The oft-quoted phrase from 1624, “No man is an island,” stresses the interconnectedness of humanity. But it can easily be applied to the importance of the interconnectivity of the healthcare providers responsible for caring for O&P patients in their rehabilitation journeys. In this issue, we explore aspects of the team approach to patient care and introduce a new department, Allied Health, to highlight the importance of this relationship.
Physical therapists are often included as part of holistic care following a lower-limb amputation. Though their contribution plays a vital role in assisting patients with their overall mobility, as explained in “Let’s Get Functional: Occupational Therapy’s Role in Lower-Limb Rehabilitation,” occupational therapists complement physical therapists in providing training on activities of daily living.
Teams function best when everyone understands the roles, responsibilities, and expertise of the other members. Since O&P is a small specialty not covered in-depth in other healthcare professions’ training, it’s often helpful to provide some education about it to facilitate their understanding and promote communication. “Educating the Allied Healthcare Team” discusses avenues for this type of education and the benefits it provides.
Effective communication is critical for successful relationships within the rehabilitation team—and for the best patient outcomes. “How Disruptive Behavior Impacts Patient Care” looks at communication patterns that create barriers to productive collaboration within the team and how an awareness of those tendencies can help providers avoid this impediment to quality patient care.
Finally, with “Physical Therapy as an Adjunct in O&P Care” in our new department, we are provided with a firsthand account of the value of physical therapists and physical therapy assistants working alongside O&P practitioners.
Happy New Year and happy reading.
Andrea Spridgen
