The author extends appreciation to Caroline Nielson, whose

work in prior editions provided the foundation for this

chapter.

Health professionals work in health care settings to meet

the physical rehabilitation needs of diverse patient populations.

The current health care environment strives to be

patient-centered and advocates the use of best-practice

models that maximize patient outcomes and contain costs.

The use of evidence-based treatment approaches, clinical

practice guidelines, and standardized outcome measures

provides a foundation for evaluating and determining efficacy

in health care across disciplines and health conditions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification

of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)1 provides

a disablement framework that enables health

professionals to maximize patient/client participation and

function while minimizing disability. The current complex

environment of health care and evolving patterns of health

care delivery require a focus on multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary

approaches to the total care of the patient.