The PAMs work on their patients needs, they move from hospital to community and into the patient's homes, that is, they follow the patient. Current IMG projects in hospitals and in the community, and the interest in sharing information across the NHS, could be greatly assisted by a full understanding of the problems facing the PAMs. To these professions, seamless care is a top priority. The recent introduction of patient access to their own records and the moves particularly in the community of patient held records is welcomed by the PAMs, as the patient-held record can also be used to give information to the patient about their overall management. The different professions use a variety of treatment approaches.
All therapists enter into a contract with the patient.
Very few of the therapies actually 'do things' to patients. There has to be a willingness for the two parties to work together. Not only must the patient and the therapist be involved in this contract setting process, but also carers and other professionals, to assist the patient to achieve their full physical and psychological potential. It must also be remembered that therapists are increasingly seeing patients over a considerable length of time. This is quite clear when talking about a child with cerebral palsy, but as care moves more into the community and to those with chronic problems, particularly physically disabled people or long-term degenerating neurological conditions, the role of the therapists in the long term care of the patient becomes more important.