on loan to the person for their use for as long as it meets their needs. Agree to use and maintain the equipment in keeping with the manufacturer’s guidelines provided with the equipment, or any maintenance schedule established by the EMS Provider. Contact the approved repair service if the equipment needs to be repaired. Agree not to modify the equipment in any way. Any modifications to equipment should only be completed by a technician or contractor approved by the EMS Provider. Arrange insurance for more costly equipment, such as wheelchairs, hoists and communication devices if possible. Arrange for the equipment to be returned to the EMS Provider when: it is no longer needed or being used it is no longer suitable to meet the person’s needs their living situation has changed. Advise the EMS Provider if their address has changed. Equipment maintenance includes battery charging of hoists and power wheelchairs, cleaning and checking safety. Where the equipment is no longer suitable, a of the person’s needs by an EMS Assessor may be required to consider more appropriate equipment options. The EMS Assessor The EMS Assessor will: Be responsible for participating in training and development activities, as available and as appropriate, to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to competently carry out assessments and recommend equipment funded by the Ministry. Meet the requirements of the EMS Assessor Accreditation Framework to attain and maintain the appropriate level of accreditation to complete assessments and submit Service Requests for equipment. Only submit Service Requests for services that are covered within the specific category and level of accreditation they hold. Register with the EMS Assessor On-Line system administered by Enable New Zealand and be responsible for updating their information in this system. Register through the EMS Assessor On-Line system if they wish to attain provisional registration in a specific credentialed category (for example, Wheeled Mobility Levels 1 or 2, Communication Assistive Technology For more information, go to: Log in to the EMS Prioritisation Tool on-line training course:
EMS Review Panel Process Map EMS ASSESSOR ACCREDITATION FRAMEWORK The EMS Assessor Accreditation Framework was introduced in 2010 to provide surety around the quality of assessments and appropriateness of requests for Ministry funded equipment and modification services. Four types of accreditation apply: Service Accreditation Approved Assessor Credentialed Assessor Provisional (In Training) Refer to the glossary for more information about the framework or go to . Successful completion of the EMS Core Module is a pre-requisite for Approved and Credentialed Assessors in all categories. All EMS Assessors submitting Service Requests for equipment must be registered on the EMS Assessor Accreditation Framework, using the EMS Assessor Online system, which is administered on the Ministry’s behalf by Enable New Zealand. EMS Assessors requesting equipment that is either Band 2 or Band 3 must also have completed the on-line training course in the EMS Prioritisation Tool. The following table lists the types and categories (including credentialed levels) of accreditation and qualifications and experience required by the EMS Assessor in order to request specific equipment. Service Accreditation Professional Qualification and/or Experience required to fulfill the requirements of Service Accreditation Examples of Equipment Specific service areas, primarily community health services, can be accredited to allow District Health Board staff, or staff contracted to a DHB, to undertake assessments and submit Service Requests for certain equipment items. Physiotherapist Occupational therapist Therapy assistant District Nurse NASC Needs Assessor Note, the personnel able to submit Service Requests under Service Accreditation is determined by the individual service. Band 1 Equipment which is low cost, low risk, high volume equipment, such as shower stools and over toilet frames. The specific Band 1 equipment items applicable to Service Accreditation is at the discretion of the individual assessing service area. Approved Assessors - Category of Accreditation Professional Qualification and/or Experience required to be an Approved Assessor Examples of Equipment Personal Care & Household Management Occupational therapist Physiotherapist employed as Neurodevelopmental therapist Shower stools Hoists Beds Transfer boards
Adaptive eating/drinking equipment Speech language therapist Adaptive eating/drinking equipment only Walking and Standing Physiotherapist Occupational therapist employed as Neurodevelopmental therapist Walking frames Standing frames Sliding boards Transfer belts Hearing Aids (note, this service is not covered in this manual) Audiologist who is a full member of New Zealand Audiological Society and has a current Certificate of Clinical Competence Hearing aids and other hearing devices Vision (note, this service is not covered in this manual) Optometrist Ophthalmologist Spectacles and assessment (Children’s Spectacle Subsidy) Vision Assistive Technology Optometrist Ophthalmologist Spectacles Appropriately experienced personnel employed by specialist service providers (including the Blind Foundation) Occupational therapist employed in Low Vision Clinic Optometrist Monoculars and magnifiers Specialised computer hardware and software Braillers Credentialed Assessors - Category of Accreditation Professional Qualification and/or Experience required to be a Credentialed Assessor Examples of Equipment Communication Assistive Technology – Levels 1 and 2 Speech Language Therapist or Occupational Therapist Professional membership with Assistive Technology Alliance New Zealand Trust (ATANZ) Successful completion of a Ministry approved Communication Assistive Technology Learning & Development Programme – Level 1. Successful completion of two case studies, reviewed by the Credentialling Panel – Level 2 Employer declaration supports achievement of competencies Dedicated communication device with voice output Specialised computer software ‘Low-tech’ equipment and resources Mounting systems Alternative access systems (eg, eye gaze, single switch scanning) Hearing Assistive Technology Appropriately experienced personnel employed by specialist service providers (including Deaf Aotearoa & the Blind Foundation (Deafblind Services) Vibrating alerting devices Baby Monitors
