Browsing by Author "Baird, Donna"

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    The Emerging Discourse of Transdisciplinary Neurorehabilitation: Building Healthcare and Health Capacity on the Moral High Ground
    (2014-01-29) Baird, Donna; Marlett, Nancy
    This 2-year comprehensive case study is the first of its kind to uncover the mechanisms through which a transdisciplinary neurorehabilitation team operationalizes the population health goal of increasing personal and family capacity. Data collection strategies included audio-taped interviews and focus groups, field observations and document analysis. A lengthy analysis was required to identify and unravel the emerging discourse of transdisciplinary practice from the traditional discourse of medicine. A transdisciplinary meta-narrative was constructed using interview and focus group data follow by interpretative repertoire analysis. The analytic approach allowed for a nuanced description of transdisciplinary practice to emerge. The interpretative repertoires coalesced around six discursive topics: the traditional model, creation of the clinic, transdisciplinary leadership, team membership, therapeutic interventions and physician practices. Result of this study demonstrate how this rare transdisciplinary healthcare team integrates a population health lens, salutogenic theory and transdisciplinary philosophy to maximize the capacity of individuals and families to take control of their health and health circumstances. The team also works collaboratively with family members to help clients reintegrate into their home, workforce and community and reduce reliance on family and the healthcare system. Finally, the study demonstrates how transdisciplinary practice, longevity, a shared ethos and an organization-wide orientation to salutogenesis are resources for organizational efficiency and employee health. The transdisciplinary team studied for this project is an example of a theoretically grounded and radical alternative to the existing health services paradigm. A transdisciplinary approach may be the nascent solution needed to curb the soaring cost of chronic illness in Canada.