Medical - Rehabilitation experts

Introduction

Experts in rehabilitation are especially talented in the process of assessing the disabled person, creating goals relevant to their own circumstances with the guidance, support, and help of a wide range of health and social service professionals as well as family and friends. Rehabilitation from disability differs from other medical specialities in that it is primarily a process of education of the disabled person to enable them to cope with work, family, and leisure with as little support as possible. Rehabilitation is also a process that goes beyond the confines of physical disease, dealing with the psychological consequences of disability as well as the social interactions that the disabled person has to cope with.

Rehabilitation is an ongoing process by which a disabled person is helped to acquire knowledge and skills in order to restore and maximise physical, psychological, and social function, thus promoting activity and participation. There are three basic approaches:

• Reducing disability
• Acquire new skills and strategies that reduce the impact of the disability
• Altering the physical and social environment, so that a given disability carries with it as little disadvantage as possible.

The fundamental essence of rehabilitation is goal setting, the first goal being the overall strategic aim. Examples include returning home, returning to work, and achieving independence. This goals can vary significantly between people. All goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-limited.

Experts in rehabilitation may be of great help to the legal process. They would be able to assess existent rehabilitation plans, assess an individual state of injury, and provide specialised estimations and procedures that would be effective to facilitating that person's recovery. These investigations may provide crucial evidence in cases relating to injury, workers' compensation, or claims of insurance. The specific specialisation and background needed by your rehabilitation expert will be determined by the matter which requires examination.

At the bottom of this profile are brief details of a number of the experts that Expert Experts represents. Call our office to discuss your requirements and to obtain a recommendation that suits your needs and budget.

Expertise in Action

Experts in rehabilitation may be asked to give opinions in workers compensation cases on the extent to which rehabilitation programs have been appropriately developed and implemented.

They may also be asked to provide opinion on future rehabilitation needs, costs of treatment, and recovery timelines and to what degree a full recovery is attainable given the
nature of the injury.

Sample Reports

For some fields of expertise we have some sample sections of de-identified reports. Please contact our office if you are interested in a sample.

Cost

The overall cost of expert opinion depends on the services required. Some of the key factors that affect the cost of advice include:

• The need for a view or inspection of a location
• The quantity of documentary material to be reviewed
• Whether there are reports of other experts to be reviewed and commented on in detail
• Whether there is a need for conferences with the expert either in person or by telephone/Skype

Relevant Articles Helping People Return to Work - Using evidence for better outcomes

In March 2009 the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (now Safe Work Australia) estimated the total economic cost of work‐related injury and illness for Australia for the 2005–06 financial year to be $57.5 billion, 5.6% of Australian Gross Domestic Product.

Return to work programs

The return to work of an injured worker involves the employer and worker—and depending on the legislation in each jurisdiction and the severity of the injury—it may also involve workplace rehabilitation coordinators and providers, medical and other health professionals as well as the insurer.

Relevant Cases Roberts v GM Holden Ltd [2012] SAWCT 20

A rehabilitation consultant was employed by the employer as an injury management associate, responsible for injured workers’ rehabilitation and visiting the workplace to monitor workers placed on light duties.

Related Blog Articles