Interdisciplinary Roles

As the learner for this course, you are a member of an interdisciplinary team and your part may be any one of the following roles.

Physician

The physician's main role for pain management includes conducting a comprehensive assessment of patient and review of prior records and previous treatments. A physician may include a primary care physician, a specialist, a surgeon, or a tertiary care provider.

Physician Assistant

Physician assistant’s role includes deliver medical and surgical care in teams with physicians, who provide medical supervision and delegate tasks to the Physician Assistant.

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners help patients managing acute and chronic illnesses. Nurses conduct physical exams and perform diagnostic tests and procedures.

Pharmacist

Pharmacists make recommendations in many areas, including dosing and administration, current guidelines for treatment, approved and off-label indications, adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, intravenous drug compatibility, drug monitoring, and duplications, education and coordination of pharmacy needs.

Nurse

In general, nurses coordinate care, education, and medical therapy of a patient.

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit physical disabilities in patients with injury or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health.

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit physical disabilities in patients with injury or disease. In addition, they help patients improve or maintain skills for day-to-day activities and well-being.

Social Worker

Social workers help individuals, families, and groups of people to cope with problems they are facing to improve their patients’ lives. This may include teaching skills and developing mechanisms for patients to rely on to better their lives and experiences. Social workers provide direct counseling of patients and families, serve as liaisons between different institutions to assist patients and collaborate with other health professionals to ensure patient wellness. They will become familiar with, and refer clients to, community resources.

Psychologist

Psychologists help patients learn to recognize the importance of their thoughts, their emotions, and their behaviors in response to pain. They give patients the skills to do something about each of these reactions.

Patient

Patients provide necessary information for assessment and planning of care. They will bring their needs and perspectives on illness, treatment, and what their views as the major goals of care. The goals for care must be endorsed by the client/patient in order to achieve successful adherence to a therapeutic plan.

Patient's Family

The patient’s family provides a wealth of information regarding the client/patient: pre-illness functioning, hobbies, interest, and concerns. The patient's family offers direct input about ability and willingness to assist in care.

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