Wheelchair Clinic supports independence through mobility

People using wheelchairs, scooters or similar equipment can maintain or enhance their quality of life with the right device and support.

At Good Shepherd Rehabilitation’s Wheelchair Seating and Mobility Clinic, in-house experts help people of all ages find mobility solutions to maximize function and independence while prioritizing health, safety and comfort.

“Patients can face difficulties when transitioning into a wheelchair or mobility system,” said Amy Kirkner, MPT, ATP, a trained physical therapist and the clinic’s lead therapist. “We never want to see patients not participating in life or things that are important to them. We are here to help them find tools to meet their goals and get back to doing the things they want to do in life.”

Located at the Robert & Marian Edwards Center on Good Shepherd’s South Allentown Campus, 820 S. 5^th Street, the clinic can assist pediatric, adolescent and adult patients with mobility limitations as a result of conditions including stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS]), cerebral palsy or limb loss.

A physician referral is required to get started; contact us for help with obtaining a referral from your doctor.

At this clinic, Good Shepherd’s experts help find the right device for patients, from manual or electric wheelchairs to scooters or other solutions.

Prioritizing a patient-first experience

When patients arrive for their first appointment at the clinic, the team conducts a physical and environmental assessment while also getting to know patients and their families.

“We look at a patient’s physical measurements like height and weight and evaluate their current level of mobility, balance, strength and range of motion,” Kirkner said. “We also talk with them about their home environment, how and where they will use their chair and their limitations. If they already use a wheelchair, we want to know what they like and do not like about their current chair. Most importantly, we ask about the patient’s goals.”

Kirkner encourages families and caregivers to come with the patient and engage in the process.

“Caregiver and family goals are just as important as patient goals,” Kirkner said. “Caregivers should pay attention to and tell us features that work or do not work for them in relation to their responsibilities like transfers, care and maintenance.”

After that initial conversation, patients test out different options to find what best fits their needs and helps them meet their goals.

“Sometimes, the patient feels something that we cannot predict, so testing allows them to communicate that,” Kirkner said.

Finding the right solution, however, goes beyond finding the right device.

Once a patient selects a particular style of chair, the clinic team helps identify the right cushions, controls and accessories to promote overall health.

“We do pressure mapping and seat cushion assessments to adjust or implement pressure-relieving seating systems that can help heal and prevent wounds like bedsores or skin breakdown,” Kirkner said. “If a patient is completely immobile, we work with caregivers to build a chair that helps them reposition the patient and provide clothing management, bladder care and postural support.”

Clinic team members support patients as they design their device “from the ground up,” Kirkner said. That can include creating custom-molded seats and backs if needed to ensure greater body stability, upright posture and trunk and head support for the patient.

Set up for success

Good Shepherd collaborates with multiple outside vendors to build the device to the patient’s customized needs and wants, all the way down to its color.

Upon completion, the patient either returns to the clinic to pick up their new device or, if necessary, Good Shepherd will work with the medical supply company to deliver it directly to the patient.

“As therapists, we go over the chair with the patient and the medical supply company and make sure it is correct,” Kirkner said. “Patients receive training on the chair and how to use it. We also encourage any family members or caregivers who will handle it to attend so we can train them on its use, storage, assembly and maintenance. We want as many people as possible to feel comfortable with the new device.”

After a patient receives a new device, Kirkner said the clinic can also provide support if modifications become necessary due to a change in the patient’s condition or needs.

“The most important thing is to get it right,” Kirkner said. “We are looking at what the patient needs. We want to make sure the patient and family are comfortable and that the patient is as independent as possible.”

Patients with a referral from their physician can call 1-888-447-3422 (44-REHAB) to schedule an appointment or contact us online for more information.