Heartland Sneak Peek: Using Patient-Reported Outcomes for Monitoring and Tracking Equipment Use

Published in Complex Rehab on April 19, 2022

By Theresa Berner, MOT, OTR/L, ATP, The Ohio State University Medical Center

Rehabilitation professionals and CRT companies work hard to fight for the best equipment for consumers. After advocating to provide complex rehab and customized seating for consumers, we need to assure that the equipment continues to meet patients’ needs over the long-term life of the equipment. In the past, CRT teams would see individuals every five years for equipment, and the consumers that took careful care of their equipment may have even surpassed the five-year mark; others count down until the minute they can resubmit for new equipment. Currently, it's not good enough to explain the long timeline and need for replacement as funding wants to see how the equipment has been used and what alternatives have been tried before replacing it. CRT teams put out very expensive and complex equipment to people with a range of disabilities within a complicated infrastructure, but we have no requirements to keep track or manage them. The tools to do allow us to manage and track equipment use are patient-reported outcomes.

OSU has implemented the Functional Mobility Assessment for all clients coming through their Assistive Technology Center for wheelchair seating. This system has allowed better communication and follow-along of equipment and patients’ needs.  The clinic initially started it with internal tracking and tried to use students for the follow-up. It became too time-intensive until the existing system was put in place.

This presentation will focus on the importance of using outcome measures meant to track and monitor equipment use. Using this outcome program, OSU has adjusted service delivery strategies to improve longer-term use of equipment. Equipment abandonment patterns have been identified and pulling the consumer back into the team before abandonment happens has been seen. There are case studies of trends in data and examples of program development. With outcome tracking, OSU has a tool to ensure that consumers have the best chance at maximizing the use of the equipment that we fought so hard to get.

At this year’s Heartland Conference, make sure to attend Theresa Berner’s session, “Using Patient-Reported Outcomes for Monitoring and Tracking Equipment Use.” Learn more and register for Heartland at vgmheartland.com.