Draft Programme Session: The Barriers and Enablers to introducing new technologies into the NHS (STS59)

January 9, 2017

Session Type: Workshop

The Barriers and Enablers to introducing new technologies into the National Health Service – A Therapy perspective

Technology is growing in importance in our everyday lives. The role of occupational therapy and physiotherapy is to enhance or enable meaningful participation in the occupations (activities) important to everyday life. Therefore, if technology is a component of people’s lives it is important for Therapists to look for ways to incorporate technology into clinical practice. This could include using technology for treatment and rehabilitation or technology as an assistive device.

This session will showcase examples of clinical practice where therapists (OTs and PTs) have used new technologies to increase, maintain, or improve patient’s functional and cognitive capabilities. The presentations will describe the specific rationale, processes, documentation, enablers and barriers to implementation in clinical settings.

The session will involve a number of 5 minute presentations followed by a 10 minute discussion opportunity for questions, and, facilitated discussion about the enablers and barriers to introducing technology into patient care. Therapists will describe their own experiences and those of their patients in using new technologies. This session will also explore the acceptability of assistive devices from the patient’s perspective.

The general topics of the individual presentations that inform the reader of the methods.

• Occupational Therapists using iPads for cognitive interventions in a critical care unit in an NHS setting
• Physiotherapy perspective on developing an EKSO skeleton service in an NHS setting (spinal injuries case study)
• The experiences of stroke survivors with managing eating and their perspectives on assistive technology
• Creating a virtual home visit app for Occupational Therapy home assessments in an acute teaching hospital
• The challenges of deploying Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) for the upper limb in clinical settings

During the discussions we invite participants/delegates to share their experiences/learning.

Anticipated results.

• Opportunity to hear about current therapy practice and the utilisation of technology in a national health service context.
• Discussion forum to explore the enablers and barriers to using technology in a national health service context. The reality of the difficulties experienced with implementation and a therapy view on how barriers can be overcome.
• Forum for problem solving, sharing ideas and connecting with people who have expertise in this area with the aim to ‘grab an idea and share an idea’.

Please submit your short communication:

Submit your short communication.

You can submit a short 900 word communication, on or around this topic, now until 7th April 2017.

Organiser:

Contact: Natalie Jones, Deputy Professional Lead Occupational Therapist, NHS, Sheffield, UK.
Email: Natalie.Jones@sth.nhs.uk

Speakers:

• Hannah Knox, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist: Introducing iPads for cognitive rehabilitation on a neurological critical care unit.
• Suki Wong, Senior Physiotherapist: The first NHS organisation to introduce an EKSOBionics Exo-skeleton to a regional spinal injuries unit.
• Natalie Jones, Clinical Service Manager and Deputy Professional Lead OT: Experiences of stroke survivors with managing eating and their views on assistive technologies.

Promotion:

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