Successful rehabilitation and recovery for a client often depend on the ability of health professionals to work cohesively as a team.
APM WorkCare’s South Australian Branch Manager and Physiotherapist, Aaron Beck, understands the critical importance of building effective and collaborative relationships with treating teams.
With a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours), Masters in Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, and 15 years of experience in physiotherapy and occupational rehabilitation, Aaron has gained extensive experience in interdisciplinary teamwork.
His career spans clinical practice, hospital allied health management, and leadership as the current National Advisory Council chair for the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
Drawing from his wealth of experience, Aaron outlines the foundational principles that support effective rehabilitation, beginning with one key element: making the right start.
Make the right start
Aaron believes that successful rehabilitation programs share several key elements. “Start with a clearly articulated final SMART rehabilitation goal in mind with a realistic timeframe,” he advises.
This approach ensures that every action the rehabilitation consultant takes helps progress the client toward achieving their goal.
It’s important to remember, however, that flexibility is essential.
Rehabilitation goals often need adapting throughout the journey, and successful consultants will be able to pivot while maintaining clear communication with all stakeholders, including clients, case managers, employers, insurers, and the treating medical team.
Establish clear communication pathways
This is one of the most critical aspects of rehabilitation coordination.
To do it successfully, Aaron recommends a proactive approach.
“Identify all parties who are involved in the client’s care. Call them and introduce yourself, explain your role, and organise early and regular case conferences you attend in person.”
It’s also important to understand each person’s preferred communication method.
Some GPs prefer in-person meetings while treating physiotherapists might be more accessible by phone, and psychologists may respond better to email.
This tailored approach to communication significantly improves coordination efficiency.
And you can’t be too organised. Good habits, like putting clients’ medical appointments in your diary, make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Aligning team members with client goals
For successful rehabilitation and recovery, all team members need to be working toward the same goals. It takes a conscious effort to make this happen.
What works for Aaron is to discuss these goals with all team members at the start, ensuring everyone is on the same page and is committed to supporting the client through their rehabilitation journey.
“Rehabilitation consultants are ideally placed to coordinate an integrated approach that helps the client progress towards their rehabilitation goal,” Aaron explains.
This coordination involves regular communication with all treatment team members and summarising information into key messages for each interaction.
Overcoming common challenges
There are some challenges often faced when working with diverse treating teams:
- Misunderstanding or disagreement about goals
- Inconsistent or unclear communication
- Treatment providers working in isolation
- Progress is not being shared across the team
He shares a simple example.
“Progress reported by a physiotherapist regarding a client’s safe lifting capacity should enable an upgrade on the subsequent work capacity certificate by the GP.”
This type of information sharing requires active coordination but really accelerates recovery outcomes.
Maintaining client-centred care
With multiple professionals involved, it’s crucial to keep the client at the centre of care. Aaron’s strategies include:
- Regular review of what’s best for the client’s recovery
- Ensuring all treatments add value to the rehabilitation program
- Supporting clients who feel overwhelmed by the size of their treatment team
- Helping identify and prioritise the most important treatments at each stage
A success story
Aaron shares a complex case from his current practice: a client who developed unexplained symptoms in May 2024 and was unable to work from mid-August.
Despite seeing multiple specialists rheumatologist, dermatologist, gynecologist, and psychologist - no clear diagnosis emerged.
“Regular communication with all treatment providers enabled this client to start and sustain a suitable graduated return to work program from mid-February 2025,” Aaron reports.
“Ensuring all providers have the relevant information to consider as each decision along the rehabilitation journey is made, has been essential.”
It’s a simple example of how collaborative approaches can achieve positive outcomes even when you don’t have a complete diagnostic picture.
Advice for new rehabilitation consultants
If you’re new to working with multidisciplinary teams, Aaron has some simple tips:
- Meet treatment providers in person where possible
- Be proactive in communication
- Act as the information conduit within the team
- Keep clients accountable to their rehabilitation goals
- Organise regular case conferences
- Seek assistance from experienced colleagues when needed
A handy habit to get into is to present case studies to your colleagues to discuss and get ideas about engaging effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
He emphasises that this type of collaborative problem-solving leads to valuable peer support and learning opportunities.
Aaron’s top things to remember
Drawing from his extensive experience, Aaron emphasises some essential principles for effective rehabilitation coordination:
Be the information hub
Act as the central point of communication between all treating professionals, ensuring relevant updates reach the right people at the right time.
Goals drive decisions
Every interaction should start with the rehabilitation goal in mind, keeping all team members focused on the same outcome.
Flexibility with accountability
Adapt plans when needed while keeping all stakeholders informed and maintaining client accountability.
Early relationships matter
Introduce yourself to all team members at the program’s start. These early connections facilitate smoother collaboration throughout the journey.
Client-centred always
Regular meetings, approachable communication, and helping clients understand the importance of their treatment keep them engaged and motivated.
Embrace coordination
Rehabilitation consultants are uniquely positioned to orchestrate team efforts. This coordinating role is crucial for optimal outcomes.
In the end, success in rehabilitation and recovery isn’t about individual expertise. It’s about coordinating collaborative efforts toward shared goals.
When teams work together well, clients achieve better outcomes, and the entire rehabilitation process becomes more efficient and rewarding for everyone involved.
Read more insights on effective management of occupational rehabilitation.
Aaron Beck
Physiotherapist & SA Branch Manager