Preliminary Programme and Call for Contributions
AAATE International Workshop 2008
Socio-economic assessment of assistive technology in service delivery practice
25-26 September, 2008
Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus
Milano, Italy

Nowadays, there is an increasing demand for evidence of the
cost-effectiveness of assistive technologies. Policy makers and financing
agencies need such information to properly allocate resources, control how
efficiently they are used, stimulate the market, identify priority areas for
research, understand possible wider implications at an overall societal
level; professionals working in health care and social services - within
today's climate of accountability calling for evidence based practice - need
to know whether their AT choices have proved effective within the
rehabilitation programme, useful for the client, and efficient in using
resources; industrialists need evidence of the added value their products or
services may offer in comparison to those of other competitors; users and
user organisations require to be fully involved in decision making processes
and bring their expertise in this discussion.

Studies on this subject started to appear in literature quite recently. Most
of them are still struggling with fundamental research questions; others work
at developing, field-testing and validating specific instruments or
methodologies; overall, knowledge has greatly advanced on this topic in the
recent years. However, it seems that transfer of such knowledge into policy
development and service delivery practice is still in the early stages.

The workshop will bring together experts from all over the world that have
developed expertise in this subject or are carrying out significant field
experiences. The workshop will include invited speakers, round table and
discussion sessions. It is intended to give the opportunity to all
participants to learn from each other's experience, to investigate how
socio-economic assessment mechanisms could be integrated into service
delivery practice, and discuss possible roadmaps for all actors involved,
including the AAATE, to promote advancement on this topic.

The workshop will be held in the premises of the Don Gnocchi Foundation - a
large rehabilitation hospital based in Milano, Italy - and will be organised
by its Biomedical Technology Department (Polo Tecnologico). It will start on
Thursday 25 September at 2 pm and end on Friday 26 September at 1 pm. The
AAATE General Assembly will be held on Thursday evening, while a guided visit
to the Don Gnocchi facilities - for all those interested - will be organised
soon after the workshop on Friday from 2 to 4 pm. All AAATE and RESNA members
are warmly invited to take part in this unique event in the beautiful city of
Milano. 

More information:
http://www.aaate.net/uploaded/81/aaate_workshop_2008_draft_programme.doc
http://www.aaate.net/news.asp?check_if_more=999&articlei=81&fid=1

Participation in the workshop is open to RESNA members

AAATE
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