Pediatric Rehabilitation: 3. Facilitating Family-Centered Treatment Decisions

Objective: This self-directed learning module focuses on the role of accurate diagnosis, psychological support, and family integration of children who have chronic impairments such as pain, spasticity, or cognitive disability. It is part of the study guide on pediatric rehabiliation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric medicine. The role of therapeutic, medical (traditional and nontraditional) and psychological interventions that improve family and individual function are emphasized. The goal of this article is to refine a learner's knowledge of the impact family-centered care can have on the medical, psychological, financial, and functional capabilities of families to improve treatment decisions in the context of children with disability.