29 August 2011

Enable New Zealand has introduced a scheme where equipment and modification services Assessors spend a week at Enable New Zealand’s Palmerston North office experiencing first-hand how applications for equipment and modification services for disabled people are evaluated and processed.

Equipment and modification services (EMS) Assessors (many of whom are occupational therapists or physiotherapists),apply to Enable New Zealand for Ministry of Health funded equipment and modification services on behalf of their clients.

Enable New Zealand is contracted to the Ministry of Health to process these applications, also to supply the equipment and provide the modification services. The contract covers all EMS Assessors in the South Island and the lower and central parts of the North Island up to the Bombay Hills.

On secondment, EMS Assessors gain an understanding of the criteria and policy used to evaluate applications, and they peer-review a variety of applications which expands their knowledge of potential options to meet their client’s needs. Enable New Zealand’s processing staff benefit from getting an in-depth understanding of the EMS Assessors’ role.

Enable New Zealand Lead (Occupational Therapist) Professional Advisor, Rachel Tatham says: “There are many benefits for us and EMS Assessors from this opportunity but the real gain is achieving better outcomes for disabled people. For example, applications from seconded assessors can often be evaluated more quickly because we get the information we need from the start, without needing to go back to the assessors.”

Five EMS assessors have participated since the scheme started in February – coming from Southland Hospital, Hawke’s Bay DHB, Gore Health Limited, Lakes DHB and the Community Living Trust in the Waikato. Several DHBs are keen to participate, seeing this as a professional development opportunity for their EMS Assessors.

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board Community Occupational Therapist, Kathryn Krebs says: “Coming here and meeting the Processing, Policy and Professional Advisory, and Stores teams and further developing my networks has been hugely beneficial. I understand the process much more clearly and this will have a positive impact on my work with my clients. I will share what I’ve learnt with my colleagues and so my time here will help their clients too.”

Enable New Zealand General Manager, Heather Browning says: “This scheme is beneficial for us and EMS Assessors. It is another positive step towards reducing the barriers for independent living and participation for disabled people.”

“Each year our processing team handles applications from EMS Assessors for approximately 74,500 new equipment purchases, 3,124 housing applications, 30,240 equipment reissues, 55 vehicle applications, and 14,560 equipment repairs. With these volumes and the complexity of many applications, we are always looking for ways to improve how we do things.”