Patient-oriented rehabilitation planning in a single visit: first-year review of the Quick Program

Persons who are geographically remote or do not qualify for inpatient rehabilitation have limited access to an effective multidisciplinary rehabilitation team. We present an innovative evaluation tool called the Quick Program. This multidisciplinary outpatient assessment involves a previsit database, therapy and physiatrist evaluations, a team meeting, and a patient-family meeting in a one-half day visit. Patient demographics and details of recommendations for the first 41 referrals are described. An average of 2.27 referrals per patient were made to resources outside of the core team, suggesting that the team achieved transdisciplinary status. The number of medical interventions recommended to accomplish rehabilitation goals (mean 2.16 per patient) suggests that the physiatrist was an active participant, and that physician input is crucial to success. We conclude that comprehensive rehabilitation planning for patients who have limited access to multidisciplinary rehabilitation team can be accomplished in a single visit.