title: Developing and implementing transdisciplinary rehabilitation competencies.
abstract: The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) requires that brain and spinal cord injury (SCI) specialty programs assure a base competency level for staff. At the authors' institution, senior staff members from all rehabilitation disciplines developed a Competency Fair based on a transdisciplinary approach to care. Each module contained reading material and a competency test. Some modules required a return demonstration. Topics included dysphagia, skin care, cognition, and bedside emergencies, among others. At a 4-day Competency Fair, 95 of the 110 staff members completed the training. Additional training was provided to those who failed the examinations. The training met CARF standards, and staff expressed a greater appreciation of others' roles and felt empowered to share their roles with others. Greater crossover of duties among disciplines, and a better understanding of the transdisciplinary approach to care, were apparent. Staff also reported improvements in patient care and an expansion of their knowledge base.
authors.affiliation: Barrow Neurological Rehabilitation, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Browner
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Bessire
mesh_terms: D001130:Arizona; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D005085:Exhibitions as Topic; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods*