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The Seating Service assists clients in a seated position in a wheelchair or other mobility device to achieve optimal posture, safety, and comfort to attain their highest level of physical/functional abilities, independence, and quality of life. Click here for links to other seating related sites.
Services Provided
The Seating Service works in a consultative/educational model, with the level of service dictated by the needs of the client and their clinician. The assistance required may be as simple as confirming the recommendations made by a clinician or as involved as working with the seating orthotist and medical equipment dealer to design and fabricate a custom seating and mobility system for the client with complex seating needs.
The primary focus of the Seating Service is to examine:
The Seating Service performs comprehensive seating assessments, recommends intervention strategies to address client specific problems and goals, designs and constructs customized seating systems and/or components, and assists with the process of selecting, ordering, and fitting commercial and custom seating equipment.
The client, caregivers, family members, program and community health professionals are integral members of the solution team.
Product Comparisons
The following documents contain comparisons to aid in choosing assistive products:
Education and Consultation
The Seating Service provides community based education, in addition to providing on-going support and guidance to clients, colleagues, and other interested parties as related to specific client seating issues. Click here to access a listing of our upcoming events.
Research and Clinical Evaluation of Seating Technology
Our Service participates in on-going research through the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of British Columbia. Further information is available from cheryl.sheffield@vch.ca or telephone: 604.734.1313 local 2506.
How to Make a Referral
All referrals should be directed to the Admissions Clerk at GF Strong (fax: 604.730.7904; telephone: 604.737.6291). Referrals must include complete client demographics, medical history, and a description of the goal of the referral. The referral must have a physician's signature. Reports or information from therapists working with the client regarding the client's functional status and/or previous seating/mobility interventions is very helpful. Once the complete referral is received, the referral is first reviewed by an appropriate GF Strong Clinical Program. If the Program determines that seating and mobility are the only issues, the referral is directed to Seating Services.
Click here to read an article on How to choose a dealer as well as a list of potential BC dealers.
VCH Resources