Affiliations: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
Abstract: With increasing efforts to control health care costs, inpatient rehabilitation lengths of stay have steadily decreased in the United Sates. With less time allotted to each patient, emphasis is now placed on managing medical complications and achieving independence in self-care activities. Addressing the psychological needs of the patient with neurological problems has necessarily become less of a priority for the rehabilitation team. This manuscript describes a framework for addressing the psychological and rehabilitation needs of persons with neurological disabilities in the short- and long-term, within and outside the hospital setting. The Laws of the House of Rehab can serve as a framework for developing ethical principles and values as a rehabilitation provider. Organized by content areas, the laws encompass practice fundamentals, assessment and history taking, treatment planning, treatment, and communication. Some describe principles of practice that relate to all phases of rehabilitation. The laws can be used to guide intervention, promote emotional recovery, enhance the benefits of interdisciplinary rehabilitation, and enhance the fulfilling aspects of practice.
