The Importance of Interdisciplinary Health
Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash
By Ainsley MacDonald
Patient outcomes are optimized when healthcare professionals of different backgrounds and disciplines, along with their patient, collaborate as a team. This is known as an interdisciplinary health approach. When responsibility is shared, and a broad range of knowledge, education, and skillsets join forces, patient outcomes and satisfaction are easily met. Beech Street Health Centre offers osteopathy, physiotherapy, and massage therapy and facilitates interdisciplinary healthcare on a regular basis to continue to meet the health outcomes of both new and existing patients.
When the opportunity to refer a patient to another practitioner at Beech Street arises, how does this optimize their treatment plan?
Referring a patient to another practitioner within Beech Street Health Centre is something done depending on the specific concern of the patient and their specific needs. It is important that the patient receives the best care possible and collaborating with fellow practitioners facilitates a broader range of care to ensure access to both rehabilitative health and preventative care measures.
Referrals made within Beech Street are even more optimal than communication with other practitioners and clinics because the practitioners have opportunity to collaborate and discuss on a daily basis without the delay in back-and-forth communication externally. Having all three services offered here is more convenient for patients as well given that they do not need to travel around to source care elsewhere.
What are some examples of the benefits of seeing practitioners concurrently with massage therapy?
Our massage therapist, Alanna, often treats patients in conjunction with osteopathy and/or physiotherapy. When patients have a problem and look for a collaborative health care approach, they seek referrals and professional opinions from our practitioners. An example of this might be if Alanna were to see a patient who mentions that they are experiencing pelvic floor issues, she could then refer her to our physiotherapist, Haley, who specializes in this area.
It is important as a practitioner to treat the person and not just the symptoms, and discussing findings with another practitioner allows for clarity regarding patient needs and attainable outcome measures. Working as a team with other health care professionals who practice different disciplines, they all still share one common goal—to provide the best form of care possible and to optimize patient outcomes. A collaborative treatment approach allows for more communication between the practitioners and a streamlined treatment plan for the patient.
What are some important components of interdisciplinary healthcare?
Clarity through communication.
Multiple examination strategies and skillsets for client care.
Teamwork towards a common goal to optimize client care.
Decreased communication gaps and the likelihood of misdiagnosis.
Get curious about the multiple, holistic benefits of interdisciplinary health at Beech Street Health Centre, discuss if a combination of our services is right for you, and discover the advantages of an interdisciplinary approach!