American archives of rehabilitation therapy最新文献

The Independent Living Program at the Little Rock Veterans Administration Medical Center is providing an invaluable service to disabled veterans. Since activation 2 1/2 years ago, it was proven to be a strong, viable program which fills a previous gap in the discharge plans of the medically stable but physically disabled veteran. Without a successful transition into the community, many are susceptible to failure, which then results in hospital readmission or nursing home placement. These veterans, having suffered a severe disability, cannot be expected to return to the mainstream of life solely on the basis of having received medical treatment and therapy. The utilization of available resources and expertise of professionals, combined with the constructive input and determination of the veteran will significantly enhance the potential of a smooth transition into the community. The veteran's satisfaction and pleasure of living independently, despite his disability, is immeasurable. Independent living should be the ultimate goal for health care providers of the disabled.

Workshop clients have been identified as those having potential for employment. They now have a specially focused vocational rehabilitation program; including a treatment plan with an uninterrupted workshop evaluation period. The clients' involvement must be understood and supported by other rehabilitation and hospital services since their support is essential for client success. Workshop performance evaluation is a long-term assessment. First, it provides for an assessment to determine the strengths of the client, secondly, it is a selective process which provides for emphasis and for exploration and/or development of those strengths. Assessment in a workshop addresses the sustained characteristics of good work performance, as well as the critical values requiring development to ensure acquisition of good worker traits, work personality and work intelligence.

It has been suggested that the health care system might be best assessed by the patient's own attitudes concerning the quality of service rendered (Wood, 1974). The purpose of this study is to analyze the psychosocial quality of the health service/hospital system in the greater Iowa City, Iowa area, and the relative emotional stability of hospitalized patients in several local hospitals. Specifically, a survey of 20 questions has been developed to assess (1) patient's attitudes and psychosocial outlook, (2) patient's self-perception. (3) situation generated feelings and (4) family/support group generated feelings. The comparative results of this experiment may indicate (1) the overall emotional status of hospitalized patients relative to non-hospitalized individuals and (2) the general psychosocial effectiveness of the hospital system (in the greater Iowa City. Iowa area). This information may be useful to both the medical/allied-health student and the inexperienced clinician, relative to various preconceived notions concerning the emotional state of hospitalized patients, in general.

The American Certification Council (formerly Registry) for Medical Rehabilitation Therapists and Specialists has been concerned with the professional recognition and development of rehabilitation therapists and specialists since 1953. Since 1973, the Council has been working to upgrade its registration process to that of certification including the use of an examination. In 1980, the Council obtained Conditional Membership and national recognition in the National Commission of Health Certifying Agencies. During the past year, the Council has begun administering a certification examination and feels that all criteria for Regular Membership in the Commission has been met. The Council and the members still have much to do to improve and refine the certification and recertification programs in the years to come, but the author feels that a positive committment toward the professional growth and development of the various rehabilitation therapy and specialty occupations have already been accomplished.