24 Hour Postural Management - A New Direction in Therapeutic Care
Margaret McGrath,
BSc (Hons) OT
Vania Fields,
BSc (Hons) PT
Enable Ireland, Dublin Children’s Services, Sandymount Ave., Dublin 4, Ireland
Enable Ireland set up the Eastern Regional Postural Management (ERPM) Service in 2000. One of the primary aims of this service was to facilitate the development of a standardised 24-hour postural management service in local Enable Ireland centres. This came as an outcome of identified client need.
The main objectives were:
• To provide an efficient, holistic and responsive service of the highest possible standards to meet the needs of service users
• To develop a systematic approach to working in partnership with clients, families and the integrated team.
This presentation describes how these objectives have been successfully implemented into the working practices of local and regional service providers, through advanced training in the assessment and intervention processes for seating and night positioning.
It will also demonstrate how this approach has shifted pre-existing ideals of the effects of clinical hands-on based therapy toward a family-owned, lifelong process of care, and how those involved developed a holistic approach and understanding of postural needs and solutions.
It will outline the results of the work completed by a 24-hour Postural Management Focus Group, including the development of:
• A postural care pathway
• Systematic reviews
• Clinical assessment
Ongoing work includes staff and family education to communicate the importance of postural management and the participation of all individuals involved.