3.18: Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
An interdisciplinary team includes many healthcare professionals working together and utilizing their skills, knowledge, and expertise to provide holistic and quality patient care. Here are a few more healthcare professionals.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat patients. Most PTs are also trained in using psychological methods to inspire patients.
Pharmacist
A pharmacist has a doctorate degree and is qualified to develop and deliver drugs. The pharmacist is also responsible for maintaining a record of all patient prescriptions and telling the physician when a possible or actual pharmaceutical mistake in prescribing has occurred. Pharmacists also indicate when prescribed drugs may interact negatively. Both patients and nurses can benefit from the pharmacist's knowledge of drugs.
Respiratory Therapists
A respiratory therapist (RT) has received training in strategies to enhance lung function and oxygenation. RTs may also be in charge of delivering pulmonary function tests and training patients on the use of different equipment and machines prescribed by the provider.
Occupational therapists
An occupational therapist (OT) works with physically challenged individuals to help them adjust to their limitations. Occupational therapists employ a number of adaptive equipment and tactics to assist patients with daily tasks.
Speech Therapists
A speech therapist assists hearing-impaired patients in speaking more clearly, stroke patients in relearning how to talk, and children and adults in correcting or modifying a range of speech abnormalities. Speech therapists can help evaluate and treat swallowing issues in people who have had a head injury or a stroke.
Dietician
A registered dietitian (RD) oversees and arranges patients' nutritional needs based on their expertise in all elements of nutrition. RDs can modify specific meals to meet the needs of individual patients, counsel and educate patients, and oversee the dietary services of an entire hospital.
Radiographer
A radiographer/radiologic technologist uses x-rays and other imaging technology to take images to diagnose a disease.
Clinical Laboratory Technician
A medical or clinical laboratory technologist/technician collects specimens such as blood, urine, and other bodily fluids, secretions, and excretions. The specimens are sent for laboratory tests.
