Physiatry and acquired brain injury

Physiatrists are specialists who focus not only on the disease process but also on the secondary effects that may occur as a result of the disease process. We utilize a biopsychosocial model that is unlike conventional medicine, which tends to focus on the diagnosis and treatment specifically geared toward the disease process (biomedical model) (Stiens, 2002). The underlying principle is based on treating each patient as a whole. Rehabilitation medicine takes physical, emotional, and social needs into account when formulating a treatment plan. The physiatrist utilizes therapeutic exercises and physical agents in addition to medications to treat patients. The role of the physiatrist is to restore a patient's overall quality of life. Our emphasis is on maximizing a patient's functional capabilities.