The Role of Allied Health in Supporting People With Disabilities
Allied health plays a critical role in helping people with disabilities achieve their goals and participate fully in their communities. Pro-Form Physiotherapy has recently partnered with Maple Community Services, a family owned and operated NDIS service provider to bring quality service and care to clients with disabilities.
In order for clients to get the best out of their allied health services, in this blog, we unpack the role of allied health in disability support and all its facets down to the basics starting from what is allied health, what does an allied health assistant do, ndis benefits with allied health, role of ndis physiotherapists in disability support and more.
What is allied health?
Allied Health refers to a group of healthcare professionals who work together with doctors, nurses, and specialists to provide patient care. These professionals include physiotherapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, speech therapists, dietitians, and more. They help patients manage their health and improve their quality of life by using specialized techniques and tools to diagnose, treat, and manage a variety of conditions. They work in various settings, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, and private practices.
Understanding the role of allied health in disability support is critical in improving patient outcomes as it is an is an essential part of the healthcare system.
Who are allied health assistants? What does an allied health assistant do?
Sometimes, allied health professionals might have assistants to help with supporting patients in their health journey. So if you’re wondering what an allied health assistant does, their responsibilities can often vary depending on the kind of allied health professional they work alongside.
For instance, allied health assistants (AHAs) to ndis physiotherapists may be tasked with assisting patients with exercises, setting up equipment, and documenting patient progress. An AHA working with an occupational therapist may help with functional assessments and assistive technology training.
Allied health assistants are also tasked with administrative work such as scheduling appointments, preparing treatment rooms, and managing patient records. AHAs may also provide emotional and social support to patients and their families.
Where does allied health funding sit within one’s NDIS plan?
As an NDIS participant, it's natural to have questions about ndis funding for allied health services and how it fits into your plan. The NDIS has established pricing arrangements and price limits to regulate the costs of these services. These measures ensure that participants receive fair pricing and value for each service they access, regardless of how they manage their plan.
For self-managed participants, paying providers directly is required. Plan-managed participants have a manager who helps with claiming, and NDIA-managed participants handle invoicing and payments via the MyPlace provider portal.
It's important to note that the amount allocated to allied health services may vary based on each participant's ndis funding level. However, rest assured that the NDIS has designed a comprehensive funding system to support participants in accessing the services they need to achieve their goals.
What is the role of allied health in NDIS plans for people with disabilities?
Allied health professionals play a crucial role in supporting people with disabilities in their NDIS plans. They focus on improving individuals' physical, mental, and emotional well-being, helping them lead more independent and fulfilling lives. These professionals work in various fields to provide specialised care, such as physiotherapists and exercise physiologists, who help improve strength, mobility, and coordination.
Occupational therapists assist with skill development and adapting to the environment, while speech therapists address communication difficulties.
Dietitians provide guidance on nutrition to manage chronic conditions.
Allied health professionals collaborate closely with individuals with disabilities to create customised care plans and offer ongoing support to ensure their continued health and well-being.
Understanding the role of allied health in disability support can help clients get the most out of their healthcare programs and ndis benefits. With the help of allied health professionals, people with disabilities can live their lives to the fullest.
What are the success rates or research that highlights the success of allied health for people with disabilities?
The 2018 allied health disability workforce strategy and action plan aims to ensure that people with disability and developmental delay with NDIS plans in regional, rural, and remote Tasmania have access to relevant therapy supports to achieve their goals.
This will be achieved through the following outcomes:
attracting and retaining Allied Health Providers to work with people with disability and developmental delay, e
nsuring people with disability and developmental delay and relevant stakeholders in regional, rural, and remote areas as well as in major cities can access allied health services;
ensuring allied health service providers can operate sustainably under the NDIS; and
strengthening the skills and knowledge of the allied health and disability support workforces to better meet the therapy support needs of people with disability.
The success rates of allied health services for people with disability can vary depending on several factors, such as the type and severity of the disability, the age of the patient, the nature of the intervention, and the overall quality of care. However, studies have shown that allied health services can have a significant positive impact on the health outcomes and quality of life for people with disabilities.
For example, a review of research on the effectiveness of physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy found that physical therapy interventions can improve motor function, walking ability, and muscle strength in these children.
Similarly, occupational therapy interventions have been shown to improve the independence and daily living skills of adults with developmental disabilities.
Overall, while success rates may vary depending on individual circumstances, research suggests that allied health services can be highly beneficial for people with disabilities, improving their physical, cognitive, and mental health outcomes, and enhancing their overall quality of life. Therefore understanding the role of allied health in disability support is crucial to help patients with disability maximise their care services effectively.
Ref: Novak, I., McIntyre, S., Morgan, C., Campbell, L., Dark, L., Morton, N., ... & Goldsmith, S. (2013). A systematic review of interventions for children with cerebral palsy: state of the evidence. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 55(10), 885-910.
What are the benefits people with disabilities can receive from allied health?
One of the greatest benefits that people with disabilities can receive from allied health is access to a multidisciplinary team. This is a team that collaborates and communicates among multiple health professionals from different disciplines to address a patient's care.
The team's flexibility is essential, as each patient has a unique journey, and their needs may change over time. After all, a major part of the role of allied health in disability support is to provide comprehensive care at the right place and time, with effective communication and coordination, respect and trust, and transparency as key values.
For an effective multidisciplinary team, roles, outcomes, and delivery modes must be clearly defined, along with comprehensive policies, procedures, systems, and protocols. Professionals who may join the team include general practitioners, practice and community health nurses, allied health professionals, health educators, and specialists. When the team works effectively, both patients and practitioners benefit, with increased satisfaction, improved time management, efficient use of resources, and improved health outcomes.
