Communication, psych, consistency, = success
Team members work on interdisciplinary goals
A cohesive treatment team, a consistent therapy staff, and a strong psychological component are among the reasons Thad Ray, MA, cites as contributing to the success of the neurology day treatment program at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Charleston, SC.
"One of the reasons our program has been so successful is the effort that goes into communication between therapists," says Ray, who is the psychology technician for the program.
Once goals are identified, all disciplines work on them with the patient, even if they are not part of the typical treatment. For example, if physical therapists are working with patients on ambulation techniques, they include sustained attention and concentration exercises and communication techniques in the treatment. When speech therapists work with patients, they instruct them to use their affected hand to point or turn pages to increase strength.
"Even though each goal is the primary responsibility for a certain discipline, every person who treats the patient works on all the goals during their treatment," Ray says.
Continuity of care
Therapists on the day treatment team are assigned primarily to day treatment, although they may fill in with other patients when the day center census is down. Being treated by the same therapist day after day provides continuity for patients and is a good relationship builder, Ray says. It also helps the therapists extend their treatment outside the actual activity.
For instance, a patient may feel comfortable discussing family issues or adjustment issues with a therapist with whom he has a long-term relationship. "That’s not something you get if the patient sees a different therapist every day. The patient appreciates that this person is invested in their well-being and improvement," Ray says.
In addition to a team meeting to discuss the patients’ progress on meeting their functional goals, the treatment team meets weekly with Brian West, PhD, a neuropsychologist, who oversees the patients’ psychological issues. He helps identify psychological factors, such as depression, that otherwise might not be addressed in a brain injury treatment program. If psychological problems are severe, patients may be referred to a psychiatrist for specialized medical management. "We know that when depression clear up, patients improve cognitively," Ray adds.
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