Welcome to the TBI-HELP Live Chat
Today's topic is:
"Multidisciplinary Approach and the Traumatic Brain Injury
Patient"
Our Guest is: Ms. Sharleen Storey,
Admitting Coordinator, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services from Jamaica
Hospital Medical Center
[19:03:13] Mod: Welcome! Tonight it is our pleasure to have as our guest speaker Ms. Sharleen Storey from Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. She will be discussing "Multidisciplinary Approach and the Traumatic Brain Injury Patient". Welcome Ms. Storey.
[19:04:20] Ms.Storey: thank you. I'm happy to be with you tonight
[19:04:34] Mod: Rail: What is a multidisciplinary approach to TBI?
[19:07:56] Ms.Storey: rail: there are several different specialty areas used in rehabilitation. These areas are referred to as
multi-disciplines, they are:
[19:10:57] Ms.Storey: Physical
Therapy, whose focus is on the lower extremities for strength, balance, walking, stair climbing etc. Occupational
Therapy, whose focus is on the upper extremity for strength, fine motor skill development, activities of daily living, etc. Physiatry, who prescribes and coordinates rehabilitation treatments. Psychological services, whose focus is to provide
neuropsychological and cognitive evaluations in order to identify and address current cognitive deficits. Cognitive rehabilitation, which helps the patient regain or compensate for functioning in areas of impaired skills.
Tasks are devised to help improve the patient's memory,
concentration, attention, perception, etc. Additional areas of
multi-disciplines are: speech therapy, vocational therapy, recreational therapy
,nursing, and social work.
[19:25:46] Ms.Storey: The TBI patient may have sustained both cognitive and physical deficits as a result of their injury, therefore, utilizing the multidisciplinary rehab approach helps to facilitate the foundation for the patient to reach his/her fullest potential
[19:26:58] Mod: Missy: How important is family involvement in this approach?
[19:31:50] Ms.Storey: missy: family involvement
is critical. At times, patients may respond to family, best. their interaction with the therapists can more clearly n identify what is most appropriate for discharge planning,
Involvement can be a teaching tool for the family in terms of being able to provide continuity of care if the patient is discharged to home.
[19:36:21] Mod: Susan: Do you have a community
integration program for those close to discharge?
[19:40:31] Ms.Storey: Susan: usually community
re-entry, or community re-integration is not covered by insurances, However, at Jamaica Hospital, discharge planning, and community re-entry are one of the first issues approach on admission.
We continue to assess and reassess the patient's ability to re-enter the community. By doing this we are able to modify the patient's rehab program to address observed
deficits
[19:46:14] Mod: Not many hospitals have ICU
capability in a TBI unit as you have. Does this therapy also still apply to those on vents and in comas? That is also unique to TBI units/
[19:47:44] Ms.Storey: Susan: When you say ICU capabilities, I assume you are referring to vent
dependency. It is true, not many facilities are able to accommodate both TBI, and Vent dependant patients. In our unit, we re able to provide a coma stimulation program to patients who are on ventilators. The coma stim program is conducted by our Neurosurgery team, and he directs the
multi-disciplinary team.
[19:53:23] Mod: After discharge what do we do? What are our options?
[19:58:36] Ms.Storey: If a patient has physical and cognitive deficits as a result of their head injury, and may not be ready to go home, it is important that the family meet with their
doctor, or discharge planner, or social worker to help with identifying discharge options. These options may include: home with services, acute in-patient TBI/Coma units, or skilled nursing facilities.
[20:00:31] Mod: Well I see that our time is over for this evening. I hope that you found this session interesting and I invite Ms.Storey to return for another session. Have a wonderful
week, be safe and take care. Good Night
[20:01:13] Ms.Storey: It would be my pleasure. Thank you!