In 2023, MonTECH jumped on the opportunity to apply for a grant from the Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation Fund. Our aim was to demonstrate the role of assistive technology (AT) and adaptive tools to better support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) during blood draws, vaccines, and other phlebotomy procedures.
The NeedleEase pilot project had three goals: decrease anxiety and fear around procedures involving needles, provide group-home teams with tools to ease their own apprehension around supporting clients during these procedures (thus having a positive effect on staff retention), and collect data showing the usefulness of AT in Montana group homes.
Four organizations participated in this project. All four own and operate group homes and day services for Montanans with I/DD. Eight NeedleEase AT kits were gifted to these organizations in exchange for simple data collection. Each kit was worth about $260 and included: a laminated social story, a laminated First-Then support with reward cards, noise-cancelling headphones, a music box with visible gears (for distraction), a fidget, a weighted gel lap pad or weighted plush kitty, and an XL Buzzy (a vibrating device with cold wings to hold “between the pain and the brain”).
Leadership of the four organizations felt positive about the tools in the kits and their utility. While data collection was difficult, the pilot showed there is a role for AT in providing quality and consistent medical care for adults with I/DD. Calming fear and anxiety around phlebotomy procedures can reduce behaviors that negatively impact staff retention in group homes. Given the plague of high turnover in the I/DD field, any gain we can make to retain staff so they have time to become excellent care providers will directly benefit the vulnerable people served in Montana group homes.