RED LAB

PERFORMANCE

Translation of findings on wheelchair follow-up, repair and maintenance.

PERFORMANCE

Context

Wheelchairs are essential assistive devices that enable personal mobility, community participation, and employment. However, wheelchair parts break frequently, leading to breakdowns and poor health outcomes, including injury. This could be attributed to a systemic flaw: a lack of follow-up, repairs, and maintenance, an essential step after wheelchair assessment, fit, selection, and delivery.

Objective

This project aims to address this flaw by developing and implementing an evidence-based protocol for PERiodic FOllow-up, Repairs, and MaintenANCE (PERFORMANCE) at The Ohio State University Assistive Technology (AT) Center. The goal of this project is to reduce wheelchair breakdowns, improve health and mobility outcomes for wheelchair users, and promote the adoption of follow-up, repair, and maintenance practices in clinical settings.

Contact

Dr. Anand Mhatre for more information.

Recruitment Goals Achieved

While we continue turning our findings on wheelchair follow-up, repairs, and maintenance into an evidence-based follow-up program at the OSU Assistive Technology Center (ATC), we are excited to share some updates from the PERFORMANCE project.

As a reminder, PERFORMANCE has three parts: Effectiveness, Implementation, and Cost-effectiveness. All three parts depend on the participation of many people, and we are happy to report that we have successfully reached our recruitment goals.

So far, we have completed recruitment for both the PERFORMANCE effectiveness study and the implementation panel.

Learning from Stakeholder Interviews

The implementation panel includes clinicians, wheelchair vendors, and wheelchair users who are helping guide this important work. We are also finishing interviews with implementation panel members and analyzing their feedback.

Our goal is to better understand the barriers, challenges, and facilitators related to wheelchair follow-up care. One common theme we have heard is the need for proactive follow-up and a more efficient workflow. These improvements can help empower wheelchair users while also making the process easier for clinicians.

Wheelchair Follow-Up Appointments Underway

In addition, the wheelchair follow-up appointments have been off to a great start. So far, 10 participants have completed their first appointments, and two participants have completed their second appointments at ATC, with more appointments scheduled.

Disseminating Creatively

While all of these are progressing, we are preparing to disseminate what we have learned so far creatively through continuing education unit!

We look forward to sharing more updates as the PERFORMANCE project continues to move forward!

[Last Updated: 5th October 2026]