Authors (including presenting author) :
Kan HY (1), Tsang KY (1), Chan YLD (1)
Affiliation :
(1)Occupational Therapy Department, Kowloon Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Assistive aids
Keyword 2: :
prescription
Keyword 3: :
discharge planning
Keyword 4: :
resources management
Keyword 5: :
NGO partnership
Introduction :
Prescribing assistive devices before discharge is vital for a safe transition from hospital to home (Kirchner et al., 2021). Occupational therapists provide a range of aids, from toileting and showering equipment to adaptive tools like ramps and handrails, enhancing patients' independence in daily activities and alleviating caregivers' burdens. In 2023, the Kowloon Central Cluster Information Technology (KCC IT) initiative established a centralized Assistive Device Management System (ADMS) for efficient recording. However, current resources in the Occupational Therapy department remain decentralized, limiting access. A more integrated system is needed to optimize service delivery and continuity of care.
Objectives :
1. To conduct a comprehensive review of the assistive device requirements across various patient specialties. 2. To systematically organize and consolidate available resources related to assistive aids, including educational materials, device information, and community loan services within the Occupational Therapy department.
Methodology :
Retrospective report was drawn from the data input in the e-ADMS system in (1) assistive devices prescription by OT from April 2024 to March 2025.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 867 transactions were documented in the prescription module during the period from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, representing a 64% increase compared to the initial phase following the system’s launch in 2023. The assistive devices most frequently prescribed, including home oxygen equipment, wheelchairs, toileting and bathing aids, pressure-relieving devices, and environmental adaptive devices. Home oxygen equipment constituted 31% of the transaction records, while wheelchair prescriptions represented 22%, and toileting and bathing aids comprised 20%. Pressure redistribution devices, such as ripple mattresses and seating cushions, accounted for 15%, whereas environmental modification devices, including handrails and ramps, made up 6% of the total. This data analysis of assistive device prescriptions in the e-ADMS provides occupational therapists with consolidated information, which facilitates vendor collaboration on stock management to support efficient and safe patient discharges, as well as the maintenance of lists of common vendors for frequently prescribed items. Furthermore, similar analyses of the other two e-ADMS functions— (2) Assistive Device Loan and (3) Assistive Device Maintenance—can further enhance resource planning, such as by enabling the replacement of frequently loaned aids. This has also prompted us to take action in gathering information on community assistive device loan services in KCC and KEC, thereby making these services more accessible and convenient for carers and patients in our hospital.
