TEAM - Team Engagement is A Must!
By Elaine Book
TEAM - Team Engagement is A Must!
Allied health professionals play a crucial role in providing holistic care to people with chronic health conditions. Tapping into their expertise and experience increases your knowledge and skills, which can be invaluable in managing your health and wellness. Start building your team early on, even before you think you need it!
Here we share the roles allied health professionals can play and how to access their support:
The role of the Physiotherapist
The focus is on function and movement to maximize one’s physical potential while promoting independence and improving quality of life.
Where to find a Physiotherapist
Community Programming—FAME, Osteofit, GladCanada
Community health units— Your family doctor can refer or you can self-refer
Private Practice—https://bcphysio.org/public/
Health condition societies—MS Society, Parkinson Society, Alzheimer’s Society
Specialty hospital clinics
The role of the Nurse
The focus is varied and includes wound care, medication management, stabilization after hospitalization, chronic disease education and management, palliative care, case management, mental health team.
Where to find a Nurse
Central Intake - for all health authorities (Family doctor referral or self refer)
Hospital based programs and outpatient clinics
The role of the Pharmacist
The focus is on reviewing medications, providing information and education on side effects, dose adjustments and dose timing of certain medications, assessing safety of natural health products, assisting with medication coverage, medication related questions.
Where to find a Pharmacist
UBC Centre for Brain Health Clinical Pharmacist
If you are a patient of the centre, call the clinic you are connected to and ask for a referral to the pharmacist
UBC Pharmacist Clinic
Phone: (604) 827-2584
Primary Care Network
Local Pharmacy
The role of the Social Worker
The focus is to provide information, counselling and referral services to assist patients and family to understand, adjust and manage the emotional, social and practical concerns that may arise due to a health condition and impact quality of life. Roles also include: emotional and social support, referrals, and health education.
Where to find a Social Worker
Health condition societies - MS Society, Parkinson Society, Alzheimer’s Society
Community health units - Central Intake for your health authority
Speciality hospital clinics
Directories — BC Association of Social Workers, www.counsellingbc.com
The role of the Dietician
The focus is to optimize an individual’s nutritional status. A dietician can help with malnutrition, nutrient deficiencies and nutrient imbalances, food allergies and swallowing difficulties.
Where to find a Dietician
General outpatient hospital clinics
Speciality clinics
TeleHealth — HealthLink BC = 811
Primary Care Networks
Community health units - Central intake in your health authority
The role of the Occupational Therapist
The primary focus is to find ways to solve issues that interfere with an individual’s ability to do things that are important to them! This includes being able to take part in meaningful activities that aligns with personal values, expectations and goals. An occupational therapist looks through a “whole person, whole life” lens and assesses the person, the environment they are functioning in, and the task they are challenged by.
Where to find an Occupational Therapist
Hospital programs — both inpatient and outpatient
Community health units (Central Intake for your health authority)
Mental Health teams
Private Practices — caot.ca/site/findot
Long Term Care Facilities
The role of the Speech Language Pathologist
The focus is on the evaluation and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders that occur throughout the lifespan. Speech language pathologists can provide rehabilitation and compensatory strategies, which help support communication to maximize function. They can also provide education and support related to communication and swallowing disorders.
Where to find a Speech Language Pathologist
Public Services — hospitals and outpatient clinics, community health units
Private Services — ICBC, WSBC, Autism Funding, After School Program
Public Registries for College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals BC
Your team may also include sexual health therapists, massage therapists, music therapists, personal trainers, physician specialists such as geriatricians, counsellors and more!
Consider accessing the support that can work towards creating a meaningful daily life experience.
