=Real-World Experiences= The current chair has been having problems for a while, and the engineers have been great, but I needed to get some replacement parts. The date is now approximately September 1, 2015. *September 15, 2015 First doctor appointment I already know what the problems are, so the doctor and I (Pamela) identify that I needed *Rear tires *Front (caster) wheels & bracket assemblies *Batteries *Armrests The doctor will find a place to repair the chair, contact them, and get back to me *A few weeks later, and I haven't heard back I called the doctor's office, and they informed me that they haven't been able to find a place local within the Davis/Sacramento/Vacaville area which could repair power wheelchairs with my existing insurance The office asked where I had purchased this chair; they said they would get approval and get back to me when it came through *The chair was purchased in Berkeley, CA, which is in a different county ~70 miles away, and I don't drive or have access to a wheelchair-capable vehicle *A few more phone calls between all parties involved, I finally have a appointment with the original vendor *October 22, 2015 The (first) visit to the wheelchair center was strictly to confirm the needed repairs, and the availability of the parts The mechanic will get back to us with the necessary wording for the actual insurance request *November 4, 2015 We haven't heard back from the wheelchair center, so we contact them; they have not received the prescription from the doctor *November 6, 2015 The wheelchair center calls saying that they have the prescription, but that they need the chart notes from the visit
*November 23, 2015 Went in to see the doctor, with the exact wording required by the wheelchair center, and had the office fax that in *December 1, 2015 Contacted doctor because wheelchair center still had not received everything - “Please send the chart notes” November 23rd The doctor's office had sent the prescription, but not the chart notes *Mid-December Contacted the wheelchair center to verify that they had all the necessary paperwork, and was assured that they did, and that they would be ordering the parts Expected time, 2-3 weeks Their mechanic found in their supply two original caster brackets, which have not been manufactured for this chair in many years! *Today, January 13, 2016 Have not heard back from anyone yet, and once I do, there will still be the delay of scheduling the appointment, making sure I have an attendant who can go with me, dealing with the time without my chair while they repair this one, the wear on my body from the travel, the concern that the current batteries are pretty much dead, and I'm not sure if I can get from the BART station to the repair center on a single charge NOTE TO SELF: Remember to tell the wheelchair center to put an overnight charge on the new batteries before I pick them up! *In my experience, this is necessary, as they will otherwise put them in without a charge *January 25, 2016 Called the wheelchair center to get an update. They said they still haven't ordered parts because they are waiting for the doctor to fax back the last form that they faxed to them on Jan. 11th. *January 28, 2016 Contacted doctor's office and they said they got it and faxed it back on the 11th. Called wheelchair repair center and they said they got one form back, but still needed the detailed form; they said they'd re-fax the form they needed to doctor. (I am wondering why they told me in mid-Dec. that they had all the forms and were ready to order parts.) And you thought I was exaggerating. This is NORMAL in my experience. 5 months, and still waiting. :*Financial notes: :Each van trip to the local doctor cost $4.00 (round trip) :The first trip to the wheelchair center cost the van trip ($4) PLUS two round-trip train tickets (me plus an attendant, $40), plus BART (local rapid transit) for another $10 or so, plus a meal out for both of us :*Travel time: 2-3 hours each way, plus wait time while the mechanic examines/repairs the chair :**Figure the same again for the visit for the actual repair :*Total expense: over $100, for a person on a fixed income…