MAO Manual

Frame The wheelchair frame is the metal scaffold that supports the weight of the patient. The frame is a unique part of the wheelchair because it is extremely strong and has no moving parts.

Institutional Features Some options that a healthcare organization might purchase for a chair that is used in a facility include chart holders, IV poles, oxygen bottle holders, and reclining backs.

Most of these features will create very little functional difference during the transport. As an MAVO, you should simply be familiar with them so that you are not confused by their purpose the first time you transport a patient in such a chair. Seatbelts Most patient wheelchairs will not have seatbelts, or will have a light strap system such a Velcro  strap. An MAV transport however, is much more likely to create a fall. The patient is not in control of the chair, he or she will be elevated on a lift, and the wheelchair will be secured in a moving vehicle. Because of these factors, a patient must be secured in the chair with an automotive-type seat belt whenever he or she is attended by an MAVO.

These two features are very important to an MAV transport since they make the frame an ideal point to attach tie down straps and secure the wheelchair inside the MAV. The lack of moving parts means the straps will not lose tightness during the transport. The frame’s strong construction also means that should there be a motor vehicle collision, the chair (and thus the patient) is more likely to stay attached to the floor and not be tossed inside the vehicle. Never attach wheelchair tie downs to any part of the chair but the frame. Hand Grips Hand grips are the main areas an MAVO will use to maneuver a wheelchair. Some of these maneuvers will involve an MAVO pulling on these grips with great force.

In older or poorly maintained wheelchairs, the wheelchair grips may be loose and may come off suddenly. This could potentially cause the chair to fall and the patient to become injured. Always test the hand grips before attempting to maneuver a chair for the first time.

To insure compliance with this standard, an MAVO will often need to carry a portable seatbelt called a 9’ Strap that can be used to secure a patient in his/her own wheelchair for the transport to the MAV. In the vehicle, the patient will be further secured for the trip.