Communication and collaboration among team
members are crucial for successful rehabilitation of
the patient with SCI/D. For example, as a 24-hour
service, nursing staff work with and observe the
patient throughout the entire day. As a result,
they add value to the rehabilitation process by
helping and encouraging the patient to transfer
the skills learned in therapy sessions to their daily
routine. Equally important is the feedback that
nursing staff members provide to their teammates
regarding the patient’s ability to carry over these
skills during evening and night hours. Nursing
staff often have interactions with family members
that are of great value to other team members,
allowing all members of the team to adjust their
treatment goals and strategies as necessary.
The patient and family/support system are the
central members of the interdisciplinary team,
and all decisions concerning care are made in
collaboration with them. There are a variety of
ways to communicate and collaborate, ranging
from one-on-one sessions, rounds, educational
sessions, team meetings, family conferences, and
group sessions.
In addition to staying current with advances in
neurorecovery following SCI/D, team members
should keep abreast of advances in SCI care in each
of their respective disciplines so that the entire
program can benefit through the adaptation of
care advances.