Family involvement is crucial to every patient’s rehabilitation program. To keep you informed and involved, family consultation may include the following:
Initial Family Interview
Within 48 hours of admission, your
social worker will talk with you, either in person or via telephone, to provide a general orientation to the rehabilitation unit and to establish lines of communication between your family members and our staff. It is essential to make sure that staff has all pertinent home, work and cell phone numbers so that your social worker may contact you.
Patient Updates
Your social worker will have consistent contact with your family. This communication provides your social worker with the opportunity to address your concerns, provide education, counseling, updates of your family member’s progress and discuss after-care plans and recommendations. Family conferences with the entire treatment team may be scheduled when family training and/or problem solving is needed.
Family Conference
Prior to discharge, your social worker may schedule a family conference at the request of the rehab team or the family as needed. This conference involves the entire treatment team, your family, the patient (when possible) and the insurance case manager (when appropriate). The purpose of this meeting is to review the patient’s progress, make recommendations for continued treatment and develop an appropriate aftercare plan.
Observation and/or Training Sessions
After the initial patient care conference it may be recommended that an observation session be scheduled. This is an opportunity for family members to observe the patient’s daily routine as well as view what their participation will be in each of his/her therapies. Establishing an observation session promotes awareness of the patient’s progress, strengths and weaknesses, as well as an opportunity to explore treatment goals and techniques. This also allows family members to see appropriate interaction techniques as modeled by the nurses and therapists.
Prior to a patient’s discharge, it may be recommended that the patient’s family participate in family training. This provides the chance for family members or caregivers to have hands-on instruction by the treatment team to facilitate improved function, independence and safety in the discharge environment. Each therapist will schedule a specific time to demonstrate specific techniques and strategies that family members will be expected to exhibit for a safe discharge to home.
The therapists also provide instruction so that family members can effectively determine their ability to provide the specified level of care. Staff is always available for guidance and questions; however, this scheduled training day is an excellent time for one-to-one interaction.