The interdisciplinary approach in neurorehabilitation

By Lyndsey Urry, Clinical lead, Askham Rehab

The complexity of health challenges, particularly in neurorehabilitation, requires innovative approaches that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. The interdisciplinary approach has emerged as a critical method to address these complexities, fostering collaboration among various specialists to achieve holistic care for patients.

This article delves into the essence of the interdisciplinary approach, its distinction from multidisciplinary practices, and its pivotal role in neurorehabilitation, with a spotlight on how Askham Rehab implements this strategy to benefit residents and achieve their rehabilitation goals.

What is the Interdisciplinary Approach?

The interdisciplinary approach involves a collaborative, coordinated effort among professionals from different disciplines working together toward shared goals. Unlike working independently within their respective domains, team members in an interdisciplinary framework engage in ongoing communication, share insights, and integrate their expertise to create a cohesive care plan tailored to the unique needs of each individual.

Interdisciplinary vs. Multidisciplinary Approach: Understanding the Difference

While the multidisciplinary approach also involves professionals from various disciplines, its distinguishing feature is the independence with which each professional operates. Specialists in a multidisciplinary team often work independently, contributing their expertise without necessarily integrating their findings or methods.

In contrast, the interdisciplinary approach emphasises integration and collaboration. Professionals communicate regularly, adapt their methods based on collective insights, and prioritise the overarching goals of the patient over discipline-specific objectives.

The Importance of the Interdisciplinary Approach in Neurorehabilitation

Neurorehabilitation often involves patients with complex neurological conditions such as acquired brain injuries, traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. These conditions can impact various aspects of a patient’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. The interdisciplinary approach is indispensable because:

1. Holistic Care: Neurorehabilitation requires addressing interconnected challenges, such as mobility, daily functional tasks, speech, swallowing, cognition, behaviour and emotions. An interdisciplinary team ensures these aspects are treated cohesively.
2. Tailored Interventions: Each patient’s journey is unique, necessitating personalised care plans. The interdisciplinary approach allows for a dynamic, customised strategy that evolves with the patient’s progress.
3. Enhanced Outcomes: Collaboration across disciplines ensures that no aspect of care is overlooked, leading to more comprehensive recovery and improved quality of life.

How Askham Rehab Implements the Interdisciplinary Approach

At the forefront of neurorehabilitation, Askham Rehab fosters an environment where our therapy specialists work seamlessly together within our therapy hub to optimise outcomes for residents. This collaborative ethos begins with the composition of the interdisciplinary team, which comprises physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, neuropsychologists, nurses, and support workers, among other professionals. Each member brings unique expertise, contributing to the creation of comprehensive and integrated care plans.

Weekly interdisciplinary meetings and goal-setting sessions ensure that all professionals are aligned in their approach and this is further supported by our Consultant in Neurorehabilitation medicine, Dr Fahim Anwar. These meetings facilitate the synthesis of input from various specialists into a single, unified rehabilitation progress document that is tailored to the resident’s goals. Advanced digital platforms and collaborative tools are employed to streamline communication and data sharing among team members, ensuring consistency and effectiveness in interventions.

Central to Askham Rehab’s approach is its unwavering commitment to a resident-centered focus. Residents and their families are integral participants in the rehabilitation process. Their perspectives and preferences are actively sought and valued, ensuring that care plans are not only clinically robust but also reflective of the resident’s individual aspirations and needs. This inclusive approach fosters trust and encourages a deeper sense of engagement in the recovery journey.

Benefits to Neurorehabilitation Residents

The interdisciplinary approach at Askham Rehab provides substantial benefits to residents, enhancing both the process and outcomes of neurorehabilitation. By addressing every facet of a resident’s condition—be it physical, cognitive, or emotional—this approach facilitates holistic recovery. The integration of therapies ensures synergy between interventions, which eliminates overlaps and enhances the overall effectiveness of treatment.

Moreover, residents experience an improved quality of life as the interdisciplinary team works cohesively to create comprehensive care strategies that address not just medical needs but also emotional well-being and social reintegration. Finally, by treating residents as active collaborators in their recovery, the approach empowers individuals, fostering a sense of control and motivation that is crucial for sustained progress.

Through this meticulous and compassionate framework, Askham Rehab exemplifies the profound impact of the interdisciplinary approach in achieving meaningful and life-changing rehabilitation outcomes.

This is demonstrated in the example of Resident X who arrived at Askham Rehab in April 2024, determined to return to her parents’ home but facing numerous challenges following her recent hospital admission. Her primary goal was to regain her previous level of independence in personal care, mobility, and communication. Through the collaborative efforts of the interdisciplinary team, a personalised rehabilitation plan was established to address her specific needs.

