Rehabilitation is an important phase in healthcare that deals with the reduction of disability and improving the functionality of the patient in interaction with several components of the environment. It is obvious that there is a team behind that and their combined efforts are responsible for the accomplishment of complete rehabilitation in a patient.

This blog is about the rehab team and a brief explanation of the roles of each people in the team. The rehabilitation team is a widespread team comprising the following specialized people.

  • physiatrist
  • physiotherapist
  • physical therapist
  • speech therapist
  • prosthetist
  • architect
  • educator
  • psychologists
  • placement officer
  • social worker
  • counselor
  • recreation therapist
  • orthotist
  • voluntary organization
  • instructor
  • manufacturers
  • biomedical engineers
  • nurse
  • specialized doctors

Physiatrist

They are the captain of the ship. A physiatrist interacts with all the members of the team in order to design a barrier-free environment for the patient. He interacts and guides with the patient and his relatives. He must be well versed/certified in the evaluation of disorder, physiotherapy allotment, orthoses, and prosthesis and must be compassionate, calm, and understanding.

Physical therapist

They are responsible for evaluating muscle strength, joint range, and spasticity, providing therapeutics like heat, cold, water (hydrotherapy), traction and massage, mobility aids like wheelchairs, and training the patient for its maintenance. The aim of the physical therapist is to restore the normal movement of the affected muscle.

Occupational therapist

They are responsible for the evaluation and training of patients in aspects of lifestyle. Their job involves inspection of the home, ensuring a barrier-free environment, training the use of prostheses, collaborating with physiotherapists to set goals, orthosis setting, vocational counseling, and training patient for personal, social, and cultural compensations. The objective is to restore, reinforce and enhance performance and improve health, according to W.H.O

Prosthetist and orthotist

They are responsible for taking measurements, fabricating, modifying, designing, fitting, and training patients in relevance to orthotic and prosthetic devices. They interact with physiotherapists, biomedical engineers, and occupational therapists to make the best device.

Speech Pathologist

Aid in the evaluation and treatment of neurological communication problems. Train patients on oral implants, cognitive training, laryngeal speech training, counseling for surgery, education, and evaluation of swallowing are some jobs performed by a speech pathologist.

Rehabilitation nurse

Help bed-ridden patients to achieve short and long-term goals, take care of needs, transfer a patient in bed, or wheelchair, house-visits the patient, integrate therapy, ensure environmental factors like heat, noise, sanitation, use and maintain adaptive equipment provided by doctors and ensure complete recovery of the patient.

Psychologist and Child Development Specialist

They are responsible for conducting tests on lifestyle, stress, and personality; provide counseling for patients, alcoholics, marriage, sexual awareness, and adolescents related to behavior change. They aid in the diagnosis and treatment of neurosis and psychosis.

Horticultural Therapist

They work with mentally retarded and physically disabled patients and expose them to a variety of plants to boost independence, motor skills, and psychological wellbeing.

Music Therapist

A musician or performance artist who helps to relax, relieve pain and improve their condition with the help of soothing music like piano or violin.

Creative Movement Therapist/Dance Therapist/ Play Therapist

Use dance/play therapy to relax, soothe, relieve pain, improve focus, concentration, and, gross motor control and motor muscle activity for the patients.

Recreational Therapist

Help in the improvement of the social, mental, and emotional behavior of the patients through a series of steps. Assess the patient’s interests, passion, and cognitive and emotional functioning. Educate the patient about alternatives like medicine, sports, and equipment and work on community integration. Arrange tours, trips, and picnics and improve the lives of patients after rehabilitation.

Biomedical Engineer

They are the link between medicine and engineering. They interact with prosthetists and orthotist for the design and fabrication of rehabilitation devices.

Social Worker & Vocational Counselor

Explain to parents about the condition of the patient, teach nursing patients, maintain case records, and evaluate the patient’s home and his living. They are skilled trainers who train the patients in a particular vocation.

Placement Officer & Special Educator

The placement officer evaluates the workspace of the patient, and co-ordinate with other members of the team to maintain a database of client and team requirements. Special educator identifies the deficits in the child’s functioning and teaches them about compensatory methods. They focus on intervention through vocational training and practical life experiences.

Non Government Organization

It involves philanthropists like NASEOH, Amar Seva Sangam, the School of deaf and blind, the multiple sclerosis society, and funding agencies to provide money for deserving candidates.

The singular and overall efforts of all these people are essential for the complete recovery of the patient. It is important to understand there is a team behind the complete rehabilitation of a patient.

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