Posters

Establishing an inter disciplinary team for people with multiple sclerosis

Elder T, Occupational Therapist, Community Rehab Team, Silverdale Health Centre, Newcastle under Lyme.

To inform others of our project and canvass professionals opinions regarding the inter disciplinary team approach.

History of project
We started a new IDT MS clinic in February 2008. Our aim is to provide a 'one stop shop' to address each clients needs in a collaborative treatment plan with appropriate professionals and clearly identifiable goals.

Benefits to patients

Benefits include explaining your medical history and current problems only once to 4 professionals, reducing number of appointments and consequently reducing hours travelled, travelling expenses, waiting times and recovery time following appointments. Quick access to an emergency appointment.

Two different elements of project
- Weekly clinic
  Each weekly clinic is led by a Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, MS specialist nurse, rehab specialist nurse, physiotherapist and occupational therapist.
- Team working
  During each clinic we arrange appropriate follow up appointments including group sessions, home visits, and one to one sessions. We address a range of problems including fatigue, spasticity, pain, anxiety, social isolation and care issues.
Funding
We have secured funding for two years to continue and expand. This allows us to commission more occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology services

A description of each professional's role in the team
Outcomes and evaluation
So far we have anecdotal evidence that our clients prefer the new IDT clinic however we have developed a short patient satisfaction questionnaire for each patient and a more in depth audit tool to be used every 6 months