Developing and implementing transdisciplinary rehabilitation competencies

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.