Delays and Denials in Access to Pediatric Assistive Technology

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

2:15 PM – 3:30 PM

Presenter(s)

Debjani Mukherjee, PhD

Associate Professor
Weill Cornell Medical College
New York, New York, United States

Slides
BD

Barbara E. Donleavy-Hiller, OTR/L, ATP, C/NDT

Senior Occupational Therapist/Assistive Technology Professional
Blythedale Chidren's Hospital
Valhalla, New York, United States
Shubhra Mukherjee, MD FRCPC (she/her/hers)

Medical Director, Rehabilitation
Shriners Hospitals for Children Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
EH

Edward C. Hitchcock, OT/L

Senior Occupational Therapist
SRALAB
CHICAGO, Illinois, United States
Julie Knitter, OTR

Director of Occupational Therapy & Assistive Technology
Blythedale Children's Hospital
Nyack, New York, United States

Access to rehabilitation is a perennial ethical issue in the United States. In the realm of assistive technology, rehabilitation professionals may recommend, prescribe, give loaners, and try to facilitate access, yet delays may ensue. The potential gains and opportunity-costs of delays and denials are particularly impactful for children. In this ethics panel, the authors will focus on barriers and facilitators of access to assistive technology (AT) in pediatric rehabilitation. The issues are complex – there are economic, social, psychological and policy reasons for suboptimal use of technologies post-rehabilitation. The multidisciplinary, multi-institutional panel will draw upon various methods – results from a retrospective chart review, quality care parameters, qualitative research interviews, clinical expertise, to define the issues, consider the complexities and make recommendations.

Learning Objectives:

Identify barriers and facilitators of access to AT
Appreciate the process of developing a reliable and consistent AT tracking tool in pediatrics
Describe the role of providers in quality care delivery in AT
Consider the role of the family in gaining access to AT
List ongoing practical challenges for reliable access to AT in pediatric populations