This Prescriber Roles and Responsibilities document is solely intended to provide general information to the prescriber who assesses clients and signs Assistive Devices Program (ADP) application forms. For certainty, 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.

For the purpose of this document only, a prescriber is a person who can communicate on an application form, a diagnosis, long-term physical disability or 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.

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.

ADP prescribers are expected to:

• assess the applicant in person and confirm that the diagnosis, long-term physical disability is sufficient to warrant the need for an assistive device and/or supplies on a long-term basis;
• ensure, to the best of his or her 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, participate in the determination of a particular type of device and/or supplies that will meet the client’s needs;
• ensure that the necessary consent is obtained to disclose confidential client information to the Ministry and/or ADP authorizer or vendor;
• provide the applicant with accurate information throughout their assessment process;
• make efforts to provide the client with access to his or her personal health records related to the ADP request for funding and take reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality of those records;
• avoid any financial relationship with the vendor’s business except as permitted for Hearing Devices and Visual Aids;
• 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 (Home Oxygen);
• for Home Oxygen and Insulin Pumps and Supplies, ensure that the applicant meets ADP eligibility criteria on an ongoing basis
• in ADP device categories where there is no authorizer, recommend the particular device for the applicant (e.g., Home Oxygen, Insulin Pumps and Supplies, Respiratory Equipment and Supplies).

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.