Interdisciplinary professional practice leadership within a program model: BC Rehab's experience

In restructuring from a departmental to a program management model, BC Rehab successfully developed the role of professional practice leader to address clinical standards of practice and other concerns related to individual disciplines. A review of the role of professional practice leader is presented. Practice leaders are in a unique position to promote interdisciplinary, client-focused service. Because practice leaders' mandates cross program boundaries, they are able to keep the broad scope and goals of rehabilitation in the forefront, offering a balance to the program-specific perspective. It is imperative for practice leaders to maintain connections to operational and clinical issues to avoid isolation.