Clinical Committee

Composition

  • Implant Surgeon
  • Audiologist Manager
  • Implant Audiologists
  • Implant Habilitationists (for children)
  • Implant Rehabilitationists (for adults)
  • Psychologist/Counsellor

Function

1. Client Evaluation
  • Evaluation of initial referrals to programme. Initial "grading" into:
  • Urgent/priority assessment (e.g. recent meningitis, very young)
  • Routine assessment
  • Enquiry (when client comes to the attention of the implant team, but has not been referred for assessment)
  • Definitely not appropriate e.g. Off Programme
  • Allocation of specific team members or facilities to clients where deemed appropriate.
  • Receiving and discussion of reports resulting from further evaluation by Rehabilitationists, Educationalists, Audiologists and Otologists as appropriate. Grading of clients following evaluation:
  • Approve and book surgery (funding available)
  • Approve subject to funding
  • Further evaluation or other intervention required
  • Decline as not appropriate - Off Programme

2. Setting of Protocols for Programme

  • Current selection criteria
  • Pre-implant evaluation techniques
  • MAPping requirements
  • Post-implant performance evaluation (e.g. audiological, linguistic, social / psychological, quality-of-life measures etc)

3. Communication with associated health professionals

  • Referring Otologists, Audiologists, Advisers (reports following initial referral, further assessment, surgery, MAPping, further evaluation of individual clients and communication of policy decisions regarding the Programme)
  • Professional Bodies (e.g. AODC, NZAS)
  • Health Professional Community (Journals etc)

4. Communication with Funder and Provider Organisations concerned with the Programme

  • Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Hospitals, Private Providers, Southern Hearing Charitable Trust, van Asch Deaf Education Centre

Timing of Meetings

  • Regular monthly meetings of both Clinical Committee and Southern Hearing Charitable Trust
  • Special extra meetings when deemed necessary
  • Other Professionals to be invited as appropriate
  • SCIP Administrator attends meetings as secretary