What is Rehabilitation
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Original Editor - Kim Jackson
Top Contributors - Kim Jackson and Aminat Abolade
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The term "rehabilitation" is used in many different contexts but the general underlying definition is based on the idea that each person has the right to be an active participant and expert in identifying their needs and making decisions on their health care.[1]. This definition helps to define the difference between acute care and rehabilitation. Acute care is focused on an individual's survival, whereas rehabilitation relates to the education and training of individuals so that they can live independent lives by focusing on the promotion of self-care and functional independence.[2]This general definition has differing meanings depending upon the context, for example, whether discussing a disability issue, health issue, substance abuse or behavioural issue. This article will focus on rehabilitation in a health context.
Rehabilitation in a Health Setting[edit | edit source]
In health, when referring to acute or chronic diseases, injury or trauma, rehabilitation can be defined as "set of interventions designed to optimise functioning in individuals with health conditions in interaction with their environment". In fact it describes any individual that is unable to function without limitations due to any circumstance including age, acquired or genetic disorder or dysfunction relating to a life event, stress or congenital anomalies.
The key factor in patient care is to help people improve their function and strive towards independence, following an acute injury or diagnosis of a long term condition. For many this is only possible through access to rehabilitation services. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), rehabilitation is one of the essential components of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which features alongside “promotion of good health, prevention of diseases, treatment and palliative care”.[3]
According to estimates, more than a billion people—more than 15% of the world's population—live with some kind of impairment. Additionally, 2.41 billion people live with illnesses that affect their ability to carry out everyday tasks and would benefit from rehabilitation services, which translates to 1 in 3 people needing these services over the length of their sickness or injury.[4]
In a rehabilitation setting these impairments and dysfunctions that affect activities of daily living and participation in society can be addressed by looking beyond the acute care setting and adopting a multi-disciplinary approach to care.
Rehabilitation Teams in Healthcare[edit | edit source]
In rehabilitation there are many terms used to describe teams in healthcare. The terms "intradisciplinary", "interdisciplinary", "transdisciplinary", and "multidisciplinary" are increasingly being used interchangeably to define teams within health care. These terms outline the various degrees of involvement of the multiple disciplines within the team environment, but there are some clear differences between these different approaches to care.
- Intradisciplinary
- Interdisciplinary
- Transdisciplinary
- Multidisciplinary
The Multi-disciplinary Team[edit | edit source]
The multidisciplinary team has been described as the main mechanism for ensuring a seamless service and truly holistic care for patients across the boundaries of primary, secondary, and tertiary care.[5] The importance of incorporating the MDT into a patient's care is important because of the:[6]
- The increasing complexity and specialisation of care
- Increasing co-morbidities
- Increasing chronic disease
- Global workforce shortages
- Safe working hours initiatives
The team consists of a group of people who have complementary skills and share common goals! Each member of the team collaborates closely to set goals and develop care plans to help patients with their ever-changing physical, psychological, and social needs. Because patient needs are often complex, the members of the team involved in patient care will differ depending on the healthcare setting, available resources, and, most importantly, the patient's individual needs.
Looking at Rehabilitation Domains[edit | edit source]
Discharge Planning[edit | edit source]
Role of the Multi-disciplinary Team in Discharge Planning from Hospital - Roles of the Multidisciplinary Team in Discharge Planning from Hospital
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Gender AR. Scope of rehabilitation and rehabilitation nursing. Rehabilitation nursing practice. New york: McGraw-Hill,.1996
- ↑ Mauk KL. Overview of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Nursing: A Contemporary Approach to Practice. 2011
- ↑ Shimizu Y. Rehabilitation. World Health Organization. 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rehabilitation. [Accessed on 12 July 2022]
- ↑ Duttine A, Battello J, Beaujolais A, Hailemariam M, Mac-Seing M, Mukangwije P, et al. Introduction to Rehabilitation Factsheet. Handicap International. 2017. Available from: https://humanity-inclusion.org.uk/sn_uploads/document/2017-02-factsheet-rehabilitation-introduction-web_1.pdf [Accessed on 12 July 2022].
- ↑ Jefferies H, Chan KK. Multidisciplinary team working: is it both holistic and effective?. International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer. 2004 Feb 1;14(2):210-1
- ↑ Schyve PM. The changing nature of professional competence. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 2005, 31:185–202
