How to Improve Patient Care and the Prosthetist and Physical Therapist Relationship

Although the key components for a successful rehabilitation program haven’t been well defined in medical literature, experts agree that establishing a multidisciplinary team is essential.¹ Different experiences and knowledge bases should be shared to formulate an integrated and coordinated program, providing optimal care to those with limb loss. Studies have shown that when all members of a team provide input on patient cases, the treatment planning is more effective, and patient care is improved.² Establishing a healthcare team that understands optimal prosthetic outcomes is critical for patient success because it reveals the positive impact of prosthetic use on the patient’s life and allows for a better rehabilitation strategy.^3,4

The evolution and variety of prosthetic components make prosthetic prescription, fitting, and adjustment a complex process. With this complexity comes a rising need for the development of evidence-based guidelines, as well as benchmarks for assessing prosthetic components. However, not all members of a multidisciplinary team think in the same way, and although diversity in experience levels and academic backgrounds are key to creating this team’s value, it can delay the decision-making process and impact patient care.