You may be wondering, “Who’s on my Rehabilitation Team?”. This article will give you an overview of the various professionals who will be collaborating to meet your rehabilitation goals. These professionals may include: a Physiotherapist, Occupational therapist, Peer support worker, Neuropsychologist, and others. It’s best to speak with them personally and find out exactly what their specialties are. It’s also helpful to know that there’s more than one type of rehab for each individual, so you can get a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs.
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapists are experts in restoring function and promoting physical wellness. Their specialized training focuses on improving gross motor skills, which are important for daily activities and function. Examples of gross motor skills include sitting and standing upright, walking and running, hand-eye coordination and ball skills. Without these skills, children will have difficulty moving around and doing everyday activities. Physiotherapists develop specialized rehabilitation programs to address each patient’s unique needs.
Ellen Ross, MSc, completed her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy at LaTrobe University. She has extensive experience in neurological rehabilitation, working with a wide variety of conditions in both community-based and inpatient rehabilitation. She is particularly passionate about neurological rehabilitation, and enjoys working collaboratively with clients to achieve their goals. She enjoys a variety of sports and enjoys spending time outdoors. Her experience with athletes includes working with Macarthur Rams and St George Illawarra Dragons.
Occupational therapist
When choosing a rehab team, it’s important to have an Occupational therapist on your side. This person will assess your goals and help you develop ways to adapt your environment to your individual needs. Occupational therapy helps people achieve their goals by restoring independence and happiness. To make sure you’re getting the right help, be sure to research occupational therapists and their background and education. Here are some ways to find a great OT.
One of an OT’s main functions is to educate patients about compensatory strategies and modify behavior to make it easier for them to perform everyday tasks. For example, an occupational therapist can show patients how to use assistive equipment to make activities like dressing and eating more comfortable. An occupational therapist can also help patients make safe decisions, such as staying put after walking for a few minutes. And the list goes on.
Peer support worker
A peer support worker on My Rehab Team is a valuable member of the recovery community. They can help those suffering from addiction by learning about their experiences and motivating them to continue with their treatment. Peer supporters help others in the same situation by being role models, educating them about the disease of addiction, and sparking conversations within the group. These benefits are obvious, but what are some of the many other advantages?
A peer support worker is a trained professional who is able to assess and act upon changes in a patient’s psychosocial well-being. They will verbally administer the Daily Functioning Thermometer, a visual analog scale for burden, or a Distress Screener, which identifies underlying mental health problems. A trained peer support worker will also administer the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire to evaluate the psychological state of a client.
Neuropsychologist
Why should I include a Neuropsychologist on my rehab team? The neuropsychologist’s role is to perform evaluations of patients and advise them on corrective approaches to their emotional and cognitive abilities. Neuropsychologists are often the last point of care for patients with neurological disorders, following psychiatrists and neurosurgeons. In many cases, their role is primarily to ensure that the rehabilitation process continues. Neuropsychologists study for many years before becoming practicing psychologists. It takes three to four years to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology and five to eight years to complete a Ph.D., including a major piece of research.
In addition to direct patient care, neuropsychologists may also participate in a wide variety of rehabilitation-related activities. These interventions may include family support, neurobehavioral management, and adjustment counseling. Neuropsychologists are increasingly valuable to patients as they move toward achieving self-respect, independence, and a high quality of life. They often need to be available to the team for collaboration and coordination of care. If neuropsychologists don’t participate in these activities, they could face a skeptical team.
