ASSESSING INNOVATIVE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES (ATS) FOR OLDER ADULTS: AN EXECUTIVE SPONSOR'S PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Abstract The BC Ministry of Health (BC MoH)’s Health Technology Assessment unit is part of the Partnerships and Innovation Division. Our interest in this project concerns the status of ATs and the health technology assessment (HTA) process. The role of AT implementation as a key feature of the potential for new ATs to maximize health impact for older adults is something the Ministry sees as critical to meet the goal of enhancing healthy ageing and sustaining independence and autonomy. Methods: From the beginning of the project, as Executive Sponsor, the Partnerships and Innovation Division helped to co-create the research program and played a key role in developing partnerships with health authorities and other stakeholders. With monthly meetings and several other research activities, the project has provided multiple opportunities for genuine policy engagement. Results: The results so far have seen the project extend the scope of its partnerships with key stakeholders in BC. The Ministry was on a local reference group of knowledge users for a rapid realist review of participatory co-design, and Mr. Saini is a co-author on a publication based on that work. The project received additional funding from the BC MoH, and recently the Ministry collaborated on a successful University of Victoria Research Acceleration Fund grant application. Conclusions: The BC MoH sees this as a key implementation science project, which will provide guidance to the HTA process, as it inevitably confronts increased demand for the public provision of ATs for older adults, particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.