Development of a Wheelchair Repair Registry

Objective: To describe the development of a wheelchair repair registry from large datasets to attain an understanding of wheelchair failures and service repairs. Design: Guidelines for registry development were applied and anchored around Labor-Tracker, a web-based information management system for wheelchair suppliers to manage and track wheelchair repairs. The registry was designed using online analytical processing, allowing for rapid data queries from multiple dimensions that enable complex data analysis and discovery. Setting: The Wheelchair Repair Registry (WRR) was developed through an industry and academic collaboration whereby repair data were collected in the field, entered into the Labor-Tracker system, deidentified, and then transferred to the registry and made available for analyses. Participants: Wheelchair supplier service technicians reported data from repair services provided to individuals who use power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, and scooters. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Wheelchair failure and repair data, including variables related to scheduling, equipment information (eg, manufacturer, model, serial number, purchase date), labor, parts, and reasons for repairs. Results: The WRR was developed to analyze wheelchair repairs and failures from the Labor-Tracker system. Currently, the registry has more than 60,000 repairs conducted on more than 5000 wheelchair devices from 25 manufacturers. The devices include 60% power wheelchairs, 35% manual wheelchairs, and 5% scooters. Conclusions: The WWR creates opportunities to apply large-data analytical methodologies that will serve to inform quality standards, practice, equipment selection, preventative maintenance routines, product design, and policy. (C) 2021 The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study describes the development of a wheelchair repair registry from large datasets for understanding wheelchair failures and service repairs. The registry design follows guidelines and uses online analytical processing for rapid multidimensional data queries. The registry currently includes over 60,000 repairs on more than 5000 wheelchair devices from 25 manufacturers.