Conference Best Practices of Provisional Systems of Assistive Technologies in Europe Budapest, MEREK, October 18-19, 2011 Italian developments in the AT public service delivery system, and the EASTIN European AT database Renzo Andrich Polo Tecnologico Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milano renzo.andrich@siva.it
Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus www.dongnocchi.it Fondata nel 1952 da don Carlo Gnocchi Founded in 1952 by don Carlo Gnocchi 3800 dipendenti + 1600 collaboratori 5400 employees 28 Centri (di cui 2 IRCCS) in 9 Regioni 28 Centres in 9 Regions, 2 Clinical Research Instit. Tutte le età, patologie, disabilità Any ages, patologies, disabilities 3634 posti degenza 3634 hospital beds Ca. 9000 persone assistite ogni giorno About 9000 clients being cared daily
Assistive Technology Sensory aids Access to information Mobility Personal care, daily activities Worksite adaptations supporting independent living and personal assistance in all areas of daily life Home care Prosthetics, orthotics Sport, leisure Ambient assisted living Education Design for all, accessibility
The Assistive Technology Service Delivery System in Italy Who is responsible Public facilities and services The owner, in compliance with accessibility rules Workplaces The employer, in compliance with the Labour safety rules and the supported employment procedures Schools Each school (except for devices for strictly personal use) Personal environments and personal equipment for daily living The user (supported by the AT service provision systems)
Financial support to the user Direct provision of AT equipment By the National Health Service; by the National Labour Insurance; by certain Regions Fiscal benefits Reduced VAT or tax deduction for equipment directly bought by the user Grants for removal of architectural barriers buying or adapting cars individual independent living programmes Reimboursements by private insurances
The Italian National Health Service (NHS) Italy is 60.387.000 citizens 20 Regions 110 Provinces 194 Local Health Authorities (ASLs) 8094 Municipalities Responsibilities Health Services >> ASL Social Services >>> Municipality Services Planning >>> Region Defining the minimum standards of care >>> Ministry of Health
Assessment AT provision through the ASL No regulation on who should do it Prescription by a qualified physician (physiatrist; oculist; othorynolaringologist ) Authorisation by a ASL official (check that the user is eligible and evidence is provided) Provision by the company chosen by the user unless the ASL has a bulk procurement contract Verification by a qualified physician
The Ministry of Health Who decides what Establishes the List of types of equipment eligible for NHS prescription (Nomenclatore Tariffario) A medical Commission at the ASL Decides that a citizen is eligible for AT provision The prescriber Decides the types of devices and the related specifications to be provided to an individual citizen The citizen Decides brand and model and the company The prescriber and the citizen Decide whether the item provided is acceptable
The Italian Portal on Assistive Technologies www.portale.siva.it
Various ways to search, depending on the user s needs
Various ways to guide in selecting the appropriate device meeting the individual needs
AT individual Assessment Report Form
The network of assistive technology assessment centres (SIVA) Milano Servizio DAT Centro IRCCS S.Maria Nascente Inverigo Milano Palazzolo Milano Girola Parma Torino Falconara Telesportello Siva c/o Servizio DAT, Milano Orario 8.30/13.00 Tel 02 40308340 portale@siva.it Sarzana Marina di Massa Firenze Roma
pg. 15
www.eastin.eu A network that aggregates the major national information providers on Assistive Technology in Europe A website with a search engine working simultaneously on all databases, available in all official languages of the EU Including information on over 65.000 assistive technology products and 5.000 manufacturers The European Commission initially financed part of the work. EASTIN is now a self financing Association. pg. 16
www.eastin.eu pg. 17
pg. 20
Associated information pg. 21
The Impact of the National AT Portal Making information available and transparent Empowerment tool for end-users Working tool for health care professionals (assessors, prescribers, technicians etc.) Info tool for companies Decision support tool for policy maker Educational tool for researchers, students etc.
The Impact of the European AT Portal Increases the profile of the National Portal Helps increase the quality of information provided through the National Portal Motivates companies to provide data Allows to find out AT solutions not commonly known in Italy Increases the possibility to compare products on a wider scale
Thank you for your attention (Disegni Jesper Deleuran. Da Consorzio Eustat: Pronti..via! Come scegliere gli ausili per la tua autonomia. Commissione Europea: Milano 1999)