September 17th, 2024 marks the fourth annual provincial Rehabilitation Day, a day dedicated to honoring the transformative impact of rehabilitative care and the dedicated professionals who make it happen.
Physical rehabilitation plays a critical role in the health-care journeys of patients who have had life-altering experiences. Physiatrists at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and St. John’s Rehab Hospital work tirelessly to support patients along this journey, offering unique skills and expertise.
So, what exactly is a physiatrist? We sat down with Sunnybrook physiatrist Dr. Amanda Mayo to learn more about her role and how the work of physiatrists like her is helping support patients throughout the care continuum.
What is a physiatrist?
A physiatrist is a medical specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation who evaluates and treats patients whose functional abilities have been impaired.
Physiatrists focus largely on optimizing patient function after they have suffered from illness, injury, or surgery. Their goal is to help patients regain independence and the ability to return to daily activities as they once did.
“The most rewarding part about my job is seeing patients regain use of their limbs,” says Dr. Amanda Mayo, Amputee Physiatrist and Program Chief at St. John’s Rehab Hospital. “Seeing patients walk again for the first time with a prosthetic leg, pick something up with a prosthetic hand or return to an activity that’s meaningful to them is truly special.”
Physiatrists often lead a team of health-care professionals in their daily work, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech-language pathologists, and social workers. This team of specialists works in concert to address a variety of patient needs through various methods of physical and cognitive rehabilitation.
Dr. Amanda Mayo walking with an amputee patient at St. John’s Rehab Hopsital.
What kinds of conditions do physiatrists treat?
Physiatrists work with a wide variety of patients with unique needs and challenges, providing care in the following areas:
- Amputations: This includes patients who have lost a limb due to illness, injury, or congenital limb differences.
- Neurorehabilitation: This includes patients who have experienced an injury or illness which affects their brain, such as a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s Disease or Multiple Sclerosis.
- Pain medicine: This includes patients who experience chronic pain, such as arthritis, chronic pain syndrome, carpal tunnel, and more.
- Musculoskeletal care: This includes patients experiencing bone-related issues such as Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and others.
- Sports injuries: This includes patients with a variety of sports injuries, including Achilles Tendonitis, stress fractures, and concussions.
- Post-operative care: This includes patients who have recently undergone surgery for treatments related to joint replacements, organ transplantation and more.
How do physiatrists support patients along their health-care journey?
Physiatrists care for patients along the entirety of the care continuum, supporting them throughout their journey. “Whether pre-surgery, in acute care, within a rehab hospital setting, or in outpatient clinics, we, as physiatrists, help address various issues to support recovery at every stage,” says Dr. Mayo.
Their proactive approach often involves seeing patients before functional problems escalate. This includes patients who require rehabilitation, those in need of assistive devices to prevent further weakness, pain, and falls, or who need to offload wounds to prevent limb loss and enhance their overall quality of life.
In the early stages of care, physiatrists are instrumental in helping prepare patients for pre-planned surgeries. This support often involves ensuring patients are physically strong and ready to use assistive devices post-surgery.
Physiatrists are also essential in acute care settings, working with patients who may have rehabilitation needs. In these cases, physiatrists work with other physicians from across Sunnybrook to advise on treatment and discuss prognosis and recovery outcomes with patients and their families.
In the midst of the care continuum, physiatrists assist patients in rehabilitation settings after initial acute or surgical care. Rehabilitation may include helping patients learn how to walk, use mobility aids, regain their speech or motor function, and re-acquire day-to-day skills.
Finally, physiatrists continue to support patients toward the end of their care journey through outpatient clinics. They work with patients who have transitioned from rehabilitation facilities, providing ongoing assessments and care as part of outpatient rehab programming and to patients in the community.
Dr. Amanda Mayo tending to the wound of an amputee patient during clinic at St. John’s Rehab Hopsital.
Physiatrists like Dr. Mayo are critical in guiding patients through every stage of their health-care journey. Their expertise ensures that individuals facing significant health challenges receive comprehensive, personalized care that extends from pre-surgery preparations to long-term rehabilitation and outpatient support.
By addressing each individual’s unique needs, they work towards improving patients’ overall quality of life and assisting them in regaining their independence. This tailored approach is essential for effective rehabilitation, underscoring their commitment to improving patient outcomes across the care continuum.
