A model for the physical therapist in the intensive care nursery.
The importance of the physical therapist in the ICU nursery is in early detection and intervention, which is often critical to the success of treatment in any field of medicine or remedial education. Based on information about neurological development, movement is often the first and possibly only external indicator that development of an infant is abnormal. Movement is an area of special interest for which the physical therapist has the potential of having much expertise for providing early identification and intervention. Research is needed to validate this role. Neonatology is a young, rapidly growing medical specialty that deserves input from an allied health profession that can provide valuable knowledge and services to complement and expand the complex treatment of the high-risk newborn.
D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006745:Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009505:Nevada; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D010290:Parents; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities