Training in our protocol for comprehensive single-visit multidisciplinary assessment of persons with complex arm and hand disability.
Problem: Upper limb injuries ranging from amputation to nerve damage can create complex whole-patient disability that frustrates the usual team of a surgeon plus a hand therapist. Profound physical deconditioning, psychological consequences and complex work and social goals mean that a team can be more effective – but it can take time, struggle and many false starts to invent a new multidisciplinary program.
Solution: We developed a multidisciplinary assessment program for patients with chronic upper limb pain called the UPPER Program (UPper Extremity Protocol Evaluation in Rehabilitation) in conjunction with the NIDRR-funded University of Michigan Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Ergonomics. A single visit provides a goal-directed, time-limited plan that brings a case to closure to the satisfaction of the patient, clinicians, insurers and employers.
Approach: Haig Consulting works with a local hand clinic and rehabilitation resources to teach the UPPER concepts and develop a customized plan to implement the program. Our work includes:
- Meeting with key personnel to determine the appropriate members for a multidisciplinary approach.
- Providing custom patient questionnaires, individual team member assessments and team meeting documents.
- Offering potential quality benchmarks and measurements.
Read about our research
- Multidisciplinary team evaluation of upper extremity injuries in a single visit: the UPPER Program.
Contact us to learn more.