Collaborative Health Care

Dr. Jenn Turner, BPhEd, ART®, Graston®, CCSS(C) Sports Resident

Gone are the days of traveling from appointment to appointment, fearful that you will let it slip to your respective practitioner that you are also receiving treatment from a medical doctor, physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, etc. All you know is that individually their efforts help, but collectively they help you reach your peak. Nowadays, the thinking should be, if their not working for you (together) they’re working against you.

More and more treatment centers are being developed that include a myriad of different health care practitioners in the same building, creating a one stop shop for various health care needs. Such kinds of centres include various medical doctors of different specialties or an office space operating with both a dentist and oral surgeon. Another example of this type of interprofessional relationship is a centre involving different specialties of alternative medicine, including physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy and acupuncture. Some of these centres also can include yoga, pilates or fitness classes and personal training. It is these rehabilitation centres whose popularity is growing exponentially in communities across Canada. These kinds of alternative health care centres are exhibiting one of the most effective kinds of health care that is recently becoming recognized in the practice of medicine, embracing the concept of “Collaborative Health Care”.

Organizations such as Health Canada suggest that successful health care often relies on collaborative care. Collaborative health care requires a broad network of interactions among a variety of health service providers, patients, their families and caregivers, and the community. This is a distinctive type of patient centered care as the patient is the focal point of the process as well as being involved themselves in decision making regarding their well being and medical or rehabilitation decisions.

The benefits of Collaborative Health Care in the rehabilitation field are slightly unique to traditional medicine. Professions such as chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage therapy are all highly effective practices in which the result is twofold when combined together. All too often there has been animosity between such alternative health care practices.

A clinical scenario can exhibit how such professions work together with each other and the patient to provide exemplary care to a patient suffering from patellofemoral syndrome. Patellofemoral syndrome describes discomfort behind the kneecap, causing pain and dysfunction with walking, running, going up and down stairs, and often even at rest. Massage can be used to increase the range of motion in the knee joint, and decrease the tightness and stiffness in the quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. Active Release Technique (ART)- an effective chiropractic technique designed to break up scar tissue and adhesions can be used as an adjunct to massage to further activate or inhibit muscles that may be underfiring or over working. Consequently, ART is beneficial to increase the effectiveness of the rehabilitation exercises prescribed by the physiotherapist. Finally, acupuncture can be used for pain management as well as increase circulation to help with tissue healing and areas of diminished blood flow to allow for normal mechanics to take place in regular activites.

As demonstrated above in the scenario collaborative health care certainly has its place in the rehabilitation setting. Communication between different practitioners is essential in developing the most effective treatment plan for any injury. The key to successful collaboration in health care includes a strong patient focus. Patient participation and input is fully expected in this realm of health care decision making. With collaborative health care in rehabilitation, recovery from injuries is sure to be quick and efficient, and a holistic approach can help to ensure a strong comeback after being sidelined.

Dr. Jenn Turner is a chiropractor and ART provider who is completing her residency to be a chiropractic sports specialist. She is a competitive triathlete herself and works with various members from the 2008 Olympic Cycling team. Jenn is one of the directors of a multi-disciplinary clinic offering the services of chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy and acupuncture called MOVEO SPORT AND REHABILITATION CENTRE, located in North Vancouver. See www.moveo.ca for more information.

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