A Multidisciplinary Approach to Pediatric Therapy

A multidisciplinary team consists of several healthcare professionals from differing disciplines working together to provide the highest quality of care for their patients. In a 2009 study, healthcare professionals in a pediatric unit reported a “better understanding of the patients’ medical plans, better ability to help the families, and a greater sense of teamwork with family-centered multidisciplinary rounds compared with conventional rounds” (Bochkoris Hannon, Kwoh, Rosen, Stenger, 2009).

Multidisciplinary approaches require more effort. In the study mentioned above, the multidisciplinary, family-centered team reported an addition of 2.7 minutes per patient to their rounds (Bochkoris Hannon, Kwoh, Rosen, Stenger, 2009). Healthcare professionals are required to communicate timely and thoroughly in order to impact the patient’s outcomes. This is not easy to accomplish.

A true multidisciplinary approach to healthcare is quite difficult to achieve. The following components are crucial to an effective multidisciplinary approach (Antonelli, McAllister, Popp, 2009).

1. Patient- and Family-Centered

• Links patients and families to an accessible, community-based primary care medical home

2. Proactive, Planned, and Comprehensive

• Supports anticipatory, proactive, continuous, and longitudinal care
• Builds on family strengths and is guided by a comprehensive, standardized assessment of needs
• Supports and relies on team care
• Facilitates the care-planning process including consultation, referral, testing, goals (jointly developed and shared), monitoring, and follow-up
• Plans for the transition of youth from pediatric to adult systems of care

3. Promotes Self-Care Skills and Independence

• Ensures the provision of patient/family education to build self- management skills
• Equips families with the skills needed to navigate a complex healthcare system

4. Emphasizes Cross-Organizational Relationships

• Builds strategic relationships across a community that support integration of care and patient/youth/family self-management skills
• Ensures effective communication and collaboration along the continuum of care

At Total Pediatrics, we take our multidisciplinary approach very seriously. We will work closely with your pediatrician. We will hold family-centered plan of care meetings. We have equipped ourselves with technology to utilize telehealth to better connect with your healthcare network. We have partnered ourselves with reputable community organizations. We engage in ongoing research. We will never cease to pursue a better approach to your family’s outcomes. Our comprehensive multidisciplinary approach means you will spend less time searching and more time achieving. Call us for an evaluation today at (606)679-1761 or email us at info@totalrehabcenter.com.

References

Antonelli, R. C., McAllister, J. W., & Popp, J. (2009). Making care coordination a critical component of the pediatric health system: a multidisciplinary framework.

Rosen, P., Stenger, E., Bochkoris, M., Hannon, M. J., & Kwoh, C. K. (2009). Family-centered multidisciplinary rounds enhance the team approach in pediatrics. Pediatrics, 123(4), e603-e608.