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Case Reports
. 2024;14(6):217-226.
doi: 10.1080/17582024.2024.2421736. Epub 2024 Nov 14.

An interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease: case series

Emilie R Lowell  1 , Chelsea Macpherson  2 , Katya Villarreal-Cavazos  1 , Anuja Chandrana  2 , Jordanna S Sevitz  1 , Kelly Veit  1 , Avery Dakin  1 , Lori Quinn  2   3 , Michelle S Troche  1   2
Affiliations
Case Reports

An interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease: case series

Emilie R Lowell et al. Neurodegener Dis Manag. 2024.

Abstract

Interdisciplinary care is increasingly promoted to enhance satisfaction and outcomes for individuals with complex medical conditions, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). However, there is little research on the feasibility or efficacy of interdisciplinary care in clinical settings. And, while the use of an integrated team of allied health professionals has the potential to provide significant health benefits to individuals with PD, there are educational and logistical barriers to the use of interdisciplinary care in clinical settings. An interdisciplinary care model was described that aimed to facilitate these benefits and alleviate some of these known clinical feasibility challenges. Three cases are also provided to exemplify how this approach to collaborative care was used to address individual needs and to highlight some of the successes and challenges associated with the implementation of an interdisciplinary and person-centered care model via telehealth. These cases may help clinicians adopt techniques to facilitate greater collaboration across disciplines or aid in the development of a feasible interdisciplinary program in their own clinics. Further research is needed to further enhance individual outcomes and integrate other disciplines into the care team.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease; interdisciplinary care; physical therapy; rehabilitation; speech-language pathology.

Plain language summary

[Box: see text].

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership or options and expert testimony.

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