The importance of teamwork
At this session, I would like to talk about the importance of teamwork for assessment and implementation of assistive aids.
At the rehabilitation field, there are many specialists.
For example, a Medical doctor, a social worker, a public health nurse, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, a rehabilitation engineer, a psychologist, and a nurse.
On the other hand, at the area where a client is living, there are a family, a welfare office, a hospital, a school, a client's work place, a volunteer association, and some dealers.
We can safely say that all of these are the effective resources for the client.As I mentioned before, our home-visiting team go out to a client's home.
In this picture, you can see some people, a client's wife, two engineers (mechanical & electronics), a public health nurse, and a social worker.
As I mentioned before, we are discussing the best avenues of access to the road from the client's house on the hill.For example...
In case of the House remodeling, the team consists of a social worker, a physical therapist, and a rehabilitation engineer, especially architect
In case of Mobility and Transfer Aid, the team consists of a social worker, a physical therapist, and a mechanical engineer and architect.
And, in case of Environmental control and Communication aids, the team consists of a social worker, an occupational therapist and an electronics engineer.
At this point, the question is why some people to meat at the same place and at the same time.What is the good team approach?
This picture shows a team approach such as mosaic.
For example, an occupational therapist will check and excise the client's arm and hand.
A physical therapist will check and excise the client's leg and walking.
And an engineer will design a client's wheelchair or some assistive aid.
But in case of this picture, nobody knows the client's whole image. It likes such as mosaic.
Will a team provide good service to the client?
In Japan, I can often see such as a team approach even now.In case of this picture, every staff obtain the client's whole image.
Therefore, at the first point of time, a team consists of various specialities go to the client's home at the same time to obtain the client's whole image.Next, this is a flowchart of implementation of assistive aids.
At first, a grasp of client's needs is very important.
So we spend a great deal of time.
A social worker play an important part.
Next is an evaluation of client' s ability.
MD, PT and OT play an important part.
Next is Solution.
PT, OT and RE play an important part.
Of course, SW thinks about Funding.
Next is Selection of Assistive Aid.
If there is nothing to fit to the client's needs, we engineer make a designing and R &D.
Next is Trial. If trial go wrong, we go back to selection part or solution part.
If trial go well, next is Training part.
But, if need, next is adjustment remodeling part.
After training, we make an evaluation.
If an evaluation go wrong, we need to go backward.
If an evaluation go well, next is funding.
A social worker play an important part.
And next is Provision.
At this part, PT, OT, RE , SW, and Dealer play an important part.
After provision, next is Follow.
I think that follow is very important.
Stuffs of welfare office, especially public health nurse often play an important part.
Therefore, I think that the teamwork and team approach is very important.
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