Three Mantras successful Rehab
Miracles do not happen in a day. Especially when it comes to illness or injury, it could take several months of
treatment and coordinated post-hospitalization procedures to bring a person back to normal.
A salient feature of the medical system in our country is that, it begins with crisis and ends with disease-management. A drawback of this approach, most often, is that wellness takes a backseat to survival. Treatment singularly focuses on tackling what makes patients weak, and sidesteps efforts that help them prepare for a possible recurrence.
A comprehensive rehabilitation plan combines strength training and confidence building methodologies customized to suit the very needs of the patient. A 360 degree analysis and subsequent suggestion is an essential part of recovery planning that is executed with the use of skilled nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, diet & nutrition and emotional wellness.
THE ELEMENTS OF TRANSITION CARE
1. PEOPLE: (TEAM) : The most vital element of transition care is the care team. A variety of individuals (multidisciplinary team) ranging from medical doctors, skilled nurses, trained physiotherapists, dietician, psychologist and other support staff contribute a major chunk of the transitional care eco-system. It is important to choose the right people partners for your rehabilitation process. Transition care practitioners might need to keep in touch with the primary treating doctor to create a tailored program. Keeping the primary consultant in the loop, for the care plan is essential in the recovery process.
Caregivers and nurses ensure that the patients’ needs are attended to, their medication and food is provided on time, their vitals are in check and that they are supported through getting back to a daily routine. Professional experts across occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychology, and physiotherapy are another critical cog in the wheel. They provide physical relief by dissipating pain, improving flexibility and building agility amongst patients. All these efforts focus on improving the resident’s functionality and independence taking care of the safety.
The third and the most critical part of this ‘people segment’ are the patient’s family and friends. While professional help is crucial and irreplaceable, support at a very personal level helps cheer them up and provide constant motivation to continue on the rehabilitation path. Involving the care taker in the care process is critical in aiding the resident’s empowerment to moving back home
2. PROCESSES/ METHODOLOGIES : A protocol-based approach to rehabilitation ensures that short and long term goals are clearly decided upon and achieved. Short-term goals are designed to increase the range of motion, flexibility, improve grip strength etc. with a defined immediately achievable target. Long terms goals help people understand what they should expect from the transition care program and where they should get in a few months or years.
Aligning realistic and mutually agreeable goals and setting right expectations helps streamline the transition process and make success measurable and tangible and render course corrections wherever necessary. Regardless of the extent of the illness or injury, a detailed plan is necessary for successful rehabilitation.
3. TECHNOLOGY : Of-late technology is the single-most tool that has changed the way things work, especially in the medical industry. Ranging from state-of-the-art equipment for therapy to establishing seamless connectivity to stay in touch with the primary treating doctor, as well as the patient’s family and keep them in the loop for important decisions. Clinical follow-up could be automated to establish a post discharge engagement process.
Further, with advances in technologies such as digital coaching, interactive sensory boards, digital health recording programs, tele-monitoring, tele-medicine and virtual reality support, best class medical care could be brought to individuals with a great cost & care benefit.
CONCLUSION
For the patient, treatment is often an extremely painful and testing phase. While physical changes due to ailment or injury themselves are excruciating, prolonged treatment affects emotional well-being too. Depression, stress and anxiety are some of the most common results of a treatment procedure, and more often than not, have a lasting impact on the patients’ health.With the right combination of people, processes and technology a suitable transition care eco-system can help patients recover completely from severe conditions and regain health and freedom. At SuVitas, we aim to make these miracles happen, and help our residents return to a life of independence and pride. With this confidence, comes the power to live again!
About the Author : Dr. Ramesh Byrapaneni, Board of Directors – SuVitas
Venture Partner at Ventureast Tenet Fund. Founder of Medwin Hospital, Dr Ramesh Babu brings in 22 years of expertise in clinical medicine, entrepreneurship, administration and clinical research. He did his post graduation in Internal Medicine, postdoctoral fellowship in Cardiology from Post Graduate Institute, Chandigarh, and Interventional Cardiology Fellowship from University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Dr Ramesh Babu is the Past President of TiE Hyderabad. Dr Ramesh jumpstarted various innovative initiatives like Hyderabad 10K run, Prevent India, Health Awareness Promotion Project India (HAPPi) project to prevent Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), TiE Buddies to teach entrepreneurship to school children and Hyderabad Angels.
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rameshbyrapaneni