Using Equipment to Support Interventions for Children and Adults with Medical Complexity Across the Lifespan

Because children and adults with medical complexity demonstrate chronic and multiple health conditions, functional limitations, participation restrictions, and are high utilizers of healthcare, they can be challenging for pediatric physical therapists to assess, identify physical therapy priorities, optimize functional abilities, and encourage participation. It can also be difficult to address their equipment needs and to decide on the appropriateness of equipment suited to them. To address this challenge, this session will provide ideas for identifying and using appropriate equipment and optimizing and prioritizing meaningful physical therapy services. Interventions, school and community resources, equipment, participatory goals and strategies will be reviewed and then highlighted by means of case studies and discussions. We will also discuss a range of expectations and methods for assessing outcomes for this population. We will use the ICF model to assist in setting up goals and interventions. During small group activities, participants will have the unique opportunity to share resources, equipment experience, and strategies which have helped to improve participation of children and adults with complex disabilities. Small group findings will be collected and later disseminated to participants and other interested members of the pediatric physical therapy community.