Teamwork in Rehabilitation
Mark Wren, MD, MPH
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Medical Director, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital
of Texarkana
3510 Richmond Rd Suite 400
903-831-6275
Sources
Murray Brandstater, MD, PhD
Randall Braddom, MD
Richard Senelick, MD
Team Members
Historically
Physiatrist
PT
OT
Speech
Psychologist
Rehab nurse
Respiratory Therapist
Recreation Therapist
Case Manager
Social Worker
Dietician
Commitment to Work Together
Commitment to Communicate
Commitment to Support each
other
Teamwork in Rehab
Each patient belongs to every team member
Each professional on the team should accept equal
ownership of the patient.
Every problem of the patient is a problem for every
member of the team –
for example we should all address the issue of
depression, that is not just for the SW or
psychologist of for the MD to prescribe meds
Perhaps the patient may respond best to the
encouragement and advice from his PT or OT
whom he relates to well; Patient might respond to
one team member BUT NOT another
We should not carve up the rehab intervention like a
salami sausage: the hand for the OT, leg for the PT,
bowel and bladder for the RN, behavior for psych, the
nurse aide for transfers
For example, if the patient needs to void in the gym
the OT can take him and we can all offer support and
counsel
If team members disagree on a treatment intervention
or goal, never let the patient know--First discuss it
openly and sympathetically with your other team
members, and never talk about each other badly
behind their backs…
It is fun and professionally very rewarding to work in
an effective team, but it takes work and commitment
from everyone to make it really work