Additionally, there is a significant body of research that highlights the success of allied health for people with disabilities. Here are a few examples:
Physical therapy
Studies have shown that physical therapy can improve functional outcomes, reduce pain, and improve quality of life for people with a variety of disabilities, including cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis. Physical therapy interventions may include exercises, manual therapy, and assistive devices such as braces and splints.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy has been shown to improve daily living skills, independence, and participation in meaningful activities for people with disabilities. It can also help to prevent secondary health complications and reduce the need for other healthcare services. Occupational therapy interventions may include adaptive equipment, environmental modifications, and task-specific training.
Speech therapy
Speech therapy can improve communication and swallowing abilities for people with a range of disabilities, including cerebral palsy, autism, and traumatic brain injury. Speech therapy interventions may include augmentative and alternative communication devices, speech exercises, and feeding therapy.
Psychology
Psychological interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, have been shown to be effective in treating mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety in people with disabilities. Psychological interventions may also help to improve coping skills and adjustment to disability.
Overall, allied health interventions have been shown to improve functional outcomes, quality of life, and reduce the burden of disability for people with a range of conditions. However, the success of these interventions depends on various factors, including individual needs, preferences, and treatment adherence.
Here are some references to support the information provided:
1. Physical therapy:
Imms, C., & Dodd, K. (2017). Evidence-based physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Child Neurology, 32(1), 96-102.
Furlan, J. C., Sakakibara, B. M., Miller, W. C., & Krassioukov, A. V. (2013). Global incidence and prevalence of traumatic spinal cord injury. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 40(4), 456-464.
2. Occupational therapy:
Kielhofner, G., & Burke, J. P. (1980). A model of human occupation, part 1. Conceptual framework and content. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 34(9), 572-581.
Laver, K., George, S., Thomas, S., Deutsch, J. E., & Crotty, M. (2012). Cochrane review: Interventions for improving upper limb function after stroke. Stroke, 43(4), e1-e2.
3. Speech therapy
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2021). Treatment efficacy summary. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/evidence-based-practice/treatment-efficacy-summary/
Marshall, J., & Goldbart, J. (2007). Environmental interventions for children with primary speech and language impairments: exploring the evidence base. Child: Care, Health and Development, 33(4), 438-447.
4. Psychology
Lysaker, P. H., Davis, L. W., Buck, K. D., Outcalt, S. D., Ringer, J. M., Leonhardt, B. L., ... & Hamm, J. A. (2018). Psychotherapy for individuals with schizophrenia: systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 48(4), 555-560.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2016). Psychotherapy. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies/index.shtml
These references provide a small sample of the extensive research supporting the effectiveness of allied health interventions for people with disabilities.
What are some common misconceptions about allied health your team has encountered within the disability industry?
Misconceptions about the role of allied health in disability support are prevalent, often due to a lack of understanding and education surrounding the services provided by these professionals.
One misconception is that allied health professionals only provide services, without contributing to a patient's overall care. However, allied health professionals play a vital role in assessing and managing a patient's physical, cognitive, and mental health needs, working closely with other health professionals in a multidisciplinary team approach.
Another misconception is that allied health services are not essential and can be easily replaced or removed from a patient's care plan. However, this is not the case, as allied health professionals provide specialised expertise and evidence-based interventions that are tailored to each patient's unique needs.
These services can have a significant impact on a patient's overall health outcomes and quality of life, particularly in the context of disability where patients may require ongoing support and management.
Tell us a little bit about Pro-Form Physiotherapy and the services Pro-Form Physiotherapy provide?
Most people with disabilities struggle to find people they can work with that truly understand their unique situation. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to connect you with disability support providers that can help you create a plan sensitive to your needs, flexible to change and maximises your budget.
Pro-Form Physiotherapy provides quality health care for people of all ages and conditions. We collaborate closely with our participants to assess their functional capacity, provide treatment and advice that works, and formulate a customised plan to meet their health outcomes. Whether it’s at home or in a clinic, our mobile service offers the flexibility for participants to choose where to get care to conveniently improve their quality of life.
PHYSIOTHERAPY / CHIROPRACTIC
Physiotherapists and chiropractors help reduce pain and improve movement by assessing, diagnosing and treating impairments with a variety of therapeutic modalities such as massage, dry needling and joint mobilisations.
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
Exercise physiologists help to maintain or increase your physical mobility or well-being by teaching you exercises to help you perform activities of daily living safely and confidently.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Occupational Therapists help to provide advice and recommendations to make life easier. They are skilled at providing functional capacity assessments, prescribing special assistive equipment as well as recommending home modifications.
PODIATRY
Podiatrists help to keep your feet, ankle and lower limbs healthy through skin care, shoe modifications, orthotics and treatment.
PERSONAL TRAINING
Personal trainers help by providing supervised strength and conditioning training to equip you to engage in physical well being activities thereby promoting and encouraging improved physical capacity and health.
SPEECH PATHOLOGY
Speech pathologists help to improve your ability to communicate including literacy, speech, fluency, swallowing, language, pitch and tone.
Pro-Form Physiotherapy is thrilled to announce a new long-term partnership with industry leading NDIS providers, Maple Community Services. As a family owned NDIS provider, Maple Community Services combine a caring attitude with true expertise in assisting people with disabilities get the support they deserve. By working together, our mission is to powerfully impact lives across NSW like never before and give people easy access to reliable and first class NDIS Disability Support providers.
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