Your health, your team

By Keith Bradford

As patients start to play a more active role in their health care, many are looking not just for the right doctor, but the best team. And research shows that patients who have a consistent relationship with a health care provider and team have better health outcomes.

Mount Royal University’s Injury & Prevention Clinic is a good example of a modern interdisciplinary care clinic that allows patients to access support from experts in several different fields – all under one roof.

Athletic therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, physiotherapists, orthotic experts and sports medicine doctors work side by side to offer the best support for patients who want to improve their physical and mental wellness.

“One of the great things about the clinic is that they partner with you in your care,” said patient Joan Harris, an ICU nurse. “I’ve used just about every service they have – chiro, massage, physio, and I also used the sports medicine physician.

“I’ve had elbow and shoulder, back and neck problems. It’s a huge asset to have access to all the different disciplines and practitioners. They are very responsive to your needs as a patient.”

The Injury & Prevention Clinic helps patients with a wide range of conditions, including neck pain and stiffness, back and knee pain, headaches and migraines, arthritis, posture issues, sciatica, shin splints and all kinds of sports injuries.

“Not one of us has all the answers and all the tools,” said Dr. Allison Gross, a chiropractor who works at the MRU clinic. “We have a trusting relationship with the other practitioners, which means we can offer more complete care. “It’s good for the patients, to have a team around them who can help, and it’s good for us as well because we are able to continue to learn from each other.”

Book an appointment with the team at MRU Injury & Prevention Clinic. Open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., appointments can be booked online or by calling
403.440.6917.

Six things you should know about interdisciplinary care

1. The sum is greater than the parts: Patients respond differently to different treatments and practitioners. That’s one of the benefits of going to an interdisciplinary clinic for your care. The combined wisdom of multiple disciplines is available in one place, and those with treatment- resistant conditions have access to new approaches and tools without having to start all over again at a different clinic with a new intake process.

2. It’s all about communication, coordination and cooperation: The three Cs of interdisciplinary care are essential for an effective health care team. Interdisciplinary teams put patients at the heart of the clinic and work in a coordinated and cooperative manner to ensure they receive the right care, at the right time, from the right provider. Excellent communication ensures the patient has continuity of care as they move seamlessly from one practitioner to another. Not every patient requires care from multiple providers, but the support is there if or when it’s needed.

3. It doesn’t matter where you start: As much as many patients turn to chiropractors for back issues, massage therapists for sore muscles and physiotherapists for injuries, team-based care takes a more holistic approach. “Chiropractors have a diagnostic scope of practice. If you are in the wrong spot, I’ll still do an assessment, give you my diagnosis and recommend the person for you,” said Dr. Gross. “I’d like to think you can’t go wrong with who you see. If someone adds more value or adds another skill, we will make a referral to one of our colleagues in the clinic. We also refer back and forth with our physicians on campus. But if you’re not sure, a phone call to the clinic is a good place to start.”

4. Information is only shared with the patient’s consent: While the flow of patient information from one team member to another can save valuable time for patients and ensure continuity of care, nothing happens without consent. Patients are always asked if they want to be referred to a different practitioner, and whether they’re comfortable with their information being shared. The patient always comes first.

5. It’s good for clinicians, as well as patients: While the advantages for patients seem obvious, interdisciplinary practitioners also benefit from the team-based environment. “Sometimes we sit together and talk how to approach a condition or injury. That team approach helps our patients incredibly, but the collaboration is also good for our growth as professionals. We have different scopes of practice, experience and expertise, but we learn so much from each other.”

6. Most services are covered: In Alberta, most services offered by interdisciplinary teams, including those at the Injury & Prevention Clinic, are covered to some extent with insurance and/or extended healthcare plans.