Overview

This section provides general information to the prescriber who assesses clients and, if required, signs ADP application forms. For additional details, please consult the Policies and Procedures Manual for the Assistive Devices Program and the policy and administration manual for the devices funded by the ADP.

Prescriber

Within the ADP, a prescriber is a person who can communicate on an application form

  • a diagnosis
  • long-term physical disability
  • the prescription of a medical device

A prescriber may be a physician or another health care provider as documented in the device-specific policy and administration manual.

Role of a prescriber

The prescriber often provides the first assessment of the client for an ADP-funded device, and communicates on a Request for Funding application form a diagnosis or long-term physical disability which requires a device and/or supplies funded by the ADP.

Responsibilities of a prescriber

ADP prescribers’ responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • assessing the applicant in person and confirming that the diagnosis, long-term physical disability is sufficient to warrant the need for an assistive device or supplies on a long-term basis
  • ensuring, to the best of their abilities, that the required assistive device and/or supplies will be used as part of the applicant’s regular daily activities and not for exclusive use in sports, school or work
  • in consultation with the authorizer and the client, participating in the determination of a particular type of device or supplies that will meet the client’s needs
  • ensuring that the necessary consent is obtained to disclose confidential client information to the Ministry and ADP-registered authorizer or vendor
  • providing the applicant with accurate information throughout their assessment process
  • making efforts to provide the client with access to their personal health records related to the ADP request for funding and taking reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality of those records
  • avoiding any financial relationship with the vendor’s business except where specifically permitted in the relevant device-specific Policy and Administration Manual (for example, hearing devices, visual aids, etc.)

For specific device categories, prescribers are also expected to:

  • initiate and assess the effectiveness of home oxygen therapy, to make changes to home oxygen therapy based on their assessments and to discontinue home oxygen therapy when appropriate
  • ensure that the applicant meets ADP eligibility criteria on an ongoing basis (for example,  home oxygen therapy and insulin pumps and supplies)
  • recommend the particular device for the applicant in ADP device categories where there is no authorizer (for example, home oxygen therapy, insulin pumps and supplies, respiratory equipment and supplies)

What prescribers should expect

ADP prescribers can expect to:

  • be notified by the vendor when the authorized device is not supplied to the client for safety reasons
  • for hearing aids, receive the applicant’s audiological functioning and hearing aid recommendation prior to completing the form
  • be required to provide more information to authorizers and/or vendors during the application process, when necessary