Using+the+ICF+framework+as+an+ethical+guideline+when+plannning+intervention


 * (could you change the spelling of above title)**


 * Using the ICF Framework as an Ethical Guideline when Planning Treatment**

Within the ICF there are guidelines applicable to service provision that address a wide range of questions. These guidelines include clinical, research and policy issues that should all be taken into account when planning service intervention (WHO, 2002). For the competent clinician these guidelines are a valuable clinical tool, as they help to remind us to review our treatment provision and make sure we are upholding a high standard of ethics at all times. They remind the clinician to not have "tunnel vision" when it comes to managing dysphagia, and not to see it as a swallowing difficulty with a routine medical treatment, but instead to make accomodations in our treatment plan to maximise the persons quality of life during our treatment.

**(reference for picture)** The following table is taken form the World Health organisation's piece " Towards a Common Language for Functioning Disability and Health (2002). The clinician should review each of these guidelines and use their own clincal judgement to determine which guidelines are relevant to the patient. ** Service Provision **   // At the individual level //  · For the assessment of individuals : //__What is the persons level of functioning?__//   · For individual treatment planning: __What //treatments or intervention can maximize functioning?//__   · For the evaluation of treatment and other interventions: //__What are the outcomes of the treatments? How useful were the interventions?__//  · For communication among physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other health works, social service works and other community agencies.  · For self evaluation by consumers: __How //would I rate my capacity in mobility or communication?//__ // At the Institutional level //  · For educational and training purposes.  · For resource planning and development. __What //health care and other services will be needed?//__  · For quality improvement: how well do we serve our clients? //__What basic indicators for quality assurance are valid and reliable?__//  · For management and outcome evaluation: //__How useful are the services we are providing?__//  · For managed care models of health care delivery: //__How cost effective are the services we provide? How can the services be improved for better outcomes at a lower cost?__// // At the Social level //  · For eligibility criteria for state entitlements, such as social security benefits, disability,pensions, workers’ compensations and insurance: //__Are the criteria for eligibility for disability benefits evidenced based, appropriate to social goals and justifiable?__//  · For social policy development including legislative reviews, model legislation, regulations and guidelines and definitions for anti- discrimination legislation: __//Will guaranteeing rights improve functioning at the social level/ Can we measure this improvement and adjust our policy and law accordingly?//__  · For needs assessments: //__What are the needs of persons with various levels of disability- impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions__//  · For environmental assessment for universal design, implementation of mandated accessability, identification of environmental facilitators and barriers and changes to social policy: //__How can we make the social and built environment, more accessible for all person, those with and those without disabilities? Can we assess and measure improvement?__// ||
 * ** ICF applications **