As a rule, we at the Sports Specialist Rehab Centre recognize that there is no “i” in “team”. A team is always stronger than the individual. With respect to the healthcare of our patients, we apply the same rule.
It is our perspective that no one medical professional is superior to the other. Every healthcare provider, be it a physiotherapist, chiropodist, nurse, dentist, optometrist, family physician, chiropractor, etc. all possess a unique set of knowledge and skills. Their individual knowledge and skill set are developed over a period of years of formal education as well as practical implementation. However, there is a limit to what an individual can do. That said, the great thing about the knowledge and skill set of an individual provider is that when it’s combined with those of complementary healthcare disciplines, it results in a formidable assemblage of expertise. When this expertise is applied to a patient, the patient benefits from an overall healthcare perspective, rather than just a narrow scope from one healthcare discipline.
Moreover, there can be limits to the scope of practice for an individual healthcare provider. For example, a registered massage therapist could suspect a fracture but does not have the ability to order an x-ray. Establishing and nurturing relationships between different healthcare disciplines allows for the circumvention of these limitations so that the patient does not unduly suffer as a result.
In summary, a team based approach allows for an efficient and robust approach to the treatment of a patient. As a matter of practice, we at the Sports Specialist Rehab Centre make it a point to work together within the clinic and externally with other healthcare providers for the benefit of individual patients.
Author: Dr. Paolo De Ciantis