person to achieve one or more of the following: maintain their functional posture during their growing years maintain a standing transfer increase their potential to walk, where this is part of a long term plan and not limited to a period of specific rehabilitation. Where it is evident that a child would benefit from equipment to support them to maintain a good functional position, but a standing frame would not meet their needs, provision of another positioning system can be considered under 11.5.9 Lying. Funding for one standing frame only can be considered. Low cost equipment items (eg, standard walking sticks and crutches) cannot be provided by the Ministry unless the person meets the exception criteria (see section 6.3 for more information on low cost equipment). Standing frames that are required to manage acute episodes are considered to be a therapy intervention and funding is not available through Ministry funding. Wheeled Mobility and Postural Management Assessment Assessment of the person’s wheeled mobility and/or postural management needs and any subsequent consideration of equipment must be undertaken by skilled personnel who have the appropriate level of accreditation. Wheeled Mobility Access Criteria- Wheeled Mobility Equipment to support the needs of a person who has a mobility impairment to mobilise as safely and independently as possible to do one or more of the following: get around, remain or return to their home study full-time or do vocational training work in full time employment work as a volunteer be the main carer of a dependent person. Funding for a wheelchair or a wheelchair with higher specifications can be considered to support a person who lives alone to get out and about in their community more safely and independently. This support can be considered for the following people: a dependent child, or a person who lives alone, and the provision of a wheelchair or the additional features or For further information about the EMS Assessor Accreditation Framework, go to: The EMS Assessor may need to consult with an EMS Advisor or a regional wheelchair and seating clinic when considering a power wheelchair with high specifications, eg functions such as seat elevate, power tilt, alternative controls. An ultra-light or power wheelchair rather than a standard manual wheelchair. Funded supports are available through NASCs and include personal care, respite care, carer support and household management.
category within the defined time period. Challenging behavior Challenging behaviour can be described as challenging when it is of such an intensity, frequency or duration as to threaten the quality of life and/or the physical safety of the individual or others and is likely to lead to responses that are restrictive, aversive or result in exclusion. Customised Equipment Customised equipment is uniquely adapted or designed to meet the individual needs of a person and the customised is unable to be reversed. Generally the equipment is unable to be used by another person. Dependent person A dependent person is a person who requires full time care because: the person is a child of 13 years or under, or because of the person’s long-term health or disability needs. EMS Advisor An EMS Advisor is a qualified and experienced allied health professional, employed by the Ministry’s contracted EMS Provider, who provides education and advice to EMS Assessors to support their consideration of the most appropriate and cost-effective interventions, including equipment and modifications, to meet a person’s disability related needs. EMS Advisors were previously known as Professional Advisors EMS Assessor An EMS Assessor is approved as an assessor by the Ministry under the EMS Assessor Accreditation Framework published by the Ministry. EMS Assessors hold certain categories and credentialed levels of accreditation which relate to their qualifications and experience within that specialty. The categories of accreditation refer to the types of equipment that the EMS Assessor is able to request. The EMS Assessor is responsible for: maintaining their registration on the EMS Assessor On-line registration system, which is administered by Enable New Zealand. EMS Assessor status, Approved and/or Credentialed, needs to be every three years or earlier if the EMS Assessor’s employment circumstances change. updating their registration details, using the Enable On-line system, of any change in their accreditation area, employer, registration or practicing status or Correspondence from the EMS Providers will be sent to the address the EMS Assessor has recorded on the EMS Assessor Online registration system managed by Enable New Zealand. EMS Assessors can receive regular updates and information via email. This can be arranged by contacting Enable New Zealand. Work email addresses only should be provided - hotmail and gmail addresses cannot be used for this email communication.