Evaluation of the role of the rehabilitation assistant

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the rehabilitation assistant: a junior multidisciplinary grade combining key elements from nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy. The authors analysed daily activities, sophistication of clinical thinking and functioning of the role using timesheets, the think-aloud technique and semi-structured interviews. Rehabilitation assistants were found to facilitate rehabilitation and extend therapists' roles. Mobility, washing and dressing and activities of daily living were found to constitute most of a rehabilitation assistant's average day, with nursing skills and speech and language therapy appearing only in specific teams. All of the rehabilitation assistants displayed the ability to be able to think about the reasons behind the tasks they carried out, as opposed to merely following instruction from senior staff. The organization of the role of the rehabilitation assistant differed according to the team focus, structure and process within which the team operated. However, the specific role and boundaries of rehabilitation assistants' responsibilities need to be clearly defined for the role to function optimally.

Recognition of the health assistant as a delegated clinical role and their inclusion in models of care: a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative evidence

“…To address this, strategies, such as collaborative learning, have been employed to include the health assistant into models of care. Education has been highlighted as essential for the successful implementation of new models of care, and clear role delineation appears to be an aspect of delivering successful programmes . These strategies have been found to be effective; however, there is little information currently regarding the appropriateness of these strategies.…”

“…Education has been highlighted as essential for the successful implementation of new models of care, 21,22 and clear role delineation appears to be an aspect of delivering successful programmes. 23,24 These strategies have been found to be effective; however, there is little information currently regarding the appropriateness of these strategies. Appropriateness can be defined as 'the extent to which an intervention or activity fits with or is apt in a situation' (p. 210).…”

Allied health assistants and what they do: A systematic review of the literature

“…Knight et al evaluated the role of rehabilitation assistants and found that the assistant’s role served to link all the disciplines within the multidisciplinary team and integrate community rehabilitation 20. The team leaders felt that inclusion of assistants in the team would improve the quality of service by being more patient-focused.…”

Training the allied health assistant for the telerehabilitation assessment of dysphagia

“…12,13 The vocational qualifications of the AHA, which combines generic academic core modules and work-based learning, allows the AHA to have a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills necessary to prepare them for work with patients, carers and the relevant professionals or specialists. 14 Published research has highlighted numerous benefits of AHAs that include serving as a link across disciplines within a multi-disciplinary team, 15 the ability to work with patients to provide support, supervision and monitoring of their progress, 16 the ability to provide consistent and goal directed rehabilitation 17 and improvements in patient compliance and patient clinical outcomes. 18 The rapidly expanding area of telerehabilitation, i.e.…”