Clinician Task Force puts itself out there 

MINNEAPOLIS – The Clinician Task Force has budgeted money to cover flights and hotels for its members to accept more speaking opportunities, says Executive Director Tamara Kittelson. 

The organization, for example, has offered to host a number of sessions next year at the Abilities Expos in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, which will also feature content for clinicians, providers and manufacturers for the first time. One of those sessions: A multi-disciplinary panel discussion on adjusting to the need for complex rehab technology equipment for yourself or for a family member. 

“It’s not something most people plan for in their life,” Kittleson said. “It’s a big, emotionally laden topic that people don’t talk about.” 

Here’s what Kittelson had to say about how the clinician plays an important role in those conversations and more. 

HME News: This is a topic that hits home for you. Your daughter was a CRT user and you started a nonprofit in her name, Eleanore’s Project, which provides wheelchairs to those in need in Peru. 

Tamara Kittelson: When my daughter Eleanore first got her wheelchair, it was a big leap for me. You wouldn’t think so. Before the experience, I didn’t think it would be that hard, but it was a leap. 

HME: Why is it so difficult? 

Kittelson: Because people think, “We hope we don’t have to resort to that. That’s the last resort.” I’ve had pediatric clients who have needed a wheelchair but their parents insisted that they walk with a walker, even when it hurt their body. To ride in a wheelchair was a failure. We want to bring this topic out of the dark a little bit. 

HME: What’s the clinician's role in these conversations? 

Kittelson: I think it takes a village, as the saying goes. It’s a really important role for therapists to be taking. If we’re really doing our job as therapists, we’re helping to figure out not just what does this person need but how do they feel about needing it. They’re not going to be successful in using it and being a mobile person if you don’t have those conversations. 

HME: What other topics might we see CTF members presenting on in the future?  

Kittelson: We have also offered to do courses on posture-care management, which is a passion of mine; standing equipment; and pediatric mobility care. 

HME: Where else might the CTF go with its education offerings? 

Kittelson: I think where we can offer something a little bit different is that we can focus on the process of providing CRT. We’re a clinical voice but we’re not representing any equipment that people would be buying. I recently went to the Chicago Abilities Expo and we had a table there and it was really interesting to be able to speak to users there, some of whom had never heard of the concept of a team approach to an evaluation for CRT. We had a graphic of the best service delivery model. So that’s another aspect of where we can educate – the consumer.