Initially, Resident X struggled with fatigue, requiring strategies and support from occupational therapists to manage her energy levels safely. Her goal of being able to perform 75% of her washing and dressing with minimal assistance was gradually achieved, alongside improvements in her ability to mobilise indoors with a quadruped stick. Speech and language therapists worked closely with Resident X to support her use of functional words, with remarkable progress by July 2024, enabling her to verbalise her wants and needs effectively.

By November 2024, Resident X had successfully achieved her objectives, including independently accessing the community with assistance and engaging in meaningful activities to enhance her well-being. This steady progress, monitored through regular interdisciplinary meetings and adapted care strategies, culminated in her smooth discharge home to her family. Resident X’s story illustrates the transformative impact of interdisciplinary working at Askham Rehab, enabling residents to reclaim their independence and achieve life-changing goals

Assisting in the Accomplishment of Rehabilitation Goals

The interdisciplinary approach plays a vital role in helping residents achieve their rehabilitation goals. Its strength lies in fostering collaboration among specialists, enabling a dynamic and responsive care process tailored to each resident's unique needs. Below are the key ways in which Askham Rehabs approach supports the accomplishment of rehabilitation goals.

• Setting Realistic and Dynamic Goals

One of the cornerstones of the interdisciplinary approach is the collaborative definition of goals that are both realistic and adaptable. Our team works together to establish goals that are achievable within the resident's current capacity while remaining ambitious enough to encourage progress. These objectives are designed to be measurable and specific, enabling clear benchmarks for success. As the resident progresses, the interdisciplinary team regularly evaluates and modifies these goals to reflect new capabilities or address unforeseen challenges, ensuring they remain relevant and impactful.

• Ensuring Consistent Progress Monitoring

The interdisciplinary team’s emphasis on regular and holistic progress monitoring ensures that every aspect of a resident’s rehabilitation journey is accounted for. Through integrated working within the therapy hub and frequent meetings, professionals from different disciplines share updates, observations, and outcomes from their respective interventions. This comprehensive review allows the team to identify patterns, measure progress effectively, and implement timely adjustments to the care plans when necessary. Such consistency prevents stagnation in recovery and provides residents with continuous support, keeping them on track toward their ultimate goals.

• Addressing Barriers Proactively

Recovery in neurorehabilitation often presents obstacles, such as psychological setbacks, physical limitations, or environmental challenges. The interdisciplinary approach excels in identifying and addressing these barriers promptly. Through collaborative discussions, team members can pool their expertise to develop creative and practical solutions.

For example, if a resident is experiencing emotional distress that hinders physical therapy participation, our neuropsychology team can provide strategies or interventions to alleviate these challenges, enabling the resident to re-engage in the rehabilitation process effectively. This proactive problem-solving ensures that potential disruptions are minimised, fostering a smoother path to recovery.

These key ways that Askham Rehab fosters can be demonstrated in the following example.

Resident Z arrived at Askham Rehab in September 2024, facing the challenges of deconditioning and adapting to life with a complete T6 spinal cord injury. With limited independence and no permanent residence, he sought to regain control over his life and achieve specific goals for mobility, self-care, and community reintegration. Through the dedicated efforts of the interdisciplinary team, a comprehensive plan was implemented to meet his needs.

Resident Z’s initial goals included managing his bowel care independently and developing the ability to transfer on and off a toilet seat without assistance. By October 2024, with tailored physiotherapy and occupational therapy support, he successfully achieved this, marking a significant step toward autonomy. Concurrently, the team worked on enabling him to adopt a meaningful strength training program and sit out in a chair for extended periods, ensuring both physical conditioning and comfort.

Another critical milestone was his ability to self-propel a wheelchair outdoors for one kilometer, achieved by November 2024. Alongside this, he regained independence in dressing, specifically putting on socks and shoes with assistive devices. By the time of his discharge, Resident Z was also able to transfer into a car and manage tasks such as loading a washing machine and completing weekly shopping, ensuring a return to an independent lifestyle.

These achievements were made possible through meticulous progress monitoring, adaptive strategies, and the collaborative expertise of the team. Resident Z’s journey highlights the transformative impact of interdisciplinary working at Askham Rehab, empowering residents to overcome barriers and reclaim their independence.

Conclusion

The interdisciplinary approach represents a paradigm shift in neurorehabilitation, enabling tailored, holistic care that addresses the multifaceted needs of patients. By setting adaptable goals, monitoring progress consistently, and addressing barriers proactively, the interdisciplinary approach provides a structured yet flexible framework for rehabilitation.

At Residential Neurorehabilitation units like Askham Rehab, this approach not only optimises the chances of achieving meaningful outcomes but also ensures that residents remain supported throughout their journey.

The result is a more empowered resident, capable of reaching their rehabilitation goals with confidence and comprehensive care and an improved quality of life.

Learn more about Askham Rehab at askhamrehab.com