Introduction and Rationale

The future of physical medicine and rehabilitation is earlier physiatrist interventions in the acute care setting to prepare patients with neurologic injury for the next level of care to achieve a maximal patient outcome. Patients benefit from the physiatrist’s focus on transitioning them to the appropriate post-acute care setting at the right time during their clinical course. Consultations are standard, essential components of medical care, but several studies have found that the quality and effectiveness of consultations are variable. The physiatrist consultant evaluating persons with neurologic injury should identify the pertinent medical problems and potential complications, establish a plan to maximize patient function, inform prognosis, make specific and tailored post-acute care recommendations, and communicate effectively with the referring provider team. This handbook aims to provide physiatrist consultants with the tools needed to support the consulting physiatrist to maximize function and outcome for persons with neurologic injury.