The rehabilitation team.

Abstract

Rehabilitation has historically been a team enterprise, in recognition of the multifaceted needs of most patients requiring treatment, and psychologists have often, albeit not always, been considered "core" team members. "Regardless of setting or area of specialization, the rehabilitation psychologist is consistently involved in interdisciplinary teamwork" (Scherer et al., in press). However, there is a paucity of research that substantiates the benefit of the team concept, perhaps an understandable fact given the complexity, diversity, and idiosyncrasies of rehabilitation teams and the consequent difficulty of studying them empirically. (However, see Sander & Cons tan tinidou, 2008, for a discussion of team functioning in treatment of traumatic brain injury.) Nonetheless, teams of various shapes and sizes are the rule in many rehabilitation centers.

Health policy implications for rehabilitation psychology.

“…As rehabilitation psychologists know, patient outcomes can be improved and inefficient health spending reduced with coordinated, team-based care. The team model continues to be appreciated and applied in rehabilitation settings (Butt & Caplan, 2010). In most other health care settings, there remains uncoordinated care that is exacerbated by a segmentation of mental and physical health providers, health organizations, and the larger health care system.…”

“…Rehabilitation psychology has long known that integrated, interdisciplinary, patient-centered care provides the best outcomes for patients, including increased participation in desired roles (Butt & Caplan, 2010). This type of care is most commonly used in inpatient rehabilitation settings; it is less common in outpatient settings, although model programs have been established throughout the nation.…”

Neuropsychological Assessment and Treatment Following a Spinal Cord Injury and Alcohol Withdrawal

“…Although the assessment and treatment provided the patient with increased understanding of his present cognitive functioning, tools to work with certain cognitive limitations, and a more efficacious coping skill set, integration of psychology into the care team improved overall patient care. Rehabilitation is traditionally conducted as a team approach; however, research on the beneficial qualities of the team are not thoroughly explored in the literature (Butt & Caplan, 2010). The present case demonstrated the positive systemic benefits of clinical health psychology in a medical rehabilitation team.…”

Psychologist leadership on inpatient rehabilitation teams: Organizational science in practice.

“…The effectiveness and cohesion of rehabilitation teams have long been important subjects for rehabilitation psychologists (Butt & Caplan, 2010), and efforts have been made to identify best practices in facilitating successful teams (Dunn, 2017). The increasing complexity of the health care environment and the availability of growing evidence about what makes for effective teams create opportunities for psychologists to contribute to team functioning.…”