Do Skilled Nursing Facilities Have Enough Wheelchairs To Meet Their Patients' Needs?

Gao ID: HRD-84-69 June 12, 1984

In response to a congressional request, GAO reported on the number of wheelchairs available at skilled nursing facilities (SNF's) to meet the patients' needs.

GAO obtained information from the Health Care Financing Administration indicating that, on the average, 50 to 60 percent of SNF patients need wheelchairs. Of 14 nursing homes visited, GAO found that 10 facilities did not own enough wheelchairs for the number of patients needing them. When privately owned wheelchairs furnished by the patients were considered, only two homes had an insufficient supply. Both of these SNF's stated that additional wheelchairs were being purchased and that nonmobile geriatric chairs were available.



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