Treatment Planning for Rehabilitation: A Patient-Centered Approach.

Ozer MN, Payton OD, Nelson CE. New York, NY 10011, McGraw-Hill Inc, Health Professions Division, 2000, paperback, 173 pp, ISBN: 0-07-977882-5, $29.95.

The purpose of this book is to provide strategies that caregivers from a variety of health care professions can use to involve the patient maximally in the planning and implementation of the treatment process. The authors offer guidance so that the reader can understand and learn how to use and apply the patient participation process in the clinical setting. Furthermore, the authors state that the potential success and cost-effectiveness of the treatment will be improved greatly when the patient participates in determining his or her problems, establishing and revising his or her goals, and making decisions about the implementation of treatment.

The book has 2 sections: "The Planning Process" and "Implementation." The 3 chapters of section 1 present some typical problems that caregivers may face as they deliver care without patient participation in planning (chapter 1), provide procedures to alleviate the problems described in the previous chapter (chapter 2), and give suggestions for the development and maintenance of patient participation in the planning process (chapter 3). The authors present a specific planning process that is based on the use of certain questions designed to aid the caregiver and patient in establishing a mutually acceptable treatment approach. The use of a program planning sheet is introduced, and examples of how the process can be integrated into the clinical setting are contributed.

In part 2, the implementation component is described in detail, and various exercises and case studies are used to assist the reader. The planning process involving an interdisciplinary team approach is presented, and additional information about the patient's participation in the review and revision process is provided. Several methods to implement the patient participatory planning process are offered in chapter 5. Approaches to documentation requirements and the use of the planning process by specific patient care groups are described and supported with examples. The final chapter of the book contains suggestions and outlines to help educational components or programs to teach this process. Suggestions for academic classrooms and in-service education sessions and for use by beginning and skilled clinicians for their professional development are included.

The book is well organized, and it provides excellent suggestions, examples, exercises, and case studies to aid the reader. Students enrolled in a variety of health care education programs, faculty, and practitioners involved with any type of rehabilitative patient care and management would find this book to be a very useful resource. As health care evolves further to enhance the patient's autonomy in reaching informed decisions about his or her care, this book will become of greater value to the caregiver and student.

Frank M Pierson, PT Columbus, Ohio 

Mr Pierson is Assistant Professor Emeritus in the School of Allied Medical Professions at Ohio State University.