| Physical Therapists and Rehabilitation providers are | | | | 6. Discuss treatment schedule with family/client |
| often the first professional a client sees and who | | | | and communicate any changes: One of the |
| is expected to make them feel better. This level | | | | simplest rules to implement! If the client can't |
| of expectation is seen in the client's eyes each | | | | make it to therapy, they can't get better! By |
| time they arrive in pain, bring in their child due to | | | | working around the client's availability, their |
| a developmental delay, or say "I just want to | | | | percentage of attendance increases. Better |
| sleep better tonight!" That first patient interaction | | | | attendance equals great chances for success. |
| and the ongoing relationships built with clients, and | | | | 7. Let child/family/client know you are looking |
| their families, is the foundation to successful care | | | | forward to the next visit: Therapists must show |
| planning and treatment. By using these | | | | our investment in and enthusiasm for a clients' |
| opportunities for a successful interaction with | | | | recovery. Expectations are established with our |
| clients each and every time they are seen, you | | | | clients during each visit. They expect the Physical |
| are building the groundwork for success. | | | | Therapist is knowledgeable in the therapy |
| 1. Greet your child/family/client by being friendly | | | | provided and the recommendations made. Physical |
| and smile: A smile is contagious! If the client | | | | Therapists expect clients to be honest, learn how |
| knows you are excited to meet them and work | | | | to participate in their recovery, and to continue |
| with them, they will reflect the same! All clients, in | | | | what has been taught to them at home now and |
| any situation, will be able to appreciate a light | | | | in the future. By letting the client know we |
| attitude and will feel less stressed about the | | | | expect them to attend their next visit and look |
| therapy visit. Feeling less stress will directly affect | | | | foreword to the client's participation, there is an |
| the ability to relax, learn and participate in the goal | | | | established opportunity to confirm the next |
| planning and success of Physical Therapy and | | | | appointment time as well as what the |
| Rehabilitation treatment. | | | | expectations are for the visit. |
| 2. Make each child/family/client feel welcome and | | | | 8. If family/client calls to cancel, communicate |
| important: Each of us needs to feel important. | | | | concern: Responsibility and accountability. If the |
| Clients and therapists together have important | | | | therapist is unable to impress upon the client the |
| roles and responsibilities in the rehabilitation | | | | extreme importance of active, regular |
| process. If the therapist acts as the individual with | | | | participation in the therapy process, the |
| all the answers and takes full responsibility of the | | | | expectations of the therapist and the |
| success of treatment, power is taken away from | | | | expectations of the client are set too low. By |
| the client. Without power, the client becomes a | | | | communicating concern, the client is brought back |
| passive participant and an observant in their | | | | to an increased level of responsibility and |
| Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation process, which | | | | accountability for their active participation in the |
| lessens their opportunity for success. | | | | rehabilitation process. |
| 3. Make connections with child/family/client: Often | | | | 9. Communicate events and new programs |
| times therapists may see clients for extended | | | | offered to child/family/client: As Physical |
| periods of time such as with long term disabling | | | | Therapists, ultimate goals are to restore function, |
| conditions or when treating children with | | | | decrease pain and help the client re-integrate into |
| developmental delays. This provides us with unique | | | | their life. As educators, it is the therapist's |
| opportunities to participate in the events in our | | | | responsibility to communicate events and new |
| clients' lives. By sharing these events, therapists | | | | programs available to clients, which could |
| are able to offer suggestions for their continued | | | | compliment their recovery process. By adding |
| success and integration back into their community | | | | community supports and programs, the client and |
| and into their lives as they rehabilitate. | | | | their family learn they can rely on their |
| 4. Always provide opportunity for the child/family | | | | community and themselves to support their |
| client to talk and ask questions: Getting the client | | | | continued community integration. |
| and/or family to openly discuss their goals and | | | | 10. Periodically ask "Is there anything else we can |
| care plan provides the therapist an opportunity to | | | | do for you? How can we help you?" Open-ended |
| assure the goals are reasonable and important to | | | | questions provide the Physical Therapist an |
| the client. This continues to reinforce the idea of | | | | opportunity to listen to clients. Many times time is |
| the client being an active participant in their | | | | spent talking and teaching, forgetting to leave |
| therapy and increasing their responsibility for | | | | time to listen. These questions again establish an |
| success. By asking questions, clients are able to | | | | opportunity to re-adjust expectations as well as |
| demonstrate they understand material that has | | | | re-establish an agreed upon level of accountability |
| been taught to them and further reinforce their | | | | and participation in the therapeutic and |
| opportunity for successful Physical Therapy | | | | rehabilitation process. |
| intervention. | | | | Establishing an ongoing successful client interaction |
| 5. Listen to your child/family/client: Client's will | | | | takes effort and forethought. By engaging the |
| discuss what is important to them. It is vital they | | | | client into an active role, the power and |
| are listened to and to the clues they tell us. The | | | | responsibility of rehabilitation is shared. By following |
| Physical Therapist's goals may indicate it is | | | | these 10 suggestions to establish a successful |
| important for a 16-year-old soccer player to be | | | | client interaction, the Physical Therapist is able to |
| able to run and play soccer again, but it may be | | | | engage the client in the rehabilitation process for |
| more important to the soccer player to be able | | | | life-long learning and success and help the client |
| to walk in high heel shoes for her prom next | | | | re-integrate into their community by achieving the |
| month. By careful listening, chances for successful | | | | goals important to them and their families. |
| care plan implementation is achieved. | | | | |