-05 18:48:50
lastmod: 2019-02-05 03:55:19
status_changed: 2012-10-05 18:48:50
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: rcooper@pitt.edu
item_issues_count: 0
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Cooper, RA
creators_name: Cooper, R
creators_name: Boninger, ML
creators_email: RCOOPER@pitt.edu
creators_email: cooperrm@pitt.edu
creators_email: boninger@pitt.edu
creators_id: RCOOPER
creators_id: COOPERRM
creators_id: BONINGER
title: Trends and issues in wheelchair technologies
ispublished: pub
divisions: sch_hrs_healthandrehabsciences
full_text_status: public
abstract: There is an overwhelming need for wheelchairs and the research and development required to make them safer, more effective, and widely available. The following areas are of particular importance: practitioner credentials, accreditation, device evaluation, device user training, patient education, clinical prescribing criteria, national contracts, and access to new technology. There are over 170 U.S. wheelchair manufacturers with a total reported income of $1.33 billion. However, of these companies, only five had sales in excess of $100 million. Wheelchairs account for about 1% of Medicare spending. Use of assistive technology is an increasingly common way of adapting to a disability. The emergence of advanced mobility devices shows promise for the contribution of engineering to the amelioration of mobility impairments for millions of people who have disabilities or who are elderly. Some of the trends in wheelchairs are going to require new service delivery mechanisms, changes to public policy, and certainly greater coordination between consumers, policy makers, manufacturers, researchers, and service providers. © 2008 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
date: 2008-06-30
date_type: published
publication: Assistive Technology
volume: 20
number: 2
pagerange: 61 - 72
refereed: TRUE
issn: 1040-0435
centers: cen_other_herl
id_number: 10.1080/10400435.2008.10131933
pmid: 18646429
mesh_headings: Commerce
mesh_headings: Humans
mesh_headings: Self-Help Devices--trends
mesh_headings: United States
mesh_headings: Wheelchairs--trends
citation:   Cooper, RA and Cooper, R and Boninger, ML  (2008) Trends and issues in wheelchair technologies.  Assistive Technology, 20 (2).  61 - 72.  ISSN 1040-0435     
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/15637/1/licence.txt