Providing Safe Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
Broda makes wheelchair transportation safe and comfortable. The Synthesis Transport Wheelchair, the Elite Transport Wheelchair, and the Encore Pedal Wheelchair provide different features to keep you comfortable, while containing all the critical safety elements. These wheelchairs are manufactured and tested to the highest transport standards. Additionally, each model is crash-tested by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) to ensure your maximum safety.
Comfortable Travel
How do you make sure that your passenger stays comfortable while travelling in a wheelchair? Our transport wheelchairs are all equipped with our unique Comfort Tension Seating® system, which molds to the passenger’s body, providing supportive accommodation. Our transport wheelchairs also provide generous degrees of adjustable tilt, safely maintaining correct postural position and comfort throughout the trip. Reduced agitation facilitates a safer and more pleasurable experience for drivers, caregivers, and wheelchair users. Our front-pivot tilt even allows the wheelchair user to further enjoy the trip as they can continue to look forward and engage with fellow passengers as well as enjoy the view along the way.
Convenient for Transport & Everyday Care
In addition to being excellent wheelchairs for vehicle travel, each of Broda wheelchair is versatile and comfortable enough for everyday use. This removes the need for multiple transfers during the day, reducing the risk of falls. When transfers are needed, no lifting is necessary with the Synthesis Transport Wheelchair. First, recline the wheelchair until it lays flat. Then, slide the patient from bed into the wheelchair and position the user according to their comfort.
A Guide to Choosing the Best Wheelchair for Vehicle Transport
When you’re choosing a wheelchair for transporting patients or loved ones, it’s critical to consider the following:
What are the wheelchair transportation regulatory guidelines?
Regardless of the distance you want to travel, it’s critical to follow regulatory guidelines when it comes to medical transportation. Only use wheelchairs that are certified for vehicle transit.1 Regional and international standards set the bar for wheelchair travel safety. In the U.S., the WC19 standards establish criteria for the wheelchair features necessary for vehicle travel.2 Each of our transport wheelchairs meets these rigorous standards and many other international guidelines.
What type of wheelchair accessible vehicle are you using?
There are many different vehicle options for transporting patients in a wheelchair. From small passenger vehicles to non-emergency ambulances, and even motor coaches, you’ll want to be aware of the space restrictions and securement methods available. Choose a wheelchair that will fit through the doors of the vehicle. Also consider whether the vehicle has a ramp, lift, or other boarding mechanism. Broda transport wheelchairs work well with both ramps and lifts. In a similar fashion, they maneuver easily into vehicles as small as a minivan.
How will you safely secure your wheelchair passengers?
After you have helped the passenger board the vehicle, consider how they will be secured. A safe wheelchair will have a sturdy, crash-tested frame, well-fitting seatbelts. Likewise, it will have four welded anchor points for securing the wheelchair to the floor of the vehicle.3 All Broda transport wheelchairs have these safety features and can be easily used with any WC18 certified Wheelchair Tie-Down and Occupant Restraint System (WTORS). In summary, Broda transport wheelchairs have all the safety features you need for safe non-emergency medical transportation.
Want more information? Read our complete Wheelchair Transportation Safety Checklist
Broda Transport Wheelchairs
Check out our complete line of transport wheelchairs, perfect for everyday care and travel freedom.
References:
- The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wheelchair Transportation Safety. (2008, January).Best practices for using a wheelchair as a seat in a motor vehicle. http://wc-transportation-safety.umtri.umich.edu/consumers/bestpractices
- University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. (n.d.).WC19: Wheelchairs – WC transportation safety. Retrieved September 10, 2021, from http://wc-transportation-safety.umtri.umich.edu/wts-standards/wc19-wheelchairs
- Craig Hospital. (2015, March) Safe personal vehicle travel guide for wheelchair users (#859). https://craighospital.org/uploads/Educational-PDFs/859.TravelGuide-PersonalVehicle.pdf