[serina.breen@comcast.net]

Unlike Medicare, Medi-Cal does cover power wheelchair's for outdoor use.



So as providers, if we provide a power wheelchair to a medi-cal patient and
they get stuck while driving it outside in the community, are we obligated
or responsible to provide them with emergency rescue service?



We honor all manufacturer and repair warranty's and will make sure to solve
our client's repair issues; and in some instances we have rescued clients
when they have asked. However, we don't always have the resources available
to handle repair issues same day.



I have a client who called me today and told me that she was stuck in her
power wheelchair because her castor wheels are coming undone. She demanded
that I send out a tech to rescue her and that if I don't she will get her
attorneys involved. I would have sent a tech out to help her but I didn't
have one available. So this leads to my question:



Are we as providers responsible or obligated to provide imergency/rescue
service to Medi-Cal bene's who get stuck outside in our equipment? And if
not, what are medi-cal or (medicare bene's for that matter) supposed to do
when they get stuck? Do I advised them to just call the fire department?



History: She's had her pwc for over 1 year and we last repaired it 3 months
ago.



Best Regards,

Serina Breen

Freedom Mobility Center

586 Parker Ave - Rodeo, CA 94572

Tel 510.799.9920

Fax 510.280.0778

Serina.Breen@comcast.net

[HEATHER]

My opinion - We are not emergency responders, we cannot help the patient transfer, we cannot give the patient a ride and if the patient is in a true emergency situation, they should call 911. If they have a safe place to wait and can transfer independently, then I would deliver a loaner chair or fix her chair (if possible) as soon as I had someone available.

BUT - How do you think this same scenario will play out next year - EVERYWHERE - when the call changes to "YOUR RENTAL power chair is broken here on the side of the road!" ??

[danielh]

I'd have to agree that we're not EMTs, and the actual rescue of the patient is not our responsibility. As a matter of fact, if you checked with your liability insurance provider, it's possible that "rescuing" the patient could potentially cause you a lot of problems (what if he fell while attempting to transfer? What if your driver got in a wreck with the patient in the van?). When we've been faced with that situation, we told the patient to call 911, and we would pick up the chair when he was out of it. I don't think it would make any difference if it was a rental chair. The chair (and its transportation in the event of a breakdown) would be our responsibility, not the patient or the patient's transportation.