Role of the Interdisciplinary Team in the Rehabilitation Process

The patients are hospitalized in ALCLA after having suffered from a disease which has left neuro-muscular sequelae of varying severity.

The goal of the treatment is to restore the lost functions to the maximum extent possible. This is carried out re-educating the patients to achieve their greatest possible independence and enable them to return to daily life activities.

In some cases, these patients have compromised respiratory adequacy, which requires a specialized rehabilitation as part of the Program to be developed by the medical team.

Approach by the Professional Team

Prior to the patient’s admission, an evaluation committee analyzes the patient’s history and contacts the referring center to determine the medical, technical and infrastructure needs for admission and to decide the most appropriate area according to the patient’s pathology.

At the the time of admission, a thorough evaluation is performed by the medical clinic area together with the rehabilitaion team, who decide on the therapeutic plan to be developed. This plan will be evaluated and reviewed periodically to determine its degree of evolution and/or to modify pre-established rehabilitation objectives, if necessary.

The main objective of the Medical Clinic team is to achieve the best health status of the patient, avoiding complications and intercurrences which may interfere with the rehabilitation plan set.

For this purpose, the Clinic also has specialists in Neurology, Pneumonology, Infectious Diseases, Traumatology, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology, hematology, Cardiology, Urology, Psychiatry, Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging.

From the area of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and with an interdisciplinary approach with specialists in Motor and Respiratory Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Psychology and Neurocognitive Evaluation a comprehensive treatment approach will be defined with the aim of restoring the maximum possible functionality.

I addition to conventional therapies and in order to improve the quality and results of the treatment, we have incorporated international techniques like the Bobath Method, which is a therapeutic concept for treatment of people with neurological disorders. This is based on Biomechanics, knowledge of control and motor learning, neuronal and muscular plasticity, as well as the advances of neurophysiology and neuroscience.

Besides, Assistive Technology and Virtual Realty are used in the Occupational Therapy team in order to increase the patient’s functional capabilities.

Neurocognitive assessment and stimulation, through various standardized tests, allows us to determine the patient’s cognitive functioning  key areas such as : memory, orientation, attention and speed of information processing, among other factors.

Language, swallowing and speech disorders are treated by the Phonoaudiology area , a highly qualified team. Their joint work with the area of Nutrition have achieved a varied menu of foods which consistency is adapted to the rehabilitation process of dysphagia (swallowing disorder).

Given the complexity and criticality of some cases and the emotional  impact it has on the patient and his or her family environment, ALCLA has a team of psychologists whose main role is to provide psychological support and the necessary human assistance. These aspects are of great relevance in the rehabilitation results. The aim is for the patient to understand that with the sequelae of the injuries and adapting to them, he or she wil have a better chance of rejoining social life.

Specialization in Patients with Respiratory Conditions

Respiratory Rehabilitation (RR) is approached as a continuous multidisciplinary activity aimed at people with lung diseases, also giving medical support and assistance to his or her family. This is developed by a team of specialists integrated by Pneumonologists, Respiratory Endoscopists, Respiratory Kinesiologists, Phonoaudiologists and Psychologists. The main goal is to reach and keep a level of respiratory sufficiency that allows the patient to maintain independence as well as the greatest possible social and occupational development. In order to reach this objective, various procedures are used  according to the degree of complexity and pathology , ranging from the need for Mechanical Ventilatory Assistance to the recovery of a functional respiratory capacity in patients with restrictive pulmonary diseases (with or without tracheotomy).

Alcla has one of the higest success rates in Difficult Weaning, which means being able to remove the ventilator or Mechanical Ventilatory Support.