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SIG Segment Information and updates from BSA Special Interest Groups
BSA Special Interest Groups
Adult Rehabilitation Interest Group (ARIG) Mel Ferguson, Chair of Adult Rehabilitation Interest Group (ARIG)
April in Nottingham with a packed agenda, and a number of agreed actions that address the group’s revised objectives.
E: melanie.ferguson@nottingham. ac.uk
1. To review and promote patient centred rehabilitation interventions and the supporting evidence
It’s all change on the ARIG front. We say goodbye to Lucy Handscomb (Chair), Amanda Casey, Helen Pryce and Beth-Ann Culhane, and thank them for their contributions to ARIG over recent years. In particular, for their input into the revision of the 2012 practice guidance now known as the Common Principles of Rehabilitation for Adults in Audiology Services. This document has recently been out for consultation and comments have been sought from international opinion leaders in the field. It was encouraging to see a large number of responses. Overall, responses have been very positive, and the document is likely to be published sometime in the summer. So as the lone survivor of the previous ARIG outfit, I’m delighted to welcome the new crowd who bring forth a range of experiences from audiology, speech and language therapy, and the independent, third and commercial sectors (see website). Laura Turton, the ARIG secretary, played a blinder getting such a great group of people together, and I’m so pleased that Jane Wild has agreed to be Vice Chair. The first meeting of the new group was held on 13th
2. To advise on the holistic application of evidence based rehabilitation interventions 3. To advise on the evaluation of these interventions and the patient journey 4. To forge links between clinicians, researchers, policy makers and educators to promote and support current and future best practice in adult rehabilitation Firstly, a meeting on Complex Adult Rehabilitation will be held in September at De Montfort University, which will run in parallel with the PAIG meeting. Then following discussions on priorities within adult rehabilitation, we agreed on two pieces of work for starters. The first will be a practical “what works” companion to the more theoretical common principles practice guidance. We will seek and compile examples of best practice and service innovations, supported where possible with an evidence base. The second, will be to identify a toolkit of outcome and assessment measures for services - a what, why, how, when and for whom. With ARIG likely to play a key role in the development of the NICE Guidance on Adult Onset Hearing Loss for the BSA, it looks like the start of some promising, necessary and exciting work – all good stuff and plenty to keep us out of mischief.
SIG segment
Audacity April16.indd 10
10/05/2016 15:22