At the CHUM, we noted with concern that many patients experiencing homelessness use wheelchairs to get around outside the hospital. Exposed to the elements and demanding conditions, these wheelchairs sustain severe damage and cease to meet infection prevention and control standards. This reality results in material losses and recurring costs for the hospital.

To address the situation, we developed an innovative wheelchair exchange system in collaboration with community organizations. Whenever a new CHUM wheelchair is found outside, it is picked up and replaced with a functioning decommissioned wheelchair. While these replacement wheelchairs do not comply with standards for our internal patients, they are still perfectly suited to the needs of community organizations and people experiencing homelessness.

This collaborative approach extends equipment life, reduces losses (an average of seven wheelchairs were previously being lost each month) and provides a concrete response to the needs of a vulnerable population. The project has already produced significant results: more than $22,000 was saved in the last three months of 2025 by not having to purchase replacements, thus improving the use of material and financial resources.

In addition to saving money and providing benefits to the hospital, this initiative has brought the hospital and the community closer together by creating a human and supportive partnership around an essential need. The positive response from our teams and partners confirms the inspiring potential of a project that is simple, sustainable and easily exported to other institutions with similar needs.

Lead:
Manouk Desloges, Head, Internal Patient Transportation

Contributors:
Isabelle Pellerin, Head, Internal Patient Transportation, CHUM
Marie-France Chauvin, Supervisor, Local Services
Christine Jean, Coordinator, Accès-santé and URS