An interdisciplinary clinic for neurogenically impaired adults: a pilot project for educating students

The Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Clinic was a pilot project to assess the feasibility and efficacy of providing university-based clinical practicum experiences for students in the Schools of Allied Health Professions and Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. It was designed according to the medical model and was based on the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals Standards for Rehabilitative Services. This program was based on the professional conviction that people who are expected to function in an interdisciplinary environment would be better able to do so if educated according to an interdisciplinary model. The Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Clinic addressed the university mission of education, research, and service. It provided an opportunity to integrate theory with practice for students in a clinical setting; demonstrated to health professions students that both basic and applied research evolves from and contributes to clinical practice; and provided care for individuals deprived of needed rehabilitative services because of funding cuts and other changes in current health care service delivery systems. The clinic provided rehabilitative service in the form of speech, and occupational therapy, therapeutic recreation, and social work services to neurogenically impaired adults from the greater Milwaukee area. Student clinicians evaluated the patient's abilities/disabilities, were observed during the evaluation process by their fellow students, met in joint treatment planning teams, treated the patients, and performed hospital-simulated staffings. Medical record administration (MRA) students assessed and provided in-service on documentation practices, developed a record-keeping system, and designed forms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)