DME

Adding ISO Standards to the Clinical Reasoning Process 

Thursday 28 April 2022 from 2pm to 3pm

For decades, test standards have been developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to measure and characterize wheelchair seating. These standardized "bench tests" allow for an objective, scientific laboratory analysis of support surfaces. These tests measure the critical characteristics of wheelchair cushions, revealing properties that might be suitable for meeting the client's needs for tissue protection and positioning and to enhance the ability to perform mobility related ADLs for a wheelchair user. In 2019, the NPIAP/EPUAP/PPPIA clinical practice guideline (CPG) for pressure ulcer/injury prevention were published. How do the ISO standards relate to the CPG? How can your cushion selection process be simplified by using ISO technical data in combination with the latest clinical knowledge? In this webinar, attendees will gain an understanding of how standards are created. An overview of the current wheelchair seating standards will be presented in the context of the CPG, demonstrating why the test data can provide insight into cushion selection for the client. Various cushion technologies will be compared using blinded test data from numerous ISO standards to reveal important similarities and differences. Both the benefits and limitations of the test data will be discussed, emphasizing the role of the ISO standards as another set of tools in the clinical reasoning process.

Presenter: Kara Kopplin

In her role as Director of Regulatory Science for Permobil, Inc., Kara actively contributes to the work of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to develop objective test methods for wheelchair systems and components. In the U.S., she is honored to chair the RESNA Standards Committee on Wheelchair and Related Seating (WRS), and she encourages everyone to contribute to the development of these critical evaluation